Biography
In the opening months of 2008 the progressive country group Cady Wire formed in New York City after singer, songwriter and guitarist Sam Riley connected with singer and multi-instrumentalist Nila Leigh, whose prior work included upright bass on Chris Merenda’s Hello Freedom. Bassist John Cunard, already seasoned through metal and alternative projects in North Carolina, entered the lineup in time to help record the debut album Ten Acres in rural western Massachusetts. Issued in October 2008, the spare and spacious collection of story-songs set the band’s tone as slow and mournful, recalling Townes Van Zandt and, through the harmonies of Riley and Leigh, some of the stronger passages associated with Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris. Drummer Nick Cisik, who had briefly performed with Riley in Miss Stanton’s Boys in 2006, joined Cady Wire at the close of that year as the ensemble began performing throughout New York City. Ten Acres was succeeded in 2009 by the extremely limited lo-fi EP Pyrite, whose artwork was hand-designed and assembled by artist Angie Pickman. By spring 2009 the band was already developing its next full-length release after Ten Acres, then carrying the working title Winter’s Kids.
Albums