Baltimore duo Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack do not really hope you die (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
Mercury Lounge
217 East Houston St.
Wednesday, September 1, $12-$14, 7:30
212-260-4700
www.myspace.com/wyeoak
www.mercuryloungenyc.com
wye oak at the siren festival
Indie legend Lou Barlow, who has played with such groups as Sebadoh, Dinosaur Jr., and the Folk Implosion and is currently touring with his band the Missingmen behind his latest solo album, GOODNIGHT UNKNOWN (Merge, October 2009), may be the main act at the Mercury Lounge on September 1, but we highly recommend you get there in time to catch openers Wye Oak, who impressed at this year’s Siren Festival. Hailing from Baltimore, lead singer/guitarist Jenn Wasner and drummer Andy Stack play an enchanting blend of shoegazing indie country folk, their songs moving sedately between beautiful harmonies, Americana roots rock, and sudden bursts of noise. Their debut album, 2008’s IF CHILDREN, featured the majestic “If Children Were Wishes,” while their 2009 follow-up, THE KNOT, held such gems as “For Prayer” and “Siamese.” Earlier this summer they released a terrific five-track EP, MY NEIGHBOR / MY CREATOR (Merge, June 2010), another hard-to-pin-down collection of songs and sounds that range from the lovely harmonies and closing spacey trip of “My Neighbor” to the harmonica-laden “Emmylou,” which would have felt right at home at Woodstock, to the sweetly titled “I Hope You Die,” which ends with an eerie sax outro. And then things get downright funky on the Mickey Free remix of “That I Do.” Merge labelmates Barlow and Wye Oak should make for one heckuva cool show.