The Devil Makes Three to perform at Penn’s Peak

Penn’s Peak will host the dynamic power-trio, The Devil Makes Three, on Jan. 18 with a new bandmate.

The band, originally founded in Santa Cruz, California, in 2002, usually consists of guitarist Pete Bernhard, upright bassist Lucia Turino and guitarist and tenor banjo player Cooper McBean. However, Turino is currently taking a break so vocalist and multi-instrumentalist MorganEve Swain is filling the role.

The Devil Makes Three has been described with many genres: folk, blues, bluegrass, country, ragtime, old time, rock ’n’ roll and even jazz.

However, the band’s talent and musical stylings are much deeper than the genres they encompass.

Bernard credits the band’s fans for much of the trio’s success both by being loyal and respectful fans but also by spreading the word of the band’s legacy.

“When we started our band, we didn’t really have any representation so the way people heard of our band was strictly by word of mouth,” said Bernard. “Our fans are the most important thing that we’ve had because they’ve made it possible for us to do everything we’ve done.”

While fan testimonials and rockin’ shows speak for themselves when repp’ing the bands talent, their chart-topping works do as well.

In 2014, their 2013-released album “I’m a Stranger Here” landed them their first debut on the Billboard Top 200.

In 2016, their album “Redemption & Ruin” landed their second No. 1 on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums Chart.

Alongside and including these chart-topping works, The Devil Makes Three has six full-length albums, making for a diverse discography to turn to for performances.

“We always play new material but we always play old stuff too,” Bernard said. “It keeps it interesting for the audience … they hear the songs they want to hear as well as songs they’ve never heard before.”

However, despite their spontaneous and ever-changing set lists, their most recent album “Chains are Broken,” which was released in 2018, has taken much of the stage in this recent tour.

“(‘Chains Are Broken’) is probably one of the most upbeat albums we’ve ever done … some of the faster songs we’ve done,” Bernard said. “The songs are actually kind of sad … in ways, it’s almost like a blues record but it doesn’t feel like one.

“It’s not a down, slow sounding record but the themes in it are definitely very sad.”

When asked whether he prefers to stay true to the band’s older work or if he prefers to explore their newer beats in performances, Bernard explained he likes both for different reasons.

“The new stuff we’re working on … is always exciting for us because there’s an element of danger (with) stuff we’ve never done before and seeing what people think of it but I also really enjoy playing the old songs too,” said Bernard. “Songs are kind of different in their own way and I like them all for different reasons. Once they’re released, it’s like having kids, you never know what they’re going to grow up to.”

According to Bernard, while the future of the band is not entirely painted out yet, they do hope to work in the studio a lot more to produce more recorded work for their fans.

Tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations, as well as during business hours at Penn’s Peak’s box office and Roadie’s Restaurant on Maury Road in Jim Thorpe.

Doors for the show open at 7:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8:30 p.m.