DRUG RUG, OHIOAN & NATIVE KIN
(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) On their first date, Sarah Cronin and Tommy Allen ended up playing songs to each other over a bottle of whiskey. They’ve since parlayed the relationship into a full-fledged band and saddled it with the unfortunate name of Drug Rug. I know what you’re thinking: Relationship bands rarely work, and when they do, the results are often sickly sweet (Mates of State, the Captain & Tennille) or creepily fucked up (Ike & Tina, the Captain & Tennille). Drug Rug avoid these pitfalls by leavening their declarations of love with low-fi exuberance, Stones-y country blues, and Cronin’s baby-voiced screeching. Their self-titled debut is a soulful, groovy, FUN record, packed with terrific songs and a gentle exuberance. Tonight’s free show is the perfect chance to bask in the reflected adoration the Somerville, MA couple has for each other, and who knows? It could even get you vaguely excited for Valentine’s Day. NED LANNAMANN

It really is a good album, and you can hear a couple more tracks from it at the band’s MySpace page. Oh, and did I mention tonight’s show is FREE? Meanwhile, here’s some live footage from the Fader sideshow in October ‘07. It’s sloppy and fun; they sound a little more together on the record, but they certainly know how to enjoy themselves onstage.

Drug Rug - “Walden”
More of that performance here.