Going mainstream

The only thing more inscrutable than Akron/Family's music is its singer, Union Springs native Ryan Vanderhoof. In fact, he would prefer that you not read this article.

Following Akron/Family's Aug. 28 appearance on “The Late Show” with David Letterman, where they performed as the backing musicians to mythic steel guitarist Baby Gramps, The Citizen had prepared an article chronicling the success attained by the Brooklyn-based band. Vanderhoof, however, was perturbed by the prospect of being featured in his home town newspaper. The Citizen heard his concerns and elected not to publish the piece.

However, the recent critical success of Akron/Family's Sept. 25 album, “Meek Warrior,” merits attention regardless of Vanderhoof's wishes. Their past releases had earned them effulgent praise from publications like Pitchfork and Stylus, two webzines eager to bestow next-big-thing buzz upon up-and-coming bands. But with “Meek Warrior,” the band has been shuffled into mainstream music discussion by magazines like Rolling Stone, who commented that the album answers the question of “What if Pink Floyd gave birth to Ummagumma in the band's basement at Big Pink?”