Recent Stringfolk in Three Movements: Pt. 3- Drain You

Welcome back internetfolk! We’re all back at school now so the PTC content floodgates have closed up some, but not even higher education can completely stop us from rambling about music we like every so often. Today I’m back with the third and (maybe) final installment of my series about stringfolk. Unlike the Anastasio and Gabriel tracks that I discussed earlier, this time I’m spotlighting an artist that specializes specifically in the genre of string-backed folk: the venerable band Horse Feathers, who emerged from the recently growing music scene in Portland, OR, and entered my life at last year’s Newport Folk Festival. Instrumentally, the band includes a lead singer/acoustic guitarist named Justin Ringle, a violinist, a cellist and a multi-instrumentalist filling in on banjo, mandolin, percussion, or whatever else happens to be necessary at the time. Together they create a gentle and calm atmosphere that perfectly suits Ringle’s delicate vocal rasp. The songs are simple but melodic, taking advantage of the harmonic flexibility that the strings bring to the picture. Acoustic guitars can’t always do everything right?

Drain You (Nirvana Cover), Horse Feathers Drain You (Live 1994), Nirvana

I don’t know about you, but when I think about delicate violin and cello interplay, sweetly whispered vocals and elegant songwriting the first thing that comes to my mind is grunge. (Disclaimer: I may be lying to you.) Evidently, Justin Ringle feels the same way, as the band released this cover of Nirvana’s 1991 gem “Drain You” on a 7-inch single last year. I discovered it on the internet this fall, and I must say its one of my favorite covers in recent memory. Like any worthy cover song, this version dares to completely re-imagine what “Drain You” is supposed to be, but it doesn’t insult or detract from the original writer’s intentions. Horse Feathers and Nirvana might sit miles apart on the sonic spectrum, but elements of this specific song expose important similarities between their musical philosophies. Its why cover songs are so great, they bring two artists together, one offering the composition and the other tackling on the performance, and sometimes even surprising combinations just lock in. This track is the modern indie answer to Hendrix’s fuzzed out take on Dylan’s folky “All Along the Watchtower,” which might be the preeminent cover song in rock history. Yeah, its that awesome.

Things That Are Awesome: Harper Blynn cover “Halo” by Beyonce

Things That Are Awesome don’t necessarily always have to be live covers, but live covers are awesome. Especially this one. Watch the video and download the recording below of Brooklyn-based rock band Harper Brynn, formerly known as Pete and J, cover Halo by Beyonce. It grooves hard. Maybe dangerously so. They also tease “Cannibal Resource” by the always impressive Dirty Projectors and actually pull it off.

Why this is awesome:

1. Drums. This is no sissy, fake-sounding drum beat. They don’t come in until after the first few lines, but the beat takes over fast. Sarab Singh, the band’s drummer, keeps everything super tight, especially as the rest of the band jams out on the Dirty Projectors voacal melody. The drums are also recorded perfectly, an impressive feat for a live youtube video.
2. J. Blynn. This guy goes all out on this song, and his energy doesn’t go unnoticed. He also has the vocal fortitude to pull it off, which is impressive.
3. Pete Harper’s introduction is hilarious. And true.
4. The whole band can sing. Rarely enough for a rock act, every member of the band with a mic can sing relatively well. It lets them all get into it, even the bass player who has a minimal part otherwise.
5. Hair. This video is full of amazing rock and roll haircuts.

Download: Halo (Beyonce Cover), Harper Blynn

I hadn’t heard of Harper Blynn until this video, but they definitely have my attention now. They’re on a big tour right now, head over to their myspace for all the details and check back here for more awesomeness to come!

-James