The number three makes an appearance often in time and mind. In the days were numbers were magic, three was a goal. The course of history let us believe that science has replaced magic but just because you know how to make the tricks work does not necessarily stop the idea that magic had a role as much as knowledge and dumb luck.
Red Molly makes great use of the distinctions found in three voices and captures the less obvious trinity of mind, body and spirit in their music. The trio adds a new Molly for their recent release, ‘Light in the Sky’ following the departure of founding member, Carolann Solebello. Austin-based singer/songwriter Molly Venter joins Abbie Gardner and Laurie MacAllister for the band’s fourth full album release in a recording output that began with 2005’s ‘Red Molly EP’. The new lineup continues along the band’s model of showcasing intricate three part harmonies that go down like honey nectar from multiple flowers caught in one glass.
‘Light in the Sky’ opens the album envelope with the Gilliam Welch/Dave Rawlings love letter song with the “Dear Someone” address. The ladies of Red Molly strip off the guitars for the song, letting the power of three float onto the album with an a cappella delivery. The beauty and grace of their voices never gets compromised as instruments are added in on ‘Lights in the Sky’. Red Molly play host to a majority of tracks penned by others with three songs created in-house. Abbie offers two co-writes, “Oh My Michael” with Jonathan Byrd and “Hello Goodbye written with Dad Herb Gardner with the new kid Molly adding “Hold It All”. Songwriter Jonathan Byrd makes another appearance with an Amy Speace co-write with “It’s Too Late to Call It A Night”. The song rides a slide guitar as it moves across acoustic strums, powered on with support from a lonesome dobro and moaning
altoon (a Herb Gardner invention). Red Molly give the songs of others a welcoming that must give them a safe feeling while away from home. The band weaves songs with material from Dolly Parton (“Do I Ever Cross Your Mind”), Buddy Miller (“Does My Ring Burn Your Finger”), Robert Johnson (“Come in My Kitchen”) and two tracks from Mark Ereli, “Ghost” and “Why Should I Cry”.
Joy can be felt throughout ‘Light in the Sky’. The sound creeps into your being and causes smiles, toe tapping and encourages sing alongs. With an obvious optimism the album glides over listeners, leaving a glow in its wake. Red Molly will be making west coast appearances through April 2012, heading back to the east coast for dates that will take them into June before heading west again for US and Canadian shows that begin in mid-July. For specific dates, more about the band, photos, music and a real life rundown of road life through their tour diary, head over to the Red Molly website. Danny McCloskey
{auto displayheight="275" height="350" width="400" plthumbs="true" shuffle="false" repeat="list" pbgcolor="#000000" pfgcolor="#cccccc", phicolor="#0099ff" showstop="true" showeq="false"}RedMolly.xml{/auto}
.jpg)
