From their upbeat, commanding stage presence and
sharp banter to their earworm-inducing melodies and heartstring lyrics, this
dumpster-folk/thriftstore Americana duo has been writing and performing
together since 2007. Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler inevitably formed The Rough
& Tumble in 2011 as the friends turned into bandmates. In 2015, after a bad Nashville landlord left
them without heat for 12 days during an ice storm, the bandmates turned spouses
decided to hit the road. They sold everything they could, bought a 16’ camper
(despite the warning of their families and the lot salesman), packed up their
instruments, their dog and hit the road.
They have been touring relentlessly since with their two 100lb rescue
dogs, Mud Puddle and Magpie Mae.
On February 19, 2021 The Rough & Tumble dug into
the severed branch of their family tree, bringing their newest work, We’re Only
Family If You Say So, a full length record about what it takes to be family--
and what it means to lose it. As with
their previous two albums, it was recorded in East Nashville, TN with
producer/engineer Dave Coleman. The raw, emotive nature intersects with the
sweet, nearly upbeat tone that touches a nerve unfortunately familiar to
listeners, particularly in the aftermath of division in both nation and
families alike.
?The new record follows on the 2019 release Howling
Back at the Wounded Dog, a 10-song album wherein response was audible, with
audiences literally howling back at performances coast-to-coast. The opening
track “The Hardest Part” won the Independent Music Award’s Best Americana Song
of 2019.