Vigilantes of Love

Biography

Like their labelmates Sonia Dada and Rusted Root, the Vigilantes of Love blended blues, gospel, folk-rock and country-rock. Formed in 1990 in Athens, Georgia, the group consisted of chief songwriter Bill Mallonee on vocals and acoustic guitars, Newton Carter on electric guitars and backing vocals, David LaBruyere on bass, and Travis Aaron McNabb on drums and percussion. Vigilantes of Love began as an acoustic duo, with just Mallonee and an accordionist; after releasing two independent albums as a duo, Mallonee added some other Athens-area local band veterans to go electric. Following two other indie albums, the band signed to Capricorn for 1994's Welcome to Struggleville and 1995's Blister Soul. After 1996's V.O.L., the band returned the following year with Slow Dark Train. Cross the Big Pond appeared in 1999, and in 2000 Vigilantes of Love issued Audible Sigh.