Pilcrowe

Pilcrowe, based in Flagstaff, Arizona, is part of a musical continuum that began more than a decade ago. Drummer Andrew Lauher and guitarist Ryan Heinsius have collaborated for years in other projects like Crow Wing and the Voluntary String Band. But Pilcrowe has remained a steadfast focus for the duo with a 2022 EP, The Big Burn, under their belts and a full-length album, West of Center, released by the band’s own Woody Mountain Records, in 2023. The LP’s nine original tracks blend the acoustic earthiness of folk music and singer-songwriter Americana with an electrified punch that Pilcrowe has developed through playing countless live shows across the country in its many forms over the years.
For Pilcrowe, the massive Colorado Plateau is imbedded deep in every guitar lick, drum note and vocal phrase—the dense and haunting forests of the mountains; the expansive, arid deserts of the lowlands; and the imposing, picturesque canyon country imbue a sense of the spacious, boundless West often lamented in literature or the hazy dreams of a bygone era. This is where Pilcrowe was born, among the dirt, rocks, wide-open spaces and dark skies, but also within the region’s remarkable mix of peoples and interwoven communities.
Pilcrowe’s long-simmering songs and patient musicianship create a singular atmosphere as the band attempts to offer a contemporary take on the places where landscape and humanity intersect.
More is at pilcrowe.com.