The Vespers, a young (19-22) indie band of two sisters and two brothers, play a dozen of instruments between them, creating infectious folk-pop with both the buoyancy of youth and deeper spiritual themes. Their second album, The Fourth Wall was released April 3 and debuted on at #5 on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart and they had support from The Huffington Post, American Songwriter - and PBS’ “Bluegrass Underground,” who chose them for the taping of their second season, including other roots artists The Civil Wars and Sarah Jarosz. They have spent the last two years touring from Boston to Austin, festivals and colleges, becoming one of one of those few lucky new artists to merit a quickly growing fanbase.
The lead vocalists Callie and Phoebe Cryar were brought up in a musical family, honing their gifts as young kids singing background vocals on Music Row, and both have expansive characteristics to their vocal and instrumental abilities. It was a chance meeting that brought them an earthy grounding in brothers Bruno and Taylor Jones who were drawn to gritty southern rock and the depth of their father’s record collection that included soul music from the likes of Stevie Wonder.
Everyone in the band contributes to the songwriting, and the only outside track is influential bluesman Son House’s “Grinnin In Your Face.” The album kicks off with “Better Now,” a layered pop-folk tale while “Lawdy” begins as a swampy old mountain tune before growing into a full-bodied Sunday morning spiritual. The Vespers also offer a full share of effervescent pop songs like “Will You Love Me” and “Flower Flower,” while “Close My Eyes” gradually mingles electric guitar with banjo, before culminating in a frenzied multi-instrumental finale and “Got No Friends” is a bluesy stomp.
For more information, contact www.barkinglegs.org.