SUSTO (Photo by Wesley Vance)

Although based in South Carolina, alt-country band SUSTO actually has its origins in… Cuba!

In 2013, singer and songwriter Justin Osborne moved to Havana to study anthropology. There, he threw himself into the music scene, absorbing music from locals playing in the Trova style. At the time, Justin also got into the American confessional poetry movement of the late 1950s and early 1960s.

When he got home, Justin founded SUSTO, combining his inspirations in Cuba with the music of Charleston, SC. He recruited Johnny Delaware (guitar, piano), Marshall Hudson (drums), Jenna Desmond (bass), and Corey Campbell (keyboard and guitar) to join SUSTO.

SUSTO released its self-titled debut album in April 2014, and then a live album in 2015, and now they are gearing up for their second album, to be titled “& I’m Fine Today” and to be released in the near future. SUSTO have launched a tour to showcase some of the new material, and they visit the Rock and Roll Hotel on Thursday, June 9.

Twangville premiered the band’s new video for “Cigarettes, Whiskey and Wine” and you can watch the video, made up of footage from an upcoming documentary on the band, on YouTube:

“Their exceptional melodies come in long, lean, curling lines set against sonic atmosphere that’s rich and bright…keep an eye on these guys,” said the Orlando Weekly. Other critics have compared the band to Wilco!

In DC, SUSTO’s opener will be our own Justin Jones, who also knows a thing or two about alt-country music! Tickets are available online.

SUSTO
w/ Justin Jones
Rock and Roll Hotel
Thursday, June 9
Doors @ 7pm
$14
All ages