Dec. 1 9 p.m. Herrick Chapel
Tomorrow night, concertgoers are in for a treat. The pairing of Mason Jennings and Pieta Brown at Herrick Chapel is sure to delight even the most casual folk fan. Hailing from Minnesota and Iowa, respectively, the show promises to have a distinctly Midwestern folk flavor. On record, Jennings tends to rock the sparse acoustic and drum combination, floating his gentle lyrics over a simply strummed progression. Brown, on the other hand, has a more country-blues feel to her, with the lower end playing a much more significant role.
Expect a distinct sound from each live performance. Jennings, who plays with Chris Morrissey on bass and Dave King (The Bad Plus) on drums, tends to speed things up a bit and adds a thicker bass line to carry the concert. On the other hand, Brown softens things up a bit, relying more on her vocals to steal the show.
Both Jennings and Brown have recently released records. Jennings latest, Boneclouds, was put out in 2006 by Glacial Pace Records and has since received outstanding reviews, including a 3.5 star review from Rolling Stone magazine. The first artist signed to Isaac Brock’s (Modest Mouse) label, Jennings has yet to disappoint.
“I was completely blown away with Mason’s unashamed and incredibly sincere voice and lyrics,” Brock recalls in a 2006 interview with Pitchfork Media. “I can be a real shithead critic when it comes to music so I have to tell you how nice it felt to instantly want to compliment instead of criticize the music.”
Not to be outshined, Brown—though not signed to a high-profile label—brings her own credentials to the table. Her latest album, Remember the Sun, released this September on One Little Indian Records, has been receiving high praise and continues to receive rave reviews in the U.K., where it was released earlier this year. “Remember the Sun could have been recorded any time in the last 30 years and still stand out … [its] gentle swing mixing with swagger as perfectly as beer and chasers,” comments one critic from Q magazine.
Saturday’s concert, despite a lack of buzz, promises to be one of the best of the year and should not be missed. For putting together such an outstanding combination of up-and-coming talent and original flavor, be sure to pat your local (or, really, any) SGA Concerts committee member on the back.
