The Devil Makes Three

The acoustic trio the Devil Makes Three stands apart from standard alt-country ensembles through its drummerless setup of two guitarists and a string bassist. Deep roots in blues and country underpin an approach that also weaves in bluegrass, ragtime, and jug band traditions, while punk rock influences remain openly acknowledged. Dance rhythms stay central to the performances despite the missing percussion. All three members trace their origins to New England—two from Vermont and one from New Hampshire—yet the band itself coalesced in Santa Cruz, California, where it independently issued its self-titled debut in 2002. The follow-up studio album Longjohns, Boots and a Belt arrived in 2004, succeeded by the live set A Little Bit Faster and a Little Bit Worse. Milan Records later signed the group and reissued the debut; its third studio album, Do Wrong Right, appeared on the label in 2009 and reached number one on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart. The live album Stomp and Smash, recorded across two nights at the Mystic Theater in Petaluma, California, came out on Milan in 2011. After moving to New West Records, the trio released the Buddy Miller-produced I'm a Stranger Here in fall 2013, its first entry on the Billboard 200. The 2016 covers album Redemption & Ruin included guest appearances by Emmylou Harris, Duane Eddy, and Jerry Douglas. Early 2018 brought the singles "Paint My Face" and "Bad Idea," leading to the August arrival of the studio album Chains Are Broken on New West.