- [Voiceover] On the road is a production of PBS, North Carolina.

In association With Come Hear NC.

A program of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

- [Man 1] Test camera three, dot six.

- [Man 2] Yeah that's, - Cat's Cradle is one of the coolest venues in the triangle.

It's kind of been our little, like, home place to debut new material.

We did our first album release show there.

We're releasing a new record soon, and we have some new material.

So we thought we'd book a show at the end of October this year.

Did that help or hurt?

- [Dylan] Yeah, it was, yeah.

That's very helpful.

That was good.

[gentle guitar music] - [Austin] There's also a lot of pressure because we sold it out once.

So it's like, we've gotta do it again.

- If we can have it on our resume, that we have sold out Cat's Cradle twice.

That is a huge deal and a really great like check mark to give ourselves.

[guitar playing] [girl singing] All right ya'll.

And as my shirt suggests, this is not my first rodeo.

But my second rodeo, as in our second mainstay and show here at Cat's Cradle's night.

It's gonna be such a fun show, and we are so pumped for people to get here.

You ready?

- [Everyone] 1, 2, 3 have fun.

- [Sarah] And also.

- [Everyone] Do good.

[everyone cheers] [country guitar playing] [crowd murmuring] [guitar strumming] ♪ [crowd cheering] ♪ [bright country music] - We play with a really, really fun group of guys.

We have Saman, who's produced both of our most recent albums.

- [Austin] Saman and I are the most unlikely of friends.

We're really opposites in like the way we were raised and just where we come from.

But I mean, we just have hit it off in a major way.

And I love that dude.

- And we have Alan.

Austin met Alan through Craigslist.

Alan is cool as a cucumber.

He is the sweetest guy in the world.

He is so chill.

He makes everybody just relax a little bit more.

- We are very used to having strange situations when we're playing a show.

I mean.

- [Spencer] Absolutely.

- The horse ring was awesome.

But it's not the first time we've been around farm animals.

♪ If you see me riding by ♪ ♪ On a horse sixteen hands high ♪ ♪ Take me down, pull me aside ♪ ♪ And tell me to check my pride ♪ [guitar playing] - Then we have Spencer who is our mandolin player.

- [Austin] The thing about Spencer that is baffling to me, he's in and he's out.

He's just like this wind that blows through - Yeah.

- [Austin] and he'll come to a show.

- He's always early.

- He always gets there early, - [Sarah] Always early.

- [Austin] He's there.

He's got his mandolin ready to go.

He plays the show.

And within 10 minutes, he's gone.

He's just like a wisp of just, he's just gone - A wisp of perfection and mandolin playing.

- [Austin] And we always, our band mates are always like, you know, "There goes Spencer."

He loves- - Such a Southern gentleman.

- Yeah, he's a good, he's a good one.

- I've been told that before.

I've been told that sometimes I might disappear at the end of an event.

I might go on my way, but kind of just depends on what we're doing and where we're playing.

[guitar playing] ♪ You can see the litter bed ♪ ♪ It's clear that no ones lying there ♪ - [Sarah] Gabe is our drummer.

He is into Pilates and yoga.

And like can teach everybody in the group these really fun stretches.

And like- - [Austin] He really gets me out of my comfort zone.

- [Sarah] Yeah.

- And drumming is really embodying.

I treat it as like a sport.

Can feel really out of my body before going into a show with anxiety and stuff.

So I'll be jumping up and down or swinging my arms in circles and generally getting in my body.

[guitar playing] ♪ I came aboard and helped you row ♪ ♪ The two of us on this boat ♪ ♪ You asked for time just to float ♪ ♪ So I will tip the stern and let go ♪ ♪ Don't you know that Jesus rode ♪ ♪ On a horse so low he drug his toes ♪ ♪ As long as the Red River flows ♪ ♪ I will tie my horse and walk alone ♪ [country music playing] ♪ ♪ Yes I'll tie my horse and walk alone ♪ [crowd cheering] - [Sarah] Thanks y'all.

- [Austin] Thank you so much.

- Thank y'all so very much for being here.

I normally open our shows when we're like, not in Carrboro by saying, "Hi, I'm Sarah.

This is Austin.

We're Chatham Rabbits."

But I bet you already know that if you're here tonight.

Thank y'all so, so very much for being here, and spending your Friday night with us.

We're incredibly honored.

The other week, Austin and I were in Denver, Colorado.

And the first thing we did when we got there.

We like to go to thrift stores, and Austin kind of went off and did his thing.

And I kind of went off and did mine.

And then we met back at the end and I was like, "Oh babe, like, what did you get?"

Like... - He's like, - I have no idea what she's gonna say.

- He's like, "Oh, I got this really cool suede shirt."

- Oh no.

Yeah.

- And I was like, "Suede?"

He was like, "Yeah, it was like $4."

I was like, "Oh my gosh, you got a suede shirt for $4."

He's like, "Well, it's, it's fox suede."

And I was like, "Fox suede?"

He's like, "No Faux.

It's like with the U it's like really-" - A French pronunciation.

- And I was like, "Austin, faux suede.

That's why it was $4."

- Stop laughing, Saman.

[Saman laughs] - So y'all- - It was Fox suede.

[audience laughs] - So I asked him today, before he came here, I was like, "Babe, are you gonna wear your Fox.

Your Fox suede shirt?"

But he opted for- - I'm never wearing that again.

In fact, if anybody wants a Fox suede shirt.

Let me know.

- All right, this is a tune called Abigail.

[fast paced guitar playing] ♪ I left my homeland ♪ ♪ With a song on my lips ♪ ♪ 'Cause Roosevelt told me ♪ ♪ That I could get a job with horses ♪ ♪ Well, I'd always been one of the herd ♪ ♪ My own mare I did tame ♪ ♪ But I never learned to read and write ♪ ♪ And I could barely even spell my own name ♪ ♪ But I said, "Come Abby dear with your books on each side ♪ ♪ Balance you out and a-steady your ride."

♪ ♪ And I set out down the Tomahawk trail ♪ ♪ To deliver the books on Abigail ♪ ♪ Well, we splashed through the creeks so wide ♪ ♪ And the valleys so deep ♪ ♪ And every night I would flip through the pages ♪ ♪ On her belly I would sleep ♪ ♪ Then I held her up as the heat set in ♪ ♪ When she found dirt in the field ♪ ♪ And I wrapped it with herbs like the old-timer said ♪ ♪ And she began to heal ♪ ♪ And I said, "Come Abby dear with your books on each side ♪ ♪ Balance you out and a-steady your ride."

♪ ♪ And I set out down the Tomahawk trail ♪ ♪ To deliver the books on Abigail ♪ ♪ Well, we took those books in the towns ♪ ♪ And the hollers every day ♪ ♪ Just to give those folks a place to go ♪ ♪ And a chance to get away ♪ ♪ And though I was a book lady ♪ ♪ I never did learn to read ♪ ♪ But I was smarter than the mountains are rough ♪ ♪ Cause I had Abby next to me ♪ ♪ And I said, "Come Abby dear with your books on each side ♪ ♪ Balance you out and a-steady your ride."

♪ ♪ Oh, I set out down the Tomahawk trail ♪ ♪ To deliver the books on Abigail ♪ ♪ Yeah, I set out down the Tomahawk trail ♪ ♪ To deliver the books on Abigail ♪ [audience cheering] - [Sarah] Thanks y'all.

- This next song we're gonna do, is something that we wrote after an experience we had on the Stay at Home tour in Durham.

There was this lady that was on our porch.

And she was like, probably, "Wow, what is this music that's in my neighborhood.

I would rather be taking a nap.

I don't wanna be listening to this."

But we were there, but she emailed us a few weeks later and she asked us to play her husband's funeral.

We were just honored she asked us to play.

But you know, we didn't know him.

We didn't know her or anybody else there.

We were totally outsiders.

And about halfway through the service, Sarah and I are both really emotional over this man that we never knew.

And it just dawned on me that when it's really boiled down and we, you know, who we are as people at our core is something that we can describe pretty easily.

In 15 minutes or so, you can really understand who a person really is at their core.

And maybe if we were at our own funerals and we could hear what our grandchildren were saying about us one day.

That we would just spend more time being better people at our core and less about worrying about all the little things.

This is called Flies at our Funeral.

[bright lively music] ♪ I put on a bow little tie and black pants to say farewell ♪ ♪ To a friend I never met ♪ ♪ We were hired to sing Amazing Grace ♪ ♪ Before they laid you in the grave ♪ ♪ Then the car on the way to your service ♪ ♪ We were cutting up ♪ ♪ And having ourselves some fun ♪ ♪ By the end I noticed I was crying ♪ ♪ The words spoken by your grandson ♪ ♪ If we could be flies at our funeral ♪ ♪ Knowing in the end we'd be okay ♪ ♪ When it's summed up in 15 minutes ♪ ♪ All hard times fade away ♪ ♪ I'm gonna live like today is my last day ♪ ♪ When I walk in the sweet by and by ♪ ♪ I'll remember the flies ♪ ♪ Like the speech given by great [indistinct] ♪ ♪ I was nodding along to every single word ♪ ♪ Your wife said you were a man of honor ♪ ♪ And your son put his arm around her.

♪ ♪ And I remember since I've taken grade school ♪ ♪ Thinking my future's on the line ♪ ♪ When I was 12 I'd flip the bird to my neighbor ♪ ♪ My dad made me go and apologize ♪ ♪ If we could be flies at our funeral ♪ ♪ Knowing in the end we'd be okay ♪ ♪ When it's summed up in 15 minutes ♪ ♪ All the hard times fade away ♪ ♪ I'm gonna live like today is my last day ♪ ♪ When I walk and see the by and by ♪ ♪ I'll remember the flies ♪ ♪ If we could be flies at our funeral ♪ ♪ Knowing in the end we'd be okay ♪ ♪ When it's summed up in 15 minutes ♪ ♪ All the hard times fade away ♪ ♪ I'm gonna live like today is my last day ♪ ♪ When I walk in the sweet by and by ♪ ♪ I'll remember the flies.

♪ [bright lively music] [audience cheering] - So our parents are here tonight.

My mom and dad are here.

Austin's parents are here.

Yeah.

[crowd cheering] - [Austin] Yeah, they raised us.

- And this is their favorite song, because it is a tune that we wrote when we quit our corporate jobs and started playing music for a living.

And yeah, it's called 'Hinges.'

[bright upbeat music] ♪ Like an unburned candle ♪ ♪ You're a piece of art ♪ ♪ It's time to light the flame ♪ ♪ Let it melt your heart ♪ ♪ What good is potential ♪ ♪ Without a force to move ♪ ♪ I promise not to hurt you ♪ ♪ Leave you black and blue ♪ ♪ I want to come to your house ♪ ♪ Track my dirt behind ♪ ♪ So everybody knows ♪ ♪ That you are mine ♪ ♪ With mud in the hallway ♪ ♪ Cobwebs on the door ♪ ♪ Means that we have time ♪ ♪ To make love even more ♪ ♪ Let this old house fall to pieces ♪ ♪ Let the rain drip in the pan ♪ ♪ Let the dust settle on the hard pine floor ♪ ♪ Let the hinges creak in the door ♪ [bright lively music] ♪ We'll spend half our life ♪ ♪ Sleeping in the dark ♪ ♪ Make this whole world better ♪ ♪ Be sure to leave your mark.

♪ ♪ Let's ride into the sunset ♪ ♪ Leave the green behind ♪ ♪ We can find more somewhere ♪ ♪ Further on down the line ♪ ♪ Let this old house fall to pieces ♪ ♪ Let the rain drip in the pan ♪ ♪ Let the dust settle on the hard pine floor ♪ ♪ Let the hinges creak in the door ♪ [bright lively music] ♪ Unless it's North to South ♪ ♪ Say yes to me darling ♪ ♪ Kiss my dirty mouth ♪ ♪ I promise I will show you ♪ ♪ A world that's sure to please ♪ ♪ Cut the ties that hold you back ♪ ♪ Feel the sweet release ♪ ♪ Let this old house fall to pieces ♪ ♪ Let the rain drip in the pan.

♪ ♪ Let the dust settle on the hard pine floor ♪ ♪ Let the hinges creak in the door ♪ ♪ Let this old house fall to pieces ♪ [audience cheering] - Thanks y'all.

[audience continues to cheer] - We have one more song for you.

Thank you so much again, for being here tonight.

We just can't.

- We were fortunate enough to play a lot during COVID.

But nothing like this.

- Yeah.

- This is our first like real ticketed showback.

And it means the world - Indoors.

Like, this feels crazy.

We're gonna do a special surprise on this last song.

Do you remember, Austin?

- I do.

- Okay so know we have some young fans in the audience tonight.

Who are staying up way past their bedtime to be here.

So is Sonia here?

Or Jamare?

You guys are here?

And is Anica here?

And Josie?

Anica's here.

Josie.

Hey, oh you're in the front row.

I met Josie at Merles- Oh you're already wearing our T-shirt.

Do you guys want to come on stage and sing Come Home with us?

[crowd cheering] All right.

You need to....

If you want to come sing, Mrs. Katie is gonna meet you by the exit sign over here.

Go stand with Mrs. Katie, and she's going to lead you up when it's the right time, okay?

And if I didn't call your name and you are under the age of 12- Hey Jamare.

- [Austin] It's like church, anyone under the age of 12.

Come on up.

- [Sarah] Come on down.

- This is our tune Come Home.

[cheerful music playing] ♪ Is the radio ♪ ♪ Too loud for you ♪ ♪ Was it the lonely bare-ing country view ♪ ♪ Pastures ♪ ♪ Fields of green ♪ ♪ - Yeah.

♪ Is it just me ♪ ♪ You hate it ♪ ♪ That we ate with our hands ♪ ♪ Damned if I thought this was the Promised Land ♪ ♪ The wind blows ♪ ♪ Whispers your name ♪ ♪ The dog sits on the porch ♪ ♪ Howling out my name ♪ ♪ And I lay awake at night ♪ ♪ Screaming out your name ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ - Yeah!

You can get really close- - Here we go.

♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ - [Sarah] All right, yes.

♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Well the city streets are cold ♪ ♪ Without you on my arms ♪ ♪ And I miss you like hell ♪ ♪ But I don't miss that farm ♪ ♪ And I can't breath ♪ ♪ Out there on that land ♪ ♪ And I know that I will never find ♪ ♪ Myself a better man ♪ - [Sarah] Here we go, get ready.

Get close ♪ The wind blows ♪ ♪ Whispers your name ♪ ♪ The dog sits on the porch ♪ ♪ Howling out your name ♪ - You're gonna hold it right here.

You got it.

♪ And I lay awake at night ♪ ♪ Screaming out your name ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ - Okay here we go.

♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ - You wanna try it?

No, okay.

♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ - Here we go.

♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ ♪ Come home ♪ [bright cheerful music] [audience cheering] - Let's give it up to our new band mates.

- Take a bow, take a bow.

Sarah, take a bow.

- Go take a bow.

Bow?

- All right.

Thank ya'll so much, we really appreciate it.

- Thanks ya'll.

We're Chatham Rabbits, we'll see you next time.

[audience cheering] - [Austin] Thank ya'll so much.