Of Sea and Stone

Okay, Jim and Mike down in Austin, I’m gonna need to room with you on April 15, because Of Sea And Stone are playing at Patsy’s Cafe and I need to dance and drink and sing along to this angelic southwestern duo. Fair warning, I might end up dressing up the way that I think Texans dress: bedazzled cowboy boots, velvet orange cowboy hat, stirrup leggings, and chaps. Too much? Well, I don’t care. OSAS makes me feel plucky and natural and fun with their unconventional male/female harmony and rattling guitar-strumming.

If you see me at Patsy’s Cafe in April, feel free to dance with me when they play “Hooks,” and maybe we’ll fall in love for just the dance, exchange fake numbers to follow-up the shamefully good time we had dancing, and part ways with a fun memory. I know, it’s not classy to have a one-night-dance; you’re supposed to be dignified enough to avoid it in the first place, or follow through. At least that’s what OSAS makes me think. The down-home class of this duo (Dierker and Manson) shines through their music and chemistry. Sure, their bio says that they met on Tinder, which is unconventional for older folks, but totally respectable in my generation. Furthermore, their sense of southern propriety was deep enough to start a music duo after the swipe–and a REALLY good duo, at that!

They went as far as buying fiddles, banjos, or a mandolin, and serenade each other on stage as much as they could. Had I known Tinder could be such a hive of creative energy I never would have tried OKCupid (jkbbyily). As fate would have it, they married, and continued to produce a sound that really is reminiscent of the ocean or the mountains–or at very least the way they can make you feel. Songs like “Sunset” are forlorn at times, although uplifting in lyrical nature. On the other hand, the twang of “Play Me Out” coupled with the narrative embedded in the lyrics provides a breakdown halfway that makes it perfect for any wedding below the Mason-Dixon line.

There’s a word that I realize I haven’t used once in this article: the 7-letter c-word. These two can only be described as folky, and create music that’s truly salt-of-the-earth in nature. They sing about love, loss, and life, and they might even mention dogs and trucks in there somewhere. If anyone were to ever accuse me of a c-word-lover, they could cite this article and point at me screaming: “BUT YOU LIKED OF SEA AND STONE! THEY’RE FROM TEXAS! THEY HAVE SOUTHERN DRAWLS AND–AND–TWANGY GUITAR!”

Well, to you I say “Bah!” The genre is moot. Whatever you consider this band’s genre, I love it. I Want to dance to it barefoot in the grass on a summer night. I want to enjoy a beer while it plays low in the background from the bed of a Ford. Maybe this is a slippery slope, but smooth vocals, sleek production, and harmonies like OSAS can endear anyone to folk or c-word music.

Listen to them— and dance to them! - Shutter 16 Magazine

A SIMPLE EXCHANGE

Who wouldn’t swipe right on A Simple Exchange? A soft folk and harmony band, A Simple Exchange is comprised of four members: Catherine Sandstedt on viola, Daniel Blake on drums, and Morgan Manson and Lucas Dierker on vocals. Manson and Dierker met on Tinder in January 2013, and when they finally sang a song by The Civil Wars together, they liked the way they worked as a duo (clearly, because they got married).

The band’s first full-length album, “What We’ve Become,” highlights the group’s Americana vocals. Their shows typically feature an acoustic session that showcases the group’s three-piece harmony, then some songs that specifically spotlight the group’s unique use of the the viola. Plus, Sandstedt sings while playing the viola — a feat that is equally surprising and impressive. - Move Magazine

A Simple Exchange celebrated their album release with a party and performance at Rose Music Hall on Wednesday.

Comprised of four members, A Simple Exchange began with Morgan Manson and Lucas Dierker meeting on Tinder in January 2013. They had both pursued music separately, but when they sang together for the first time, both Manson and Dierker liked the sound they had and began to perform as a duo.

After a few band member switches, Catherine Sandstedt on viola and Daniel Blake on drums joined Manson and Dierker to create the band as it is today. They describe their sound as a mix of Mumford and Sons and Of Monsters and Men, with the harmony vocals of The Civil Wars.

The band recently recorded their first full-length album, called “What We’ve Become.” The name of the album is also the title track, which tells the story of the band, Manson says. It’s supposed to show how far the band has come, as well as what they are going to do.

While this may be the band’s first full-length album, the group as a whole has performed together around 10-15 times, and performed numerous times as a duo or trio. The live shows are different from a recording studio, allowing the band to feed off the energy of the crowd.

“I love the interaction (during live performances),” Sandstedt says. “I know when we get into rehearsal, we want to work on everything, got to get everything perfect and then we get to the performance, and we just have fun.”

Rose Music Hall is an intimate venue, making the performance much more interesting.

“In a place like (Rose Music Hall), you are going to have a lot of people just standing around, socializing and drinking and stuff,” Dierker says. “If you can get people to come up to the front and really pay attention to what you’re doing… that’s pretty exciting.”

A Simple Exchange’s sound is familiar, yet all its own. I feel like I’ve heard something like them before, but I couldn’t tell you who or what it was that they reminded me of. Their songs made me nostalgic for something I couldn’t quite place.

The acoustic portion of the show really highlighted the musical talents of the group, Sandstedt especially. Her ability to play viola and sing at the same time was impressive and something that I’ve never seen before. The three-part harmonies were also on display during the acoustic set, filling out their sound.

One of my favorite songs they played was “New York for New Year’s Eve.” It was one of the songs they performed during the acoustic set. There was a simplicity to the song that really captured my attention, and stood out from the rest.

If you are into folk and harmony vocals, this band is for you. Their relatable lyrics and Americana sound are sure to sweep you away. Manson says connecting with the audience is one of the most important things for her.

“For me, the music is about those people and their lives,” Manson says. “I just want to say what I want to say and I want people to pick it up and do something with it.” - Move Magazine