Bluegrass/Folk/Americana Fridays
I was introduced to The Civil Wars (Joy Williams and John Paul White) when I heard Poison & Wine from their EP on television. I was immediately intrigued because they’re not close to the sound I adore, they ARE the sound I adore. The harmonies they create are nothing short of heavenly. They mostly use only guitars and a piano. The simplest of instruments creating the most intricate, exquisite sound.
I fell in obsession pretty quickly and made it my mission to see them live. I saw three of their free shows at SXSW. They were incredible. I would put up my videos from that but the iphone doesn’t know it’s supposed to drown me out. There’s no way I could keep my mouth shut I was just so ecstatic.
The song above is not on their album, Barton Hollow, or their EP, Poison & Wine, but they’ve been performing it while on tour and iTunes has it as a part of their live SXSW recording. I do, however, HIGHLY recommend both the album and EP. You won’t be disappointed.
Joy loves to keep in touch with the ever-growing fan base so you can find them on twitter and tumblr. She’s chronicling their first tour. I just love em. tcwtour :)
“From this Valley”- The Civil Wars
Folk/Bluegrass/Americana Fridays- because sometimes you want to close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting on a wrap-around porch gazing wistfully at the Appalachian mountains while a very nice old couple plays lovingly duets with a banjo and fiddle.
I adore a good banjo/acoustic guitar/mandolin/fiddle combo. I’ve been listening to Prairie Home Companion and Bluegrass music my whole life but I think my affinity for it really comes from when my family and I lived in Memphis, TN. On Sundays after church, my mom would turn the intercom radio throughout the house to Bluegrass Sundays on NPR and we’d hum and dance and make “down in the holler” jokes. On a whole, I despised living in Memphis (having left Austin…whoa totally different) but Sundays were what made it bearable. I loved our Methodist church and how great I felt every Sunday after seeing my friends and coming home to the whole family in sunny spirits.
Living in Tennessee, we took several short trips to the Eastern part of the state and the Carolinas. One of my most vivid musical memories is listening to Alison Krauss’ album, Forget About It, on a trip to Kiawah Island, SC in 1999. I remember closing my eyes on the porch facing the beach and hearing the most pure and captivating voice wafting from the CD player inside. It was Alison’s voice and I’ve been madly in love with every project she’s done ever since. From her partnership with Union Station to her work on Cold Mountain and O Brother, Where Art Thou? to the album Raising Sand she did with Robert Plant. She is undeniably magnificent, and the newest album from Alison Krauss and Union Station, Paper Airplane, is no exception. Their songs speak of a different era but capture the same emotions we feel today. A recipe for pure, beautiful and poignant music.
I couldn’t pick which song to post so here are two of my favorites, “Paper Airplane” and “Dust Bowl Children”.
Peace, Love and Banjos.
