Given the rising popularity of meditative and folky indie acts in the early 2000s, forming a twangy folk trio was probably the least surprising move
Derek Fudesco could have made. The former bassist and founding member of the successful indie rock group
Pretty Girls Make Graves picked up an acoustic guitar and formed
the Cave Singers following
PGMG's demise in January 2007, teaming up with vocalist
Pete Quirk (formerly of
Hint Hint) and drummer
Marty Lund (formerly of
Cobra High). Though not an "official" member, ex-
PGMGer Andrea Zollo made an appearance on the group's first album as a vocalist and washboard player. Drawing from canonical folkies like
Bob Dylan and
Woody Guthrie, and sounding more than a little like other early-2000s acts like
Lightning Dust,
the Snake the Cross the Crown, and
Samamidon, the group had its first album,
Invitation Songs, recorded and ready to go (thanks in large part to
Black Mountain producer
Colin Stewart) within months of
PGMG's breakup. Matador picked up the trio soon after, and following a few delays,
Invitation Songs arrived in late September. ~ Margaret Reges, All Music Guide