In a band of eight, you’d expect an unappealing clash of instruments. In the realm of indie folk, you might anticipate the whisper of soft voices above the elevated sound of acoustic guitar. Defying stereotype, the Phoenix-based musicians of The Foster Family Band brought an atypical success to their genre with their new single, “heavy now you know the world.”
Released on Monday, the song utilized the sound of drums, the beats exponentially increasing in speed, to signify the introduction of a new brand of local music. The first 20 seconds of the song were dedicated to displaying a harmony of instruments that are rare to musical groups, the mixture including a cello and a pedal steel guitar. Clarinet trills and a strong background of brass brought a tone reminiscent of the popular Of Monsters and Men hit, “Mountain Sound.”
But then, a voice broke through the melody and I could give no comparison to the upbeat vibe. After five more replays of the single, a couple skims through my iPod and several minutes of digging through my memory, I finally realized that it was impossible for me to find another band whose music had a parallel vibe to “heavy now you know the world.” The song was pure desert folk, and more importantly, the song was the epitome of The Foster Family Band’s musical prowess.
Individually, there was no aspect of the song that stood out as outrageously unique. It was the marriage of the clarity of Perry Allen’s smooth voice and the slightly Southern guitar strums that brought a distinctive aspect to the single; this combination was what brought a wowing sensation to my ears.
The presentation of music was not the sole prizewinner in the song. Simplistic, yet evocative lyrics in the beginning stanza — “why suppose that though the light in the window burns, tomorrow it will be?” — challenged the audience’s perception of permanence with ephemeral possibilities.
Later on, it was the vocals that spoke to me again. Allen was able to set his calming tone to the side as he energized a slight, but definitely not too consuming, power to command the audience to “slow down, hold fast.”
Nearing the end of the single, the band empowered their music as well. After dropping to a trickle of music following the addressing of “my friend,” the instrumentalists crescendoed till the end of the song, leaving a lasting impression for listeners.
In “heavy now you know the world,” The Foster Family Band graduated from the mystical tone of their previous single, “take my bones to the valley,” with an even more creative release.
Be sure to check out the band Thursday at the Crescent Ballroom, where they will be performing with Kopecky Family Band and Avid Dancer. If The Foster Family Band is as satisfying live as they are in recording, the concert is sure to be a sensation.
Contact the columnist at emily.liu@asu.edu
