If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Ken Sears Back in December, I headed out on a Sunday night to see Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear at Brighton Music Hall. The show was being taped by Front Row Boston, a show on WGBH, our local PBS affiliate. Some videos of the show have been trickling out, and yesterday they posted their cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams." This version of "Dreams" might be what it takes to give Fleetwood Mac another shot. Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear's version is slowed down to about half the tempo of the original, and it truly gives "Mama Bear" a chance to shine. It's much more folk than Fleetwood Mac's rock, but this version is truly lovely and heartfelt.  To watch the video for Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear's version of "Dreams," you'll have to head over to Front Row Boston's website . While you're there, be sure to check out some more of their live videos. It's all professionally shot, multi-camera record...

Photo by Ken Sears Mid-December is a weird time to see a show. Most people are in full on holidays mode and don't have the time (or money), to head out. Plus, Allston is truly a college neighborhood and most college kids are fully into finals preparation or have already headed home for break. Maybe it was that, or maybe it's because this is the third time they've played Boston this year, but Sunday's show at Brighton Music Hall was fairly poorly attended. Photo by Ken Sears Not that you'd know it from the band's performance. Or the audience's reaction. Anyone who didn't make it to the show truly missed out. The mother and son pair started off as a duo with the very low key "Down in Mississippi." It's a great choice since it shows off both of their vocals equally. Neither of them have the type of voices you typically hear in the current neo-folk scene, but it gives their music this heartfelt and gritty feel, even when the songs are...

The Newport Folk Festival often refers to their fans, crew, and bands as the "Folk Family." Quite often, the Fest features bands with family ties, from husbands and wives (Shovels & Rope), sisters (The Haden Triplets, First Aid Kit), brothers (The Avett Brothers), and even fathers and sons (Tweedy). This year, they'll bring a mother/son duo to their stage with Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear. Hailing from Kansas City, the pair just released their first single "Silent Movies." It's this great pairing of the son's gruff, almost barking voice with his mother's much more aged and sweeter voice, all put together in a down home ditty. It could have been a novelty act, but once you hear them together you realize that of course they decided to make music together. You can get "Silent Movies" right now on iTunes . You can follow them on Facebook , and watch their performance of "Silent Movies" from The Late Show With David Letterman...