If you are looking for a new direction in your musical tastes, you cannot go wrong with the the Be Good Tanyas, a self-described “group of ramblin’ gals” from Vancouver.
I heard them for the first time on KPIG’s Please Stand By live music show this past Sunday (listen here), and immediately ordered their album Blue Horse. It arrived today (such is instant gratification in the modern age).
Their music is bluegrassy folk. Simple instrumentation, elegant vocals. If you liked Michelle Shocked’s Texas Campfire Tapes (i.e. Michelle Shocked before she went all “big band”), then you’ll like this.
Comments
I think Sue Foley (e.g. Two trains, http://www.rollingstone.com/vi… is very Michelleshockesque, but maybe my mental Michelle Shocked is bluesier than yours.
They are now being recognized as being quite good. I just heard them,and agree…they are. So, you were right, Peter. What’s the story behind the name?
“In Vancouver they met Texan songwriter, and fellow vagabond, Jolie Holland. Together they began to play a series of loose living room jam sessions. Holland introduced them to the song, ‘Be Good Tanya,’ written by her friend Obo Martin, and thus the band name was christened.”