I had heard of this band, but never listened before and they certainly impressed me at Newport! They have a very dreamlike vibe to their sound, yet they can really ROCK out too. Matthew Houck is the main force behind this group, and he’s based in NYC.
My sister had seen this LA based band earlier this year and told me they were not to be missed at Newport. She was right! Their sound is a wonderful mixture of genres and really SOLID and tight. My co-worker used the word “sophisticated” to describe it, and I think that’s spot on. For fans of Local Natives, Andrew Bird and Fleet Foxes.
I was completely surprised with how much I enjoyed Shovels & Rope. This husband/wife duo from Charleston, SC have gritty harmonies that demand your attention.
These guys were probably my favorite discovery of the weekend. At times they sounded like Kings Of Convenience, and at other times they channeled Simon & Garfunkel or The Everly Brothers. Their dry humor between songs kept us laughing and then their music completely silenced us…SEE THEM LIVE if you can! They’ve got shows coming up with Josh Ritter, Sarah Jarosz and Over The Rhine.