The duo balances recording and live show energy.
September 26, 2018 | Musicians Harry and Alfie Hudson-Taylor draw blood in their music. On their second studio record, called Bear Creek to Dame Street, out now, the brother folk duo unleashes some of their most visceral and engaging songwriting to date. From the haunting breeze of “You Don’t Wanna Know” to the gently burning waltz tilt of “Shot Someone,” a ballad worth of Johnny Cash or Eddie Arnold, the album is equal parts proper recording and live showcase, featuring five songs captured in the heat of a concert, including the rupturing “Care” and a bonus track called “Chasing Rubies.”
In all, the self-proclaimed “mini-album” illustrates exactly why they’re teetering on the edge of true superstardom — just listen to the audience singing along to every single word. The four new songs allow them to find their footing thanks to the towering talents of producer Ryan Hadlock, most known for his work with The Lumineers and Vance Joy, at Bear Creek Studios in Seattle. The songs stand squarely in the courtyard of traditional folk music but are flavored with classicisms of the rock and singer-songwriter mold of the ’60s and ’70s. That in and of itself allows Hudson Taylor to draw out deeper and richer meanings, while also framing their youth in the glow of a bygone era.
The brother duo recently stopped by the Popdust studio to play a tune and discuss family upbringing, Irish dancing, honing their craft and live shows, and their new record. Watch the interview above.
Hudson Taylor first issued their debut long-player Singing for Strangers back in 2015. The remarkably tall-standing 21-track splash is noticeably glossier in delivery. And while it still adheres to their folk roots, their full potential wasn’t unlocked until the follow-up. Bear Creek to Dame Street feels grittier, allowing Alfie and Harry to spread their wings. “One in a Million” kicks off the set with a sultry bang, leading up to “I Love You and You Don’t Even Know,” which casts a doo-wop-infused honky-tonk whirl. Between flecks of vast musical influences, they plant their feet center stage.
Hailing from Dublin, the multi-instrumentalists have done their fair share of busking but have since hopped aboard a string of dates with alt-pop singer-songwriter Hozier. The tour continues throughout the rest of the month. See the remaining stops, including San Diego and Portland, below.
Watch “Battles” | Live & Acoustic
Check out the rest of the duo’s upcoming tour dates:
October 8 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
October 9 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
October 10 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
October 12 – Los Angeles, CA – Hotel Cafe (Hudson Taylor headlining show)
October 14 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee
October 15 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park
October 16 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theatre
October 18 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
October 19 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theatre
October 20 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theatre
October 22 – Vancouver, Canada – Orpheum Theatre
Jason Scott is a freelance music journalist with bylines in B-Sides & Badlands, Billboard, PopCrush, Ladygunn, Greatist, AXS, Uproxx, Paste and many others. Follow him on Twitter.
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