Hear This: Rising Appalachia at GAMH
Rising Appalachia's singing sisters Chloe Smith and Leah Song dig into the mountain string band traditions with a 21st century pickaxe. Think Gaia hippie love meets conscious hip-hop meets modern primitivism. Releasing a half-dozen albums and globetrotting for years on their own, they are DIY and community-conscious to the marrow. Drawing on ancient sources of strength — the human voice, the almighty groove, and a close-knit family of artist-educator collaborators — the duo aims for a ritual healing experience with its music and inspirational lyrics (from "Spirit's Cradle": "I believe in the goodness/of humankind"). Rising Appalachia's brand new CD,
Wider Circles, benefits from the soulful contributions of percussionist Biko Casini and upright bassist/baritone guitarist David Brown, whose palpable grasp of space and time uplifts the sisters' magical voices and spare accompaniment on banjo and fiddle. Updates on old-time classics like "Fall on My Knees," "Cripple Creek," and "Bright Morning Stars" connect with the ancestors and come across as a shared spiritual journey. These tunes are raw, deeply rooted, and winged. It's a rare combination of forces.
— Sam Prestianni
415-885-0750
