Several different shades of Americana/country/folk will be on display tonight at Mike ‘N Molly’s, as the three-pronged attack of Neoga Blacksmith, Northern Magnolia, and The Divide give you excellent value for your $5 investment (Hamm’s not included). Doors open at 8 p.m.
Northern Magnolia is from Chicago, and Amelia Bowen interviewed them the last time they came to town. They recently released Dreams to Reckon With, which is an album containing ten songs, and which can be downloaded here.
Dreams to Reckon With is a very polished musical effort, especially for a band that hasn’t been in existence for that long, with lovely, chiming guitars and cohesive melodies. Frontwoman Rory Miller’s vocals are self-possessed and mesh well with Tony Piscotti’s guitar work. Miller ranges from twangy on “Missouri” to a sultry croon on “Hold On (to Me)” to torch singing on “Gas In My Lead.”
There’s not a whole lot of fresh lyrical subject matter being unearthed here, but the themes of love, lust, loss, whiskey and Levi’s make sure that the Americana tag sticks. No mention of prison, mama, trains, or rain, but that’s what second albums are for, right? Dreams to Reckon With never rises above a mid-tempo pace, keeping its air of relaxed pickin’ intact throughout.
Northern Magnolia is in good company at Mike ‘N Molly’s tonight, and the price is about as right as you could ever ask for, so give ’em a shot if you have the time.