Mandolin Orange and Leif Vollebeck to play intimate local show

North Carolina natives Mandolin Orange return to town this week after their last scheduled show at Mud & Water back in January had to be canceled due to inclement weather. The emerging Americana duo has seen their star continue to rise and has added a very talented friend to the bill, songwriter Leif Vollebeck. Artists of this caliber playing anywhere, let alone the cozy confines of Chelsea’s side bar, should make this a can’t-miss show for local live music lovers. Mandolin Orange performs at 8 p.m. Friday. RSVP and get more information.

Founded on the talents and harmonies of primary songwriter Andrew Marlin and fiddler/vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Emily Frantz, the band has quietly gained steam and won fans nationwide. The duo’s unflappable chemistry has garnered comparisons to duos such as Graham Parsons and Emmylou Harris or Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. The band’s debut, This Side of Jordan, was recognized by NPR music as one of the top 10 folk and Americana albums of 2013. Both Mandolin Orange and Vollebeck earned coveted invitations this past summer to perform at the Newport Folk Festival, where both were well-received.

See a performance by Mandolin Orange below.

Mandolin Orange – House Of Stone from Live & Breathing on Vimeo.

Album of the week
Hiss Golden Messenger’s Lateness of Dancers

This album was released just last week but has already become a favorite of mine. Hiss Golden Messenger is the realization of the songs of MC Taylor, a songwriting veteran and master of his craft. The lyrics are based largely on biblical themes, yet end up being more fun than one might expect on account of Taylor’s intensely personal approach and the songs not advertising themselves as such. The sounds, however, are a kind of reimagined Appalachian folk with heavy doses of gospel, reggae and southern roots influences. This record is beautifully produced, fully engaging from front to back, and is more keenly developed, energetic and upbeat than Taylor’s previous albums. Check out “Saturday’s Song” below.