Bio

With aggressive guitars and allegorical lyrics in tow, indie rock newcomers Lo Beggar have demanded Murfreesboro’s attention from day one. Drawing from mutual influences such as Brand New and Explosions in the Sky, the band finds strength in the musical camaraderie they share.

From the start, Lo Beggar has hit the ground running by playing multiple shows across Murfreesboro and Nashville, hitting venues such as Rocketown, Main Street Music and The Block. Additionally, the band recently finished recording an EP which is set to release this spring.

Lo Beggar’s live set has already created buzz around the Middle Tennessee area.

“[Lo Beggar’s] set flows seamlessly,” said local videographer Henry Fielden. “A lot of bands have awkward pauses between songs, but Lo Beggar plays these interludes between each song that make the set much more enjoyable.”

“Their ability to engage the crowd with such energy is very impressive,” said local musician/student Mark Swartz.

The sextet formed in early 2015 after drummer Preston Vaughn and guitarist Chad King became friends playing in another band together. Vaughn is also known for his work with Murfreesboro mainstay Mountains Like Wax.

“Preston and I wanted to start a band of our own, but he didn’t have time after he began production work on a tour,” King said.

Lead vocalist/songwriter Seamus Fennessy was added to help develop the band, along with electric guitarist Kyle Mosurinjohn, bassist Murphy Johnson and violinist/vocalist Camille Faulkner, who also plays with Murfreesboro folk group The Orchardist.

Overall, the members are goofy and relaxed, but Lo Beggar takes its craft seriously. Each of the band’s songs contains storytelling lyrics that are complemented by skillfully crafted arrangements.

The band’s creativity is also evident in its distinct moniker. The name consists of two elements.

King explained that “lo” was the first word sent over Arpanet, the precursor to the internet. Combined with “beggar,” the name illustrates the divide between technology’s height and low social standing.

The members of Lo Beggar acknowledge this dichotomy because they find themselves in it. Therefore, they write music for those who stand with them as normal twenty-somethings longing for honesty behind technology’s veneer.

Lo Beggar’s songs primarily capture Fennessy’s reflections on childhood and growing up, along with dark, witty imagery that makes the songs stand out from typical indie rock angst.

“A lot of my songs are about maturing and realizing how much control I don’t have over my emotions or beliefs,” he said.

After creating a rough yet structured draft, Fennessy nervously brings it to the band to flesh out ideas.

“Because of the guys’ incredible talent, the melodies and accents accompanying the final product blow me away, assuring me that any song I bring to the band will be enhanced for our shows,” he said. Fennessy is also quick to credit his bandmates for giving him renewed confidence in his musicianship, encouraging him as an equal instead of a novice.

With plenty of local buzz surrounding them, Lo Beggar is gaining momentum but isn’t aiming for fame. “Honestly, we’re just happy playing together right now…We simply enjoy making music together and sharing it with others,” King said humbly.