Har-di-Har, a multi-instrumentalist, trans-genre acoustic duo that consists of life-long performers and partners Julie and Andrew Thoreen will be playing at the Sail Away Cafe in Afton on Friday, Nov. 2 from 6-9pm. Midwesterners each, these Iowa natives are poised at a crossroads of American sound, geographically and historically. The vocal harmonies are spot on and gorgeous, and the arrangements of the songs are very well thought out, sort of a two person Beach Boys-by-way-of-Sufjan Stevens affair, with melodies that are complex but still very catchy.
Best is the fact that they accomplish this feat with only two performers, and without the need of loops, samples or programming. Functioning each as rhythm players (guitar, bass keyboard and drums), the pair doubles on both lead and harmonic vocals, and supplements the sound with a variety of tastefully peculiar orchestrations. Andrew handles bass drum, trombone, and guitar/bass, while Julie covers snare, toms, cymbals, and keyboards.
The result is a familial, yet strangely enchanting, heart-strung wonderment that seems a portrait (as much as an expression) of the obviously-compassionate pair. Find more at www.hardihar.com
