Cutthroat Junction rises above its constantly fluctuating drummers and other musical distractions to seduce the locals with three distinct voices playing tag in soaring harmony, emotive lyrics and a blessedly focused energy.

Teri Browder (vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, organ) and Amy Smith (vocals and anything she can tap her fingers on, really) have been making music together since 2003, offering up an EP in 2005 (Join Hands with a Friend) full of their hard-to-pinpoint pop/folk/indie/rock sound.

Their efforts were haunting, but something was missing.
Now, in 2006, with the addition of Wayne Kee’s vocals, guitar swinging, whiskey swigging, bass playing and keys, we can expect their sophomore effort, Breaking and Entering, the work of three distinct song writers with one unifying sound, this fall.

“All the songs, whether they originated from one person’s brain, become our songs so completely that they just don’t sound right without the three of us playing them together,” Smith says.

While their tunes have always been touching and executed with a certain panache, it’s only recently that they’ve begun impressing crowds with their tight, energetic performances.

“With the release of our new album this fall, the purchase of our old beater van, The Warrior, and our new merchandise,” Bowder says, “I think we are well on our way to becoming a real, working, professional touring rock act.”

Their efforts are evident in shows they play in and around Murfreesboro. They wound up a late night Saturday, Aug. 26, to a standing crowd of regular supporters, backed by friend and temporary drummer Miles Cramer.

Giant Bear and Jared Micah and Hats opened in support.

“Somebody cut the hairs off the back of my neck,” a fan shouts when the first song ends.

Cutthroat Junction was the first band that gave me hope of ever finding decent vocalists in Murfreesboro when I saw them over a year ago. They still make me smile. Their vocals are gently endearing, not showy or agitating to trained ears, and definitely steal the show and seal the deal for Cutthroat Junction.

The set fluctuates between upbeat but thoughtful and purely sentimental, including the group’s first three-part collaboration, “Timing is Wrong.” Somewhere in there Amy makes time to call out past lovers and past drummers while Teri taunts her and Wayne laughs. For people who write deep sometimes gloomy lyrics the players seem quite lighthearted.

It’s a lucky thing when bands here in Murfreesboro stay together and stay interested enough to get past that first whirl-wind set of touring and their first EP. The results are almost always better?technically, artistically and professionally.

“I hope we can always play music and drink in the parking lot before we do it,” Kee says.

I hope so too, Wayne, I really do.