ThaMuseMeant bids farewell

After nearly seven years together, the members of ThaMuseMeant, a traveling jam band out of Northern New Mexico, are going their separate ways. Albuquerque will be the third and final stop on their farewell tour.

ThaMuseMeant, a quartet with an unbelievably original sound, is not your average rock band, and it's difficult to place its music into any one category. It successfully combines elements of bluegrass, country, rock, swing, folk, jazz and jam rock. These, paired with melodic vocals and lyrics rivaling those of Bob Dylan, create a one-of-a-kind musical experience.

ThaMuseMeant is comprised of Aimee Curl on vocals and bass guitar, whose singing, alongside Nathan Moore's, is sometimes innocent, sometimes bluesy, sometimes has a hint of yodeling, but is never dull. Moore provides vocals and an array of instrumentals including acoustic guitar, harmonica and banjo. He is also responsible for most of the band's poetic and soulful lyrics.

David Tiller adds fiddle, guitalin, viola, and his specialty, mandolin, to the group's sound. Finally, Jeff Sussmann rounds out the sound with traps and hand percussion. Sussmann, who left the band in October to pursue other projects, is rejoining it for the farewell tour.

Moore met up with Curl and Tiller in Austin, Texas in 1993 when they were performing with a band called Buzzard's Breath. The three moved to Santa Fe, where Tiller had recorded with Sussmann in the past. In 1996 they moved back to Austin and recorded an album. Since then they have spent much time on the road playing shows in the Southwest and on the East Coast. They've played at and headlined many festivals, including the H.O.R.D.E. tour; SXSW showcases in Austin, Texas; this year's High Sierra Festival, which was run by ThaMuseMeant's record label, High Sierra Records; street performances and exclusive nightclub appearances. The group has shared shows with Greg Brown, Leftover Salmon, String Cheese Incident, Sheryl Crow, The Tragically Hip, James McMurtry and many others.

ThaMuseMeant has released four CDs, the most recent being, "Grow Your Own," which is a collection of 15 tracks that were recorded in New Mexico. Copies of "Grow Your Own" will be available at the show, along with other merchandise, including a musical documentary titled "Movin' by Lovin," created by Sussmann.

The members of ThaMuseMeant will head out on their own after the farewell tour. Curl and Tiller are both planning moves to New York City, where they will continue their musical endeavors, and Moore plans to spend time at home in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

"It has been quite an adventure," Tiller said. "It's not necessarily over permanently, but it's over for now. We're breaking up to grow in new ways individually as artists. It's not because of any animosity in the band. We love our fans and I hope that there will come a time when we can make music together again for them."

Moore agreed with Tiller.

"ThaMuseMeant is so special to me; it's hard to describe it with just a few words," Moore said. "When I think of ThaMuseMeant all words come at once."

The show, originally scheduled for El Rey Theatre, has been moved to the Sunshine Theatre due to El Rey Theatre's ongoing renovations. Doors will open Saturday at 8 p.m. and it's recommended that you get there early, especially if you're planning to buy your tickets at the door. Discount advance tickets are also available at www.ymrev.com, or at Birdland, 3213 Central Ave. N.E. The show is a 21-and-over event.