Megg Farrell readily admits it’s a crooked line that brought her to the sound she has now. She grew up a kid in New York jamming to indie rock and Riot Grrrl bands like Sleater-Kinney. A little later, camping and rafting through the South turned her on to Bluegrass and introduced her to the finger-picking style. Back in the Northeast, she started a band playing venues up and down the coast before she decamped to France to study Jazz.
Back in Brooklyn now and fronting the aptly-named Megg Farrell & Friends, she has landed on an irresistible brand of Americana that essential draws on that lifetime of musical influences. In just nine songs, Farrell and her partners are able to succinctly and seamlessly tear through those influences for a wildly original album, that grabs attention with just a single listen. The record starts off with “Feelin’Single,” a Hank Williams-worthy country romp with whip smart lyrics, followed in quick succession by the banjo-driven stand outs “Lovesick Harmony” and “New Orleans Waltz,” a song that screams classic. From there the vibe mellows out a bit, eventually closing with “If I Were a Woman,” a beautifully contemplative ending to a remarkable record.
Megg Farrell & Friends – Self-Titled/9 tracks/Self-Released/2019 / Domain / Facebook /