Evening Chorus: “Now The Night Is Here”

Blistered Magnolia (take 2) mp3 Evening Chorus TWR Session #10

Now The Night Is Here (take 2) mp3 Evening Chorus TWR Session #10

Some bands come together as if by some divine hand from above. Musicians that had found homes in other groups and eventually moved on, suddenly bump into each other in strange, new places …. and it all sort of clicks. Yes, that’s a bit how it happened for this new Cardiff-based band Evening Chorus. Two long-time friends, Gareth Wardle (vocals, guitar, kick drum) and Callum “Dug” Duggan (double bass, vocals) decided to give folk music a whirl, adding to their sound Rachel Mercer (violin, glockenspiel, vocals), and Eugene Capper (banjo, vocals). The beautiful, fresh, result is this band, so full of creativity that they literally write a song in a day or two and record it the next. These are heady days, my friends!

Together for a ridiculously short time, our ever faithful Drunk Country (DC of The Waiting Room show on WOXY.com) was beckoned to come hear them play. It took him no time to realize the immediate talent present here and the incredible potential in what they were doing. I soon got a tweet from him, excited and crowing a bit…. he’d found something in his own backyard. It’s such a rush to see something so new and so raw, literally being worked out before your eyes, with such poignancy.

Evening Chorus’ songs are reminiscent of Mumford & Sons; they harmonize in a soulful way to emphasize the sorrow of heartbreak. Banjo, violin and guitar rise as “Blistered Magnolia” builds, then falls down to a quiet strum, only to build again, adding instruments as it goes. And all the while, as I listen to Gareth’s voice I feel as if I know it already. Finally it comes to me, there’s a real feel of Colin Meloy in the timbre of it, more even-keeled, but similar enough to feel comfortable to my ears. Rachel’s harmonies balance the boys out nicely, and when all four sing together… well, hearing this in person must be chilling! Watch for them, m’dears. Evening Chorus is one to keep an eye on in 2010.

The Waiting Room, Dec. 12, 2009 mp3 for their interview and studio session with DC in The Waiting Room as broadcast on WOXY.com. And stay tuned for future EPs, coming soon! xoxo

Tweets that mention Evening Chorus, band to watch in 2010 | love shack, baby -- Topsy.com

December 17, 2009 at 9:06 am

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by TartyTart, Drunk Country. Drunk Country said: Hey You! Check this out: @Evening_Chorus post over @ loveshackbaby.net + session downloads from here: http://tinyurl.com/yga252e [...]

Drunk Country

December 17, 2009 at 9:15 am

Cheers, Doll. Smooches.

Smansmith

December 17, 2009 at 9:25 am

Agreed. These “young-ins” from across the pond definitely sound like they can put on a show and still have it translate to sitting way over here in Canada listening with headphones. They will definitely mature and grow this sound and only get better from here. I for one don’t mind listening throughout the entire journey.

Gotta get my post on Evening Chorus up this year as well….

December 17, 2009 at 9:35 am

It is quite a remarkable show live & the very reason they struck me on first hearing – the sound guy at their second ever / first proper gig was fucking dreadful & the audience were more intent on being drunk & all Hallowe’eny. Because of the shit PA & crowd din, TWoTH & I had to actually go outside to the courtyard, behind & to the right of the stage inside the venue, so we could hear them properly. &, suffice, we were quite taken aback. In the face of said adversity they were pulling off a brilliant set like they’d been doing it for years. Subsequently we’ve seen them pack out a place with little to no advertising, on a Monday night, with 4 other seriously big/well attended/some old out gigs in the city at the same time. & they blew the dust from everyone’s crannies that night.

Definitely one to watch.