U.S. Christmas

Emerging from Marion, North Carolina, in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, the group known as U.S. Christmas or USX merges psychedelic space rock and post-metal textures. Its lineup includes Nate Hall on guitar and vocals, Matt Johnson covering theremin, synthesizer, and guitar, Josh Holt on bass, B.J. Graves handling drums, Justin Whitlow adding drums and synthesizer, and Meghan Mulhearn on violin. The ensemble got underway modestly in summer 2002, taking gigs at any willing spots such as biker bars and art spaces while issuing two albums in CD-R format. A Russian label subsequently put out the third release, Salt the Wound, in 2006. That record drew notice from the venturesome Neurot Recordings label, prompting tours with acts such as Saviours, Baroness, and Neurosis alongside further albums including Eat the Low Dogs in 2007 and Run Thick in the Night in 2010.