Thanks to J. Spencer Portillo & Caroline Rippy Portillo for stopping by High Plains Morning today! They're kicking of 2019's HPPR Living Room Concert Series with a show TONIGHT at Chalice Abbey. This Texas-bred, husband-and-wife duo bringing "acoustic desert noir" to Amarillo. Their music is cinematic, ethereal, dark and romantic—and y'all will love it! Scroll down for a link to our full interview and their in-studio set!
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The Division Men
Friday, February 22
Chalice Abbey (2717 Stanley)
Doors @ 7p | Show @ 7:30p
Sugg. Donation: $15
Coffee provided by Palace Coffee Company
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Originally formed in Berlin, Germany in 2008 (but now based in Austin, TX), The Division Men is made up of founder J. Spencer Portillo (vocals / acoustic guitar) and Caroline Rippy Portillo (vocals / bass guitar).
The Division Men's name was derived from the idea of artists collaborating from all over the world despite their locations. Originally formed in Berlin in 2008, the duo wrote and recorded and eventually returned to Texas.
Caroline was born in San Antonio, Texas. From 2007 until 2012, she played bass guitar for Tito & Tarantula. Her husband, J. Spencer Portillo, was born in Los Angeles, California but raised in El Paso, Texas. His Lone Star roots have been a huge influence on his lyrics, which frequently present atmospheric portraits of love, life, and death in a border town.
The Division Men are actively touring and promoting their latest album Niños Del Sol, which was recorded at their in-home studio in Austin, Texas. The Division Men have a distinctive sound that has been described as dark, romantic, ethereal, and haunting. The album features Rafael Gayol (Leonard Cohen), Steven Hufsteter (The Quick | Tito and Tarantula | Del Shannon), Jay Reynolds (Asleep at the Wheel), Javier Escovedo (The Zeros | True Believers) , Mitch Hertz (Bloody Kids), Raiye Rippy and Jake Garcia (The Black Angels).
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See them in action! Click to view their music videos for "Marionette," "Dying to Get By," and "Criminal." Plus, find out more about The Division Men on their website and Facebook page!
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"This quiet, shimmering beauty is created by vocalist and guitarist J. Spencer Portillo and vocalist/bassist Caroline Rippy Portillo. Caroline’s vocals come in like delicate old lace laid softly over J. Spencer’s dusty and windswept desert regrets, with wistful piano tinkling sprinkled in here and there. 'Whiskey piano blues,' indeed." —BOSTON SURVIVAL GUIDE
"If your tastes range more toward the spookier, murder ballad folk end of the Americana spectrum ala Nick Cave and Johnny Cash, then this tune by Berlin, Germany formed, and now Austin Texas-based outfit The Division Men is right up your alley." —ROB JONES, THE DELETE BIN
