Seven Days: Vermont's Independent Voice

BS Report

Chriss Sutherland is not one to mince words. In describing his approach to song craft, the founding member of Cerberus Shoal and Fire on Fire states, “Music and art and its creation should be a daily endeavor, minus as much BS as possible.” That axiom is borne out in the Portland, Maine-based songwriter’s solo work. An uncommonly gifted tunesmith, his writing is succinct and direct. Likewise, the mostly acoustic arrangements surrounding his frayed ruminations are sparse, simple and beautiful in their brutal efficiency. This Monday he brings his no-frills, lo-fi act to The Monkey House. Local indie-folk upstarts Paper Castles open.