Rocking Chair is a four song EP, and a prelude to a full length CD by the band Hawk And Dove who record and perform in the New York City area.
Elijah Miller, a singer-songwriter who left his work as a Union Organizer to pursue his passion for music, fronts the group. The first to join him on this journey was guitarist John Kleber, who adds a bit of banjo as well. Adding to the group is Stephanie Sanders, who although she has a degree in jazz and a background in piano, is playing bass here. Another interesting instrumental voice in the mix is the sweet and haunting violin work of Rachel Lyon, who also plays mandolin. Keeping time and rounding out the ensemble is veteran drummer Dave Butler. Although Elijah is the principle vocalist all the members of the group sing as well.
The music of Hawk And Dove has elements of alt-rock, folk, country, and a psychedelic flashback or two. Elijah’s deep, personal, and poetic lyrics are conveyed in a sometimes-laid back, sometimes-forceful style that shows him as a storyteller as much as a vocalist. There were moments where his music brought to mind that of another once young NYC songsmith – Bob Dylan. There is an enigmatic quality in the lyrics that invites repeated listening to get inside them and glean the meaning and depth of the stories they tell. The group perfectly supports these tales by providing texture and musical context with dynamics that range from rocking to melodic and melancholy.
Although slow in tempo, the rock influence is felt on the first tune, “Furious Armies” where an insistent beat and electric guitars drive the song along to its feedback-laden conclusion. The second piece, entitled “Stain”, provides an interesting juxtaposition in that it starts off musically as a folk-inflected waltz while painting lyrical pictures of urban imagery. Picking up steam in the middle section it evolves into a very nice instrumental interlude featuring interplay between violin and guitar, adding other instruments as it goes. On the next song, “Boy On The Moon”, a sparse guitar and vocal introduce the song and carry it along for the first couple minutes as it slowly moves into a mid-tempo groove with the rest of the band joining in. The rock influence is very present again towards the end of the song with high-energy lead guitars and Elijah delivering his vocals with passion and conviction. The final tune, “Muscle Breaks”, shows the more acoustic folk-influenced side of the group. With a bit of a back porch Americana feel, guitar and violin open the front door for us to come and sit a spell. I especially liked the unusual counterpoint of banjo and bells later in the song.
This four song EP certainly piques my interest to hear what will follow from this talented group. Audiences in NYC can hear what they are up to in various venues around the city. The rest of us will have to wait for their next release – I hope it’s not too long.
Reviewed by Michael Diamond
