CMW Preview: Beams

Catherine recommends Beams
Saturday March 23 – 9pm at The Silver Dollar w/ The Two Times (8pm), The Unquiet Dead (10pm), Meanwood (11pm), X-Ray Eyeballs (12am), Jesuslesfilles (1am), B-17 (2am), The Mohawk Lodge (3am)

Toronto-based Beams is a band that is probably not on your radar… yet. This folk septuplet is set to release Just Rivers, which was produced by Peter J. Moore (Cowboy Junkies), on April 2nd. I’ve been hooked on this band since I first heard them and there’s this ease in their sound that really reflects how comfortable each of the band members are with each other.

The band is fronted by Anna Mérnieks on banjo. Her songwriting prowess shapes the songs, but the 6 other band members really help her bring the songs to life. Mérnieks is joined by her friends, Heather Mazhar (vocals), Keith Hamilton (musical saw), Dave Hamilton (mandolin), Craig Moffatt (bass), Martin Crawford (lap steel) and Mike Duffield (drums).

Recently, the band released their debut single from Just Rivers, “Be My Brother.” The song is quite catchy and Mérnieks’ vocals are intriguing, but the harmonies coupled with unusual, textured instrumentation really draw the listener in. The band has also included an almost haunting cover of Portishead’s “Glory Box” to complete the digital single. You can listen to the two songs below.