Kovacs and the Polar Bear

Asheville NC's Kovacs & the Polar Bear are four fellas brought together by music like music is wont to do. At base, they're playing folk music -- an acoustic guitar and tales of love, of life, of living. This is the old-fashioned foundation, and built around it is a modern sound constructed of electric guitar and bass and the cropping up of synths. The songs are carefully crafted, the lyrics are elaborate tapestries of dreamscapes, nature images, heartache, irony, and dark humor.

From quiet vocal harmonies to full-band bombastics, Kovacs & the Polar Bear can cover the range within a single song and yet maintain a degree of continuity. Balance is key for this group, from volume to the mix of electric and acoustic instruments to the sweet-but-not-cloying lyrics. On stage, the band is very much a cohesive unit, with worked-up parts, the switching and rearranging of instruments, and — though the style is unfettered — seasoned musicianship.