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 I'm With Her |
 I'm With Her |
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Review and photos by Frances Sealy I'm with Her is three Americana artists who produce the most stunning harmonies this side of heaven. They are Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O'Donovan (pronounced ee-fuh) in no particular order. They deserve every accolade that they have gotten. The trio has been touring this year in support of their long awaited album, See You Around.The Brother Brothers opened the show and set the mood for what was to come. Adam and David Moss are Brother Brothers and they are identical twins. Their bluegrass sound is as lovely and gentile as I'm With Her. Their voices are in perfect unison and seem inseparable. Together they are mesmerizing and their sound is quietly introspective yet has a native energy at the same time. They are celebrating the release of their new album, Some People I Know on October 19th. The Brother Brothers toured with Sarah Jarosz last year and they seem to be the perfect fit for I'm With Her. The most striking thing about I'm With Her is that they blend their vocals so precisely that it is nearly impossible to differentiate one voice from another no matter how closely one listens. Their harmony is perfection. The theatre is pin-drop quiet. No one wants to miss a note that is sung. Each member has blazed her trail in other bands or as solo artists. Jarosz is ten years younger than the other members of the band. She started learning mandolin at the age of ten. She later learned to play guitar and banjo. She signed with Sugar Hill Records in her senor year of high school. Jarosz has released four solo albums since 2009 with a host of supporting musicians that reads like a who's-who in Americana music. The 26 year old has garnered two Grammy Awards in 2017 for Best Folk Album and Best American Roots Performance. Jarosz exudes an uncanny confidence as she performs no matter as a solo artist or in a group. As a songwriter, she demonstrates maturity beyond her years. Watkins has toured and recorded as both a solo artist and as a member of Nickel Creek. She is a master of the fiddle, guitar, ukulele, and percussion. As a solo artist, Watkins has released three albums: Sara Watkins, Sun Midnight Sun, and Young in All the Wrong Ways. In 2016 the Americana Music Honors and Awards bestowed Watkins with "Instrumentalist of the Year" award. O'Donovan honed her singing and songwriting skills during her tenure with the bands Sometimes Why and Crooked Still. She has toured with Garrison Keller's A Prairie's Home Companion. Her solo career includes Blue Light, a 7" vinyl limited edition album release. Fossils was her first full solo album that was a break from her alt-bluegrass/folk in her quest to stray from the traditional music she had been performing. As a songwriter her songs have caught the attention of Alison Krause with her composition "Lay My Burden Down." The band had a three-microphone setup initially during the show. Midway during the set, they moved forward to a single microphone and sang collectively for several songs. During the encore, they came closer to the front edge of the stage to sing an a cappella version of Nina Simone's "Be My Husband." Add the superb acoustics of the Fox Theatre with their naked voices, the result was a true hair-raising experience. The band has the ability to make covers like John Hiatt's "Crossing Muddy Waters" and Vampire Weekend's "Hannah Hunt" truly their own. Their seamless performance of other songwriters' songs would make the most finicky composer proud. |
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1. See You Around 2. Game to Lose 3. Wild One 4. Ain't That Fine 5. Chinky Pin Hill 6. Pangaea 7. Hornets (Aoife O'Donovan song) 8. Ryland (Under the Apple Tree) 9. Hannah Hunt (Vampire Weekend cover) 10. Thursday's Child (Aoife O'Donovan song) |
11. Still Life
(Sarah Jarosz song) 12. Truth Won't Set Us Free 13. Waitsfield 14. Lord Lead Me On (Bill Monroe cover) 15. I-89 16. Overland 17. Crossing Muddy Waters (John Hiatt cover) Encore: 18. Be My Husband (Nina Simone cover) |
 I'm With Her |
 Brother Brothers |
 I'm With Her |
 Brother Brothers |
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