2016 Big Red Nominees: Americana/Roots Act of the Year
In an effort to help you better get to know your nominees this year (after all, education is everything in these things, right?) we will be taking some time over the next week or two to dive a little deeper into each of the categories and the nominees within each one of of them. Today we take a look (and a listen) to the nominees for Americana/Roots Act of the Year. Lets get on it, shall we? And don’t forget TO VOTE HERE.
Muddy Ruckus : Swampy, dirty, gritty, gorgeous? Yeah, pretty much all that can be used to describe the blues infused punch of the Portland duo’s sound. Rich vocal harmonies, overdriven guitars and a driving percussion backbone that holds it all together. A little dark, a little light and a wonderful balance make this band one to watch in the next year.
Lula Wiles : The first time I heard the voices of Ellie, Isa and Mali join together on a stage I fell in love with the sound that emanated from the speakers and straight through my heart. The last time I heard them, the same thing happened. There is an innate lasting power in these three women and their music. Its just pure beauty in how they play off of one another’s energy. Each is an absolute pro at their instrument…and they all play more than one of them. The writing is real and heartfelt and the band’s 2016 release was an exploration in both American roots and beyond and they expand their sound.
Honeysuckle : There is a delicate balance in which you create new music while paying homage to the old, and Honeysuckle does it brilliantly. Holly McGarry’s voice is one of the most striking and warm that I have heard in the last decade. That, on its own, would be enough to captivate and earn a nod in a “best of the year” list, but the 3 artists together, with the inspiring mandolin runs of Chris Bloniarz and the rocksteady glue that Benjamin Burns provides (plus his own gorgeous songs and voice), well its a triple threat that is sure to impress.
Julie Rhodes : Who knew the bayou and delta of the south ran through the Charles as well? Rhodes conjurs up the bluesy underpinnings of the past and brings it to the Northeast in a big way that is all her own. The band is on fire and Julie’s sometimes sultry, sometimes chest caving with its growl and rumble, vocal is the centerpiece for the music. She has been on a tear this year, touring, performing and honing the craft while building a band around her sound and a loyal following in New England and beyond.
Cowboy & Lady : The duo of Tyler-James Kelly and Jess Powers entered my life and I was never the same. There is a timeless quality to the music they make together and the effortless grace and beauty of Powers’ voice dovetails in this absolutely perfect fashion with Kelly’s worn and tattered voice. The musicianship is incredible with expertly picked guitar and the harmonies are sublime. Its blues, its country…its just plain wonderful and the throwback to duos of the past ala Johnny & June, Conway and Loretta or Emmylou and Gram is an important reminder of the beauty that comes with the simplicity of two voices melting into one.
Miriam : There are a handful of bands that frequent hot spots around the Camber-ville area enough to be considered almost a house band, or least a staple in the construct that holds that venue together. Miriam and the comfy confines of Toad seem to go hand in hand. The band feels like a honky-tonk twanger and a catchy rock n’ roll band had a love child and spout out a dueling female harmonied beast of a band that is focused intently on making musci for the love of making music…and it shows.
Session Americana : The boys (and revolving door guests) of Session Americana are like rootsy rock royalty in town. Their Tuesday residencies at Lizard were legendary hangs…almost like a night hanging in your living room with friends, but the band was fan-fucking-tastic. Their traveling show has built momentum at listening rooms and theatres around the globe and their latest release ‘Great Shakes’ has already garnered some pretty high praise for being “warm, engaging” and “gorgeous”. The boys know how to thrown down and bring a raucous time, but its that balance that really shows the depth of their music and performances. Each one of SA’s core members are brilliant musicians in their own right, but time and time again they prove that as a whole they are truly great the sum of its parts.
