Pearl and the Beard

November 15

Frequency or Project Lodge



With Project Lodge being on the cover of the Isthmus last week, I'm guessing that it will be sticking around for another year.  This is great news for Madison, because they definitely are hitting a musical niche that isn't always fulfilled in other music venues.  Bands aren't expected to bring in close to 200 people to play the space.  Actually, if they bring over 30 people, it can get a bit crowded.  So with the ambiguity surrounding bands booked for November, I don't know quite where this band will play.  I saw a sign at the Frequency, so I'm going to shoot that this is where the band will play.

I have to admit that I only know a few songs from Pearl and the Beard, "Oh, Death!" being one of them.  But this song is definitely one of those songs that once you listen to it, you want to seek out more music from them.  And it isn't a fluke song.  There is a great deal of passion in their music and their voices are mesmerizing.

Pearl and The Beard is composed of 3 individuals, Jocelyn Mackenzie, Emily Hope Price, and Jeremy Styles, one cello, one glockenspiel and one accordian.  Their music reminds me of a touch of the old country/mountain music sound mix with some early soul music.  Extremely powerful vocals that carry each song and a minimum amount of music.   

God Bless Your Weary Soul, Amanda Richardson (listen to the full album)

A Hundred in the Hand

Wednesday, October 13 Turner Ballroom

It's been awhile since I wrote last.  Sorry about that.  I was going to try to update this blog daily, then it went to weekly, and then during the summer it dropped to monthly.  Well even though it's beautiful out now, I'm going to make an effort to get back into my daily or at least weekly routine of providing information of great bands coming to our area.  So if you are still with me, I hope you continue to.  If not, then I'm fine with writing to myself. 

   

     A Hundred in the Hand is a band from lovely New York, New York, which doesn't surprise me much.  They have incorporated a great duo balance that I love from other bands in that area, such as Sleigh Bells.  It's amazing to see how after one band is created using heavier music created by a male performer and beautiful vocals provided by a female performer, that other bands try to mimic that.  But unlike the heavy riffs that sleigh bells uses for their musical backing, A Hundred in the Hand uses a more funk/Disco sound.  The effect is equally enjoyable where as the latter made me want to mosh, the previous one makes me want to shakey shake it. 

They are the opening act for Temper Trap at Turner Hall, and I'm really excited to go see this show. 

The Hundred in the Hands

Pigeons (video)

Tom Tom