October 7, 2008
Split Lip Rayfield started taking shape about the time Bill Clinton was getting situated in the oval office. Neither Eric Mardis, Wayne Gottstine, nor Jeff Eaton figured they'd still be going at it 14 years later, nor did they figure they'd have to persevere through something as difficult as losing their friend and collaborator Kirk Rundstrom to cancer. That tragedy nearly derailed the band, but the trio has been picking up steam and new fans ever since returning to the stage a year ago. The group's fifth studio album "I'll Be Around" is its first collection of new material since 2004's "Should Have Seen It Coming." It's vintage Split Lip: blazing-fast banjo licks balanced by high-lonesome ballads and a healthy sense of humor. All three Rayfields stopped by our podcast studio to spin the new disc and share their thoughts on necromancy and the new Metallica record.

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