SLCene Suggests: The Autumn Defense at The Urban Lounge

THE AUTUMN DEFENSE, THE URBAN LOUNGE, Friday, Jan. 24, 9 p.m., $14

Talk about your aptly named albums, the new Autumn Defense collection set for release Jan. 28 is called Fifth, and is indeed the group’s fifth set of original tunes. The group is led by two full-time members of Wilco, multi-instrumentalists Patrick Sansone and bassist John Stirratt, who share songwriting duties and are joined by three other long-time members. The sound is less experimental than Wilco, and more in the classic pop-rock vein. Songs on the solid new album float easily along, at times reminiscent of George Harrison’s solo work, and at others recalling long songs you would have found on ’70s-era AM radio. Both Sansone and Stirratt have winning voices, and combining their live set with an opening one from local roots crew The Hollering Pines should make for one fine night out on the town in SLC. The Autumn Defense also plays on Thursday, Jan. 23, at Velour in Provo, along with Desert Noises.