With a driving, brash sound equally indebted to American indie, early Mod and mid-90s Brit-Pop, Two Harbors are a bit of an anomaly in an era where studio effects and PR gimmicks are often substitutes for raw talent and passion. The quartet, fronted by Chris Pavlich, has a working class aesthetic and a simple formula: big, Johnny Marr-style hooks coupled with anthemic choruses. The mix of hard-bitten Minnesotan workmanship and the epic, stargazing hooks of classic 90s Britpop combine for a sound that has been masterfully produced and mixed by legendary producer Ed Ackerson (The Replacements, Motion City Soundtrack) at Flowers Studio and mastered by Frank Arkwright (Johnny Marr, The Smiths, Blur) in London at Abbey Road Studios. The band is carrying the flag for discerning music fans, eager for authenticity over hype.

Combining the interweaving guitars of lead vocalist Chris Pavlich and Kris Johnson with the deft but deadly rhythm assault of drummer Shawn Grider and bassist Jeremy Bergo, Two Harbors found their epic sound. Named after a port town close to Pavlich’s hometown of Duluth, MN, the band stays true to their unpretentious ethos, and that shines through. Propelled by a strong rhythm section, Two Harbors creates singalong choruses draped in shimmering guitars and soaring vocals. Pavlich plainly states, “People like to put labels on everything, and everything is derivative of something. There’s no way to avoid the comparisons, so it doesn’t bother me. People know what they like and what they don’t, so if you like The Beatles, The Who, and The Verve, we’ll get along just fine.

Two Harbors Bandcamp Page