Amazing, the things you discover accidently! When I was invited to an Easy Leaves concert and the Great American Music Hall I naturally asked "who?". As with every country, the amount of "local" American music you discover when you start looking is astonishing. Every state and county have their own starts. Sometimes, as with Alabama Shakes, they break into national, and maybe even international recognition. And sometimes, if you're the Easy Leaves, you stay in the 'local hero' category. Which isn't bad at all.
The Easy Leaves, the blond member being Sage Fifield and the brunette Kevin Carducci, are a couple of pretty hot guys who know how to flirt with cello, violin and guitar and play humourous, self-aware country and folk. Until I stepped into the Hall, I never took country music for being intricately stylish. It has its charm and I'm highly curious about it (so you'll probably read about it again soon), but its kitsch and accessible glamour are deliberately un-sophisticated. The Easy Leaves and their fans proved me otherwise. Where do they buy those vintage Western shirts and boots? Where did the girls get those embroidered dresses and knee socks? I felt like Alice in Wonderland, falling into a whole new cave of greatness.
All of which wouldn't matter, of course, if the music didn't deliver. But the Easy Leaves' music is approachable and authentic. This two know how to nod to the ladies and keep a tough truck driver attitude at the same time. And together, they're Sonoma County superstars. If I was visiting San Francisco, or didn't know this cool folks, I'd buy a lacy underskirt and look for their nearest concert. And I'd be also prepared for this:
Just sayin'.
Photo of The Easy Leaves: Jack Ottaway, photo of us: Megan Rhodes.
Photo of The Easy Leaves: Jack Ottaway, photo of us: Megan Rhodes.