Coming out of Charlotte, The New Familiars bring the southern folk tradition to the table with their new EP “The Storm.” Having just played a show at The Pour House on Oct. 9, fans saw that the band certainly fits the bill. In pictures, all members can be seen sporting mountain-man style beards. The best part is that the music works well too.

The EP begins with the bold and fast-paced “Annalein”, which is delivered almost in a western fashion. The song put me in mind of a camp fire out  on the range in Texas with a few cowboys gathered around. The song also  incorporates a harmonica that seems to belong on a train rolling through Georgia or on the Bayou in Louisianna.

Next up is”Got This Disease,” which follows along with the style of “Annalein,” but really uses more of a blues influence than the former. Not only will the music have your foot tapping, but the lyrics will put a smile on your face. It’s a feel-good song about true love and how that love can deliver you from pain better than any other remedy.

The song “Conflicts of Interest” brings the pace of the EP down a bit, and portrays a much more sentimental reflection on relationships.  The lyrics and the music mesh seamlessly, and they guide you through nostalgic journey through various memories. Since this is an EP, the ability for transitions between song pace is limited. The change is sort of a jolt, though not an altogether unpleasant one.

“Walkin’ The Whiskey Blues” is a song that has a rambling, care-free sort of feel. The lyrics speak of being left behind while a mocking harmonica seems to laugh in the background. It has the fun of a Garth Brooks song, wrapped up in the bluegrass feel of the Grateful Dead. It is safe to say that this song will get crowds dancing anywhere it is played.

The EP finishes with two completely different songs, first “The Storm,” followed by “Tongue Tied.” “The Storm” is fast and energetic, but has more of the mournful feeling of “Annalein”. “Tongue Tied” finishes the EP, and delivers a regretful soliloquy, one that should be delivered standing on a cliff, overlooking a desert sunset.

The entire album seems to be pulled right out of a western. It’s the stuff of a saloon out in Dodge City, but with a modern feel. The New Familiars have found a nice mixture between traditional bluegrass/folk and a more free-form jam band style. The EP, as well as other songs from The New Familiars, are available for preview and download on Itunes, so don’t miss out.