Jessica Larrabee needed a change. So, in 2003, she moved from Philly to New York to pursue her solo music career. That’s when she met Andy LaPlant who joined her on drums and became part of the group she called She Keeps Bees. They did a lot of recording in Larrabee’s apartment, embracing that DIY sound that’s full of grit, honesty, vulnerability. And that’s when they released their first album Minisink Hotel from 2006–an album that has a vintage-grunge-folk sound that’s very Jann Arden-esque, is deeply personal and magnetic, as heard on tracks like “Stand Where I Can See You” and “Mercury.”
The band’s discography continued as they stretched their earlier softness into something louder, more energetic and yet darker, which you can hear on Nests, their sophomore album, and Dig On, their third. She Keeps Bees’ music has also been compared to an early Cat Power, The White Stripes, The Kills. And they’ve toured with bands like Joy Formidable and Sharon Van Etten.
Their fourth album Eight Houses was produced by Nicolas Vernhes (of Wye Oak, Deerhunter, The War on Drugs)–an album that expresses a dreamy, alternative switch for the duo that’s strong as hell and emotionally exhilarating, as heard on “Feather Lighter” and “Wasichu.” It’s an album that proves just how far the band has come since Larrabee’s apartment days. And they’re only getting better.
*This is a Planned Parenthood Benefit show, which also supports The Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, a charity that provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems.
The Knitting Factory
3/26
w/ New Myths
8 p.m.
$10
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