Spirit Family Reunion
Ben and Jerry, Michael and Scottie and Simon and Garfunkel all define the “duo” in the traditional sense. They play off one another, they’re successful and, if we’re lucky, they stick it out for more than five years (I’m looking at you Ren and Stimpy).
The following pairs coming to central PA harmonize more in the collaborative sense, bound by an appreciation for their respective crafts (sometimes overlapping) rather than the “with our without you” sense. These artists crisscross genres, some awaken spirits from the old-time twangs or Motown melodies. Other times, these pairings give us timeless and unique music from the here and now and of yore.
Prairie Empire/Spirit Family Reunion, Appalachian Brewing Co., Aug. 18, doors at 8 p.m.: Spirit Family Reunion embodies the revived tradition of old-timey twang with a fleet of foot-stomping numbers off their debut album, “No Separation.” As Paste Magazine puts it, “It’s the type of music that blurs the line between past and present so thoroughly, and so deftly, that time feels irrelevant.” Amen.
Prairie Empire will be joining them. The group is comprised of three-fifths of the Decembrists clan and features a string band that includes an accordion, a dobro, an upright bass, a fiddle and that good ole six-string. They combine a keen understanding of instrumentation with clear vocals, and their musical clout and sensibilities allow them to break the traditional rules of Americana music. Listen to the folk/klezmer string hybrid in the song, “How Do You Ruin Me?”
Both will have played the internationally acclaimed Newport Folk Festival by the time they touch down at the Abbey Bar. They’re the real deal, and we should “pay” and “heed” their art.
Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake, Hersheypark Stadium, Aug. 4, doors at 8 p.m.: Hova and J.T. will put on their suits and ties for their “Legends of the Summer” tour. Both are riding legacy-cementing albums into the fall (Jay-Z’s “Magna Carta Holy Grail” and Timberlake’s “20/20 Experience”). Timberlake’s album is seen as status quo lyrically relative to his other albums, if not a bit more cheery (Remember, “Cry Me a River,” circa 2002?). However, he stretches his song structures and genres due to the genius pop production of Timbaland. Jay-Z’s twelfth studio album had a robust and enigmatic ad campaign, his three-minute mini-doc premiering during the NBA Finals in June. Most of it featured spliced interactions of Jay spitting axiomatic phrases at Pharrell and team, and Rick Rubin playing the eccentric hobo on the couch. Odd. The album is again a production masterpiece because of Timbaland, but he’s getting the universal thumbs down on this one. Regardless, if you can fork over the dough for this one, you know they won’t disappoint on the main stage.
Mentionables:
Aug. 1, Beach Arabs, Baby Brains, DJ Garret Price, Gingerbread Man-Harrisburg, 9 p.m.
Aug. 7, CC3-Chris Cawthay Trio, MakeSpace, 8 p.m.
Aug. 9, Timurid, Warrior Rabbit and Good Graeff, Little Amps, 6 p.m.
