The marrying Type

photo: Nicole Thomas-Kennedy

Tacoma/Seattle-based band The Marrying Type came out of hibernation in late 2024 with an eclectic blend of indie rock/folk and outsider inclinations. Featuring the songwriting of guitarist/vocalist and longtime Pacific Northwest musician, Nathan Smurthwaite (Fungal Abyss, Black Smoker, The Abodox, Shannon Stephens) alongside local mainstays Benjamin Thomas-Kennedy ((blouseusa), Lesbian, Shitty Person) on drums, vocals and percussion; Ryan Weaver (Stradhoughton Echo) on bass; and Nathan's own offspring Dino Smurthwaite (Colour) on guitar, vocals, keys and percussion.

The Marrying Type entered the scene around 2010 with their debut Until Death, playing frequently around Seattle and garnering support from local radio and favorable press. That momentum was put on hiatus as Nathan took a decade-long break to raise a family, while still staying active in less demanding projects such as Seattle's improv collective Fungal Abyss (Adansonia/Eiderdown) and Tacoma 'supergroup' Black Smoker (Swoon). The songwriting continued and flourished during that downtime and with too much music to contain, The Marrying Types sophomore album You Could Do Better was born.

You Could Do Better is a ten song album, recorded and mixed through 2024/25 at Empty Lane Studio in Bremerton by lead engineer Colin Weaver (Russian Blue) and assistant engineer Jackson Newcomer (Edison Cabinet) and mastered by the illustrious A.F. Jones at Laminal Audio (Diminished Men, somesurprises). The album cohesively ebbs and flows through a genre mingling mix of folk, indie rock, psych, dream pop, and even a little alt country, delivering a demonstrative experience with lyrical content cathartically pondering the abyss of emotions that life often offers. The album touches on introspective themes lamenting on despair, love, loss and the sad/happy absurdity of it all. You Could Do Better tackles nihilism while striving for tragic optimism! For fans of Sparklehorse, MJ Lenderman, Azure Ray and The Scud Mountain Boys.

Drums & Wires Recordings welcomes The Marrying Type to the label roster and we're super excited to be co-releasing their wonderful new album You Could Do Better with the band!