Womanship
by C. R. on 2/26/23The Echo Lounge & Music Hall - DallasTo bad "Younger Generations" don't go to a show like this as it was a mostly older crowd Excellent Musicians playing Soulful Blues & Rock n Roll as good as anyone out there
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The latest full-length from Larkin Poe, Blood Harmony is a whole-hearted invitation into a world they know intimately, a Southern landscape so precisely conjured you can feel the sticky humidity of the warm summer air. In bringing their homeland to such rich and dazzling life, Georgia-bred multi-instrumentalist sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell fortify their storytelling with a blues-heavy sound that hits right in the heart, at turns stormy and sorrowful and wildly exhilarating. Rooted in the potent musicality the Nashville-based duo has brought to such widely lauded work as 2018's Venom & Faith (a GRAMMY® Award nominee for Best Contemporary Blues Album), Blood Harmony affirms Larkin Poe as an essential force in shaping the identity of Southern rock-and-roll, breathing new energy into the genre with both forward-thinking perspective and a decidedly feminine strength.
"We have such fond memories of our upbringing and experiencing the beauty of Southern hospitality in its truest form--it's a very loving and inclusive energy," says Rebecca, Larkin Poe's lead vocalist/lyricist. "There's an idea that we don't walk alone, and that there's safety in keeping your door open to anyone and everyone. What we try to share through our music is the emotional equivalent of opening your door to everyone and inviting them in for sweet tea."
In a departure from the self-contained approach of past albums like 2020's Self Made Man--a critically acclaimed LP praised by American Songwriter as "pumped up for arena-sized consumption without compromising any of its stripped-down command and intensity"--Larkin Poe co-produced Blood Harmony alongside Texas-bred musician Tyler Bryant (also Rebecca's husband). "In the past we've taken a very intentional tact of self-reliance, but this time it felt right to open up the process while still keeping it a family affair," says Rebecca. With Megan handling harmony vocals, lap steel, and resonator guitar and Rebecca on guitar and keys, Larkin Poe also enlisted members of their longtime live band, including drummer Kevin McGowan and bassist Tarka Layman. Mainly recorded at Rebecca and Tyler's home studio, the result is an electrifying body of work that fully harnesses the fiery vitality they've shown in touring across the globe. "We spent a lot of time hashing everything out in pre-production, just the two of us, so that by the time we got to recording we'd already worked out all the details," Megan recalls. "We didn't want to end up stitching a bunch of takes together--we just wanted to get in there and make it as live and raw as possible."
One of the first songs penned for Blood Harmony, "Southern Comfort" instantly set the tone for Larkin Poe's finespun reflection on their heritage. With its soul-stirring harmonies and sharply detailed lyrics ("Blue jeans, leaning on a hot car/Broke every string on my old guitar"), the fiercely stomping track channels both gutsy determination and a homesick longing for days gone by. "That song partly came from thinking about our little aunts in Chattanooga," Rebecca says. "It's about rolling up as rock-and-roll musicians with tattoos on our arms, and they'd just sit us down and get out the pinto beans and collard greens and cornbread." Another meditation on the preciousness of family, Blood Harmony's smoldering title track celebrates a certain unbridled spirit passed down through generations. "'Blood Harmony' came together after Megan and our mom and I all read Ruth Ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being, which is about the ways we perceive the passage of time," says Rebecca. "There was just something about the sweetness of all three of us reading the same book, and then being able to talk about how it related to our love for each other and our love for music." And on "Georgia Off My Mind," the duo deliver a heavy-hearted yet swinging lament for what we leave behind in chasing our dreams. "Like 99 percent of my songs, that song came into being at my kitchen table late in the evening," says Rebecca. "My husband and I stumbled into that line at the chorus--'Tennessee keep Georgia off my mind'--and it turned into a love song for the stretch of I-24 that connects Atlanta and Nashville, which is a drive we've made thousands of times now."
All throughout Blood Harmony, Larkin Poe imbue their songs with equal parts soulful sensitivity and thrilling ferocity--an element on full display in the feverish guitar work of "Bad Spell." "Ever since I heard 'I Put a Spell on You' by Screamin' Jay Hawkins for the first time I've wanted to write a female response to it," says Rebecca. "I'd had the title 'Bad Spell' in my journal for years, and it was so fun to create a song where the riffs and guitar tones have that singular purpose of nastiness and swagger." From the bare-bones frenzy of the album-opening "Deep Stays Down" to the euphoric bounce of "Kick the Blues" to the moody enchantment of "Lips As Cold As Diamond," Blood Harmony reveals a band in complete touch with their formidable intuition. "We've always been tenacious about following our gut, and that's really served us well," says Megan. "With my playing on this record, I trusted my own process and my own voice more than I ever have before, and when I listen back it sounds so much more like me. There's a lot of power in that."
A glorious testament to staying true to your instincts, Blood Harmony ultimately embodies a joyful empowerment that Larkin Poe hope to extend to their globe-spanning fanbase, including the close-knit community who call themselves Kinsiders. "They're people who have maybe never met in the flesh but are still able to connect and commune, and they're all so accepting of one another," says Rebecca. "We always feel that very loving aura at our live shows, and we feel incredibly fortunate for that. It's our highest and best purpose to be that connective tissue for others."
To bad "Younger Generations" don't go to a show like this as it was a mostly older crowd Excellent Musicians playing Soulful Blues & Rock n Roll as good as anyone out there
Larkin Poe always provide an excellent show! They continue to go share beautiful music both old and new. We never miss an opportunity to see them live when in Texas.
A powerful show - these ladies are amazing artists and musicians whose deep love of music, blues and performing all come together perfectly. One of the best shows I have seen, period. Their albums are great but the live show takes their music to a new level. I will see them every chance I get.
Zach Person was the opener and he combined a mix of Gary Clark Jr, Doug Pinnick, and a small portion of Jimmy Hendrix with his sound and guitar. They provided a lot of sound for him and the drummer. Looking forward to more tunes from them. Larkin Poe were phenomenal with singing, playing the guitars, energy on stage, getting the audience participation and the bass and drums were excellent as well. Would love to see them again and I'm enjoying their CD's and online streaming and catching up on their past albums. Keep rocking ladies!
Rebecca and Megan put on a stellar show as always.
Great venue and a great crowd. Rebecca and Megan were amazing and I would love to see them again. Great guitars, beautiful voices and fun stage presence. Thank you for a wonderful evening.
Larkin Poe rocks! This was a great show starting with the opening act of Vista Kicks...then LP came on and wow, they were fantastic! Tight band, great sound...they were soulful and rocking! Go see these ladies whenever you get an opportunity - you will not regret it!
Larkin Poe was amazing, two gorgeous southern sisters who rock the blues with their own unique style. Saw them in Grass Valley and then again at the house of blues. Feel privileged because these two will soon be to big for these small venues. My only disappointment was having to purchase tickets via Live Nation which is the worst rip off on the planet. Terrible ticket experience, but LOVE Larkin Poe.
We had a great time at the Larkin Poe concert HOB in San Diego, our night started with a Meet & Greet, Rebecca and Meghan are genuinely nice and very personable people. Next was the music, they are examples of doing what you love and loving what you do. Music was spot on, Meghan made a believer out of us with her mad slide guitar skills, Rebecca singing vocals were rich in sound and range all night long and playing guitar was at a high level. The show was high energy and all were met with a lively variety of music that made the nearly 2 hour show seem like it was over in about 25 minutes. The crowd was very diverse with some older people who it seems gravitate towards Blues Music but also had a much younger crowd that appeared to become new fans of Larkin Poe!, the venue was intimate, but the sound quality was very good. We would definitely go back to San Diego to HOB for another concert and would absolutely go to see Larkin Poe in concert again almost anywhere, we drove in from Las Vegas to see them and made a weekend trip out of it. We had a great time!
I saw them twice within a week in Portland and SF. They put on a killer show. Besides their unbelievable playing they have killer stage presence and interact with they crowd. Don't miss them if you have a chance to see them!
These sisters rock! I highly recommend seeing them live. You won't be disappointed.
What a fabulous show. I love seeing women blues rockers and these gals are amazing - actually mesmerizing. Great charisma, light show and energy.
A fantastic experience made all the better from the terrific service and the top notch entertainers. This whole show went a long way in making us feel considered from safety to sweet tunes. Would give 6 stars just for our awesome server
Truely a fantastic show. These ladies are superbly talented..a Dynamic sister duo,
Great show . Could have done without the opening act . The girls are a knockout .
From the opening walk on music from EC to the solos in the final encore, the entire show was a demonstration and homage to everything amazing and incredible in the world of blues guitar. They made those electric guitars cry and wail and sing! Every moment was breathtaking. Thank you Larkin Poe for bringing us on your musical journey, for sharing your passion and your skills!
They rocked at the St Augustine Amphitheater. Wish they had been given an extra 30 minutes of stage time (they had 1 hour). The acoustics at the venue are not great, vocals were muffled.
my only disappointment was that the mix was off. Too much of the mike on the drums to the point you could not hear the ladies singing.
First time to Bijou. Great sound. Had not heard Tyler before and picked up their album. You two ladies rock and hope be to see you again soon. You need to be doing some Nation wide stuff. Plan to send your link to Steven Cobert. That’s the kind of exposure you should be getting. Love ya and keep it rocking and bring a show to Nashville this next year. That 3 hour drive home after kicked my butt. It was worth it though!
The concert was awesome. It was my first time at the Bijou and seeing them. Larkin Poe was amazing along with Tyler and Graham. The Bijou is a beautiful place. The only problem was later in the concert people started coming down the aisle to get a better view, dance and yell. They blocked the view for many other people. Other than that it was a great experience.