Blue Plate Special: The Rosebuds
The Rosebuds, an indie rock duo hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, carved out a distinct space in the music landscape from 2001 to 2014. Known for their genre-blending sound and deeply emotive storytelling, Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp—partners both musically and personally—anchored the band’s evolving lineup, creating a dynamic discography that spanned dreamy pop, folk-inspired melodies, and dark synth-rock. The duo’s creative synergy, forged during their college days in Wilmington, North Carolina, caught the attention of Merge Records, leading to the release of their debut album, The Rosebuds Make Out, in 2003. Over the next decade, the band released a series of acclaimed records, including the lushly cinematic Night of the Furies (2007) and the introspective Loud Planes Fly Low (2011), all while collaborating with an impressive roster of supporting musicians.
Beyond their original albums, The Rosebuds demonstrated a flair for reinvention, covering songs by iconic bands like the Pixies and The Cure for tribute compilations and reinterpreting Sade’s Love Deluxe in its entirety. Their willingness to experiment extended to live performances, where they often expanded their lineup with multi-instrumentalists and toured with acts such as Bon Iver and Other Lives. The band’s final album, Sand + Silence (2014), marked a poignant end to their collaborative journey, blending their signature melodic warmth with a wistful sense of closure. While the band has been on hiatus since 2014, with Howard pursuing a solo career and Crisp channeling her creativity into writing, The Rosebuds’ music continues to resonate, a testament to their unique ability to craft timeless, heartfelt songs.
Some of my favorites from their catalog:
Boxcar – from the album Birds Make Good Neighbors (2005)
Get Up Get Out – from the album Night of the Furies (2007)
Blue Eyes – from the album Sand + Silence (2014)
I’d Feel Better – from the EP Unwind (2005)
Border Guards – from the album Life Like (2008)
Back to Boston – from the album Makeout (2003)
Melt Our Way Out – from the album Christmas Tree Island (2012)
When the Lights Went Dim – from the album Night of the Furies (2007)
