We were treated to a mini live performance from Thao & The Stay Down Get Down with their track 'Holy Roller' - the first song Thao Nguyen wrote for her fifth album 'We The Common' released earlier this year through Ribbon Music.
It featured minimal instrumentation with Thao taking to her electric banjo and a fellow musician providing tambourine and maraca beats. The distinct lack of more conventional instruments gave the track a continental, folksy vibe to it which could've sounded dated had it not been for Thao's unique, breathy vocals adding a rock chick edge to it.
The album marks a musical transition for the band, with Thao using some unique experiences as strong influences including visits to county jails, her time on a women writers' retreat and her meetings with different people along with way.The band are currently on a major tour across North American and Europe spanning through 'til December and will hit the likes of San Francisco's Outside Lands Festival which will be headlined by Paul McCartney and Red Hot Chili Peppers, Seattle's Bumbershoot Festival alongside Death Cab For Cutie and Fun., and Mumford & Sons' own Gentlemen of the Road Stopover sharing the stage with Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros.
Official Site - http://www.thaoandthegetdownstaydown.com/
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