Bandade Presents: the dove & the wolf and Dirty Dollhouse

Bandade Music is very aware of the power of music in our lives. Formed in Nashville in 2015 and now located in Philadelphia, Bandade works to build community, raise awareness, and fight cancer through music. So far, they’ve had support from Alabama Shakes, Jason Isbell, Florence Welch, Sam Beam of Iron and Wine, and more; and since their move to Philadelphia, local artists are playing a major role in the Bandade community, helping to raise funds to fight cancer, and transforming an ordinary Wednesday night into an opportunity to be part of a larger purpose. Last month, Philly artists the dove & the wolf and Dirty Dollhouse highlighted the most recent Bandade benefit, and Root Down in the Shadow was there. Learn more about Bandade and see their calendar of upcoming shows at MyBandadeMusic.com.


the dove & the wolf

the dove and the wolf - photo by Dan McGurk

Upon first listen, Paris turned Philly expats the dove & the wolf stir something gloriously familiar.   The duo of Paloma Gil and Lou Hayat sings in tight, almost unison harmonies, and their guitars, in a sweeping wash of chorus, tremolo, and reverb recall the onset of dream pop and alternative rock -- an already too long ago time when artists such as Galaxie 500, Slowdive, Mazzy Star, and later, The Cranberries and Sixpence None the Richer went from cassette tapes to the airways.

the dove and the wolf - photo by Dan McGurk

And while their understated vocals and the intricate interplay of the guitars are enough to capture the nostalgic ear, it soon becomes clear that the dove and the wolf are the kind of artist rooted in our own time. Unlike many of their predecessors, songs and lives shows do not swell into big choruses or sing along hooks. Instead, the drums and bass boil beneath the dreamy surface, building a tension that reflects a theme in their music, one that seeks to place the introspective heart within the chaos and immediacy of our world.

Nowhere is this more clear than in their song, “Seven Days”. Written after the attacks in Paris as the duo were grounded in their home country, the lyrics question:

i cannot stop thinking about it 
and i don't know what to feel 

do i want to stop thinking about it? 
what am i supposed to feel? 

These lyrics are straightforward, present, and immediate, and like so many found on their latest release EP, I Don’t Know What to Feel are content to be questions. The songs are reflections of the quiet moments, the unforgiving seconds that turn to sleepless hours. They do not search for answers, they do not offer us any, nor do they expect any from us. And in this way, the music of the dove & the wolf is our sonic consolation, a slender thread in a sea of invisible wifi waves.

the dove and the wolf - photo by Dan McGurk

Dirty Dollhouse 

Dirty Dollhouse - photo by Dan McGurk

When Chelsea Mitchell released her EP Married in the Aviary in 2013, she orchestrated a star-studded group of musicians to perform alongside of her at World Cafe Live. Joining her that night were Amber Twait and Vanessa Winters; and since then, the three have come to form Dirty Dollhouse. Standing on stage, the trio of could easily remind one of the original Trio. And like Dolly, Emmylou, and Linda, the soaring harmonies of Dirty Dollhouse have become must hear entertainment.

Dirty Dollhouse - photo by Dan McGurk

 Two weeks ago at Milkboy, the trio took another step forward in their evolving their sound when Eric Lawry (formerly of Kalob Griffin Band) and Joshua Machiz (TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb) accompanied the group on drums and upright bass. Often, the addition of a drum and bass section can be a danger to artists unaccustomed to the shift in dynamic a driving rhythm section will produce. But rather than be drowned out, Dirty Dollhouse rose to a new level. After a brief soundcheck of Mitchell’s “Nobody’s Daughter” teased the audience with a taste of the airy, cascading harmonies we’re used to, the quintet launched into “25 Shades” and the power and prowess of the vocalists punched forth, igniting the songs with a fresh energy that can drive even the largest stage.

Dirty Dollhouse - photo by Dan McGurk

Whether solo, as a trio, or with the full band, there is never a bad time to see Chelsea Mitchell. Her signature hooks, melodies, and the wide array of jazz, folk, and pop will always shine. Count Lawry and Machiz as two more reasons to add Dirty Dollhouse to your concert calendar.

Joshua Machiz of Dirty Dollhouse - photo by Dan McGurk

UPCOMING SHOWS:

Check out the dove and the wolf upcoming in Philly at First Unitarian Church 9/30/16 with Shivers and Hand Habits

Also in October they join another amazing line-up at Boot and Saddle for the Sonja Sofya record release show with Arc Divers.  

Chelsea Mitchell of Dirty Dollhouse plays a Candlelit house show this Sunday 9/25 at W/N W/N Coffee Bar with August John Lutz II of Levee Drivers as Cheap Dates and the talented Ladybird.