Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem: innovative string band on May 8

On Friday, May 8th, the me&thee coffeehouse welcomes Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem to the stage. This band knows how to have fun and plays some of the most rollicking and foot-stopping tunes around. They have been playing together for 15 years and have toured from coast to coast. Suzie Brown, a Nashville-based cardiologist, opens with her Grammy-winning husband, Scot Sax . Doors open at 7:30 PM for this 8:00 PM show at the me&thee coffeehouse which is located at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead at 28 Mugford Street.

Harmony, rhythm, indelible songs – these are the hallmarks of Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, the New England based folk quartet. From the Newport Folk Festival to the California World Music Festival and beyond, this band’s steadfast brew of wit, camaraderie, and musicality leaves audiences everywhere humming and hopeful, spirits renewed.

In the lineage of string bands who blur the boundaries of American roots music, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem have always been standard-bearers, with a particular knack for pairing words and music. From bluegrass barnstormers to sultry swing, old-time gospel to bluesy folk-rock, they consistently turn in lush arrangements with “stylish, unexpected choices” (Acoustic Guitar). Original songs fit seamlessly aside artful re-workings of Georgia Sea Islands music, Hank Williams, Leonard Cohen, Bruce Springsteen — just a few of the many places this band is willing to go. Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem have five releases on Signature Sounds. Their newest release, Violets Are Blue (April 2015), is an eclectic bouquet of love songs infused with poetry and groove — that “skip over sentimentality and go straight to the bittersweet truth” (Music Matters Review). The band’s debut family album, Ranky Tanky, won top awards from the Parents’ Choice Foundation, National Association of Parenting Publications, and the American Library Association. The band’s strong residency programs include school and family shows, hands-on percussion-building workshops and Arts in Medicine offerings.

Suzie Brown opens the show along with Scot Sax. Suzie writes songs to process her life. For a singer-songwriter, it’s not that unique of a creative impulse. But when you’re also a cardiologist, used to being stoic and selfless on the job, the catharsis is even more essential. “Music is my place to be honest,” says Brown. “I can say how I’m really feeling. I like not having to be so strong.” Brown continues to carve out her place in the rich Folk/Americana tradition and her songs range from tender balladry to reggae-tinged blues and buoyant folk-rock as she bares the contents of her heart. But whether she’s leaving love behind, embracing it with schoolgirl giddiness or meditating on yearnings unfulfilled, it’s her voice, dulcet, with a husky edge and hint of twang, that captivates.

Scot Sax has been writing songs for years, whether it was with his own bands Wanderlust and Feel, or as a purveyor of hits for singers like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. It was Sax, in fact, who co-wrote the country duo’s Grammy-winning smash “Like We Never Loved At All.” His catchy “I Am the Summertime,” penned while with the band Bachelor Number One, was featured in the blockbuster “American Pie.” And he’s netted countless TV credits, with song placements in shows like Ghost Whisperer, NCIS, and CSI: NY, just to mention a few of his accomplishments.

Tickets for the performance by Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem with opening act Suzie Brow and Scot Aax are $20 in advance and $23 at the door. Tickets are available online at www.meandthee.org and can be purchased in person at the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore or the Arnold Gallery in Marblehead. The Landing Restaurant at 81 Front Street, Marblehead offers a 10% discount on dinner if you show your ticket or receipt. Enjoy a meal before the show! As at all me & thee coffeehouse events, refreshments are available, including homemade pastries, coffee, and teas. The me & thee has a handicapped-accessible entrance and an accessible bathroom, is a smoke-free environment, and is easily reached by MBTA bus. The me & thee is one of the oldest continually running acoustic coffeehouses in New England, and probably the country. It has been and will always be a volunteer, non-profit organization sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead. For information and directions, call 781-631-8987 or check the website at www.meandthee.org.