in which mountain man doesn't need instruments to make music

so, when i was in high school, a friend of mine kept trying to sell me on an acapella band. "they're good," she said, making sure she also reminded me that she was part of the glee club and was one to know whether or not singers were good or not. "it takes an incredible amount of talent to be able to make music with just your voice and not need instruments to back you up."

i ignored her, mainly because i was the sort of girl who listened to all those alternative bands like the cure and depeche mode and the like who NEEDED instruments. it was a difficult concept to wrap my mind around at the time, and one that i felt was just weird.

which just goes to show you how teenagers often think they're so brilliant, only to discover years later, when they're adults, that they don't actually know jack.

because acapella, done right, can be a very powerful musical experience. case in point, mountain man.



a trio from all over the country (st.paul, santa cruz, and brookland, to be specific), mountain man is the creative outlet for molly erin sarle, alexandra sauser-monnig, and amelia randall meath. here's what they have to say about themselves:

The music of Mountain Man is nestled in the tradition of American folk, but shoots like diamond dust out of the nest into the high, wide atmosphere. Their songs are shaped by three searching voices, encompassing harmonies and a shared belief in and love of the world. They are mutually moved to sing by their love for people, and for trees, birds and mountains, the ocean, the night, the moon, and being a woman. They all love the rambling, rumbling, rolling summer….

last year, they released made the harbor, which i should preface isn't acapella. but it's lovely music, straight up folk that wraps around you like a snug, warm blanket.

have a listen below:



but to bring it back to my original point, mountain man excels at acapella. the girls' three voices blend together in near perfect harmony, creating a sound that rivals any song featuring instruments.

a good example of this is play it right. check it out/download it below:

(mp3) play it right by mountain man

prefer to watch them sing it, so you can watch the magic happen?

Mountain Man - Play It Right from Bella Union on Vimeo.

here's a preview of their upcoming album, live at the wiltern:



want to see mountain men live this year? check out one of the following dates on their tour:

July 08 - Winnipeg MB @ Winnipeg Folk Festival
July 09 - Winnipeg MB @ Winnipeg Folk Fest
July 10 - Minneapolis MN @ Cedar Cultural Center (Free Patio Show)
July 11 - Milwaukee WI @ Cactus Club
July 12 - Chicago IL @ Schubas
July 13 - Lawrence KS @ The Bottleneck (w/ Blind Pilot)
July 15 - Santa Fe NM @ Brewing Co Patio (w/ Blind Pilot)
July 16 - Denver CO @ Larimer Lounge
July 17 - Aspen CO @ Belly Up
July 18 - Telluride CO @ Sheridan Opera House (w/ Blind Pilot)
July 21 - St Louis MO @ Off Broadway
July 23 - Indianapolis IN @ Radio Radio
July 24 - Pittsburgh PA @ Club Café
July 25 - Philadelphia PA @ Chapel at First Unitarian
July 26 - Arlington VA @ IOTA Club and Café
July 28 - New York NY @ Mercury Lounge (w/ BOBBY)
July 29 - Hudson NY @ Club Helsinki (w/ BOBBY)
July 30 - Northampton MA @ Iron Horse (w/ BOBBY)
July 31 - Newport RI @ Newport Folk Festival

live at the wiltern will be released on july 5th by partisan records.