The Head And The Heart hold very special memories for me. I first heard them when I was in France staying on a friend’s homestead. My friend Gonzo played The Head And The Heart’s song Rivers and Roads countless times on his tiny guitar and with his booming voice while our other friends chimed in the harmonies. Not only was this the first time that I was exposed to the magic of The Head And The Heart, it was also the first time that I felt inspired to start playing music with other people. As soon as I flew back to the states I bought The Head And The Heart’s first album, The Head And The Heart. I already knew that I loved them even though I’d only heard one of their songs, so it was like seeing a childhood friend for the first time in years when I pressed play. I also picked up my sister’s guitar and began learning chords while slowly working up the confidence to sing in front of my family and friends.
The Head And The Heart are originally from Seattle, WA and were formed in the summer of 2009 at an open mic night. The band consists of Josiah Johnson (vocals, guitar, percussion), Jonathan Russell (vocals, guitar, percussion), Charity Rose Thielen (violin, banjo, vocals), Chris Zasche (bass), Kenny Hensley (piano), and Tyler Williams (drums). They self-produced their first album and were selling them in handmade denim sleeves. Word began to spread and soon the local record stores couldn’t keep them in stock. In November, 2010, The Head And The Heart signed to Sub Pop records who remastered their album and put it back on the shelves in 2011. After a few years of touring and opening up for a variety of bands such as Dr. Dog, The Decemberists, Iron & Wine, Vampire Weekend, and Death Cab For Cutie to name a few, The Head And The Heart released their sophomore album, Let’s Be Still, in 2013. Much like their first album, Let’s Be Still carries the same harmonies and clever lyrics but it’s obvious that The Head And The Heart has matured as a band and it makes me very excited to hear what they will create next.
The thing I love about this band is how almost too perfect the harmonies are blended together. Johnson and Russell have such similar voices that it’s hard to tell who is singing and with Thielen’s unique sound weaving through, it’s an equation for a total ear-gasm. I was lucky enough to witness this vocal perfection last September when they came to the Britt Festival. When they played Rivers And Roads I was filled with this overwhelming feeling of happiness. This song brings back rivers of memories every time I hear it thoughts of playing music, talking, and laughing until the wee hours of the morning, and the work I did on boosting my confidence so that I can play music and sing with other people. Having a strong bond with a band makes the listening experience so much more enjoyable. The Head And The Heart will always be special to me and I hope that they continue to make great music for many years to come.
©The Head and The Heart 2015
You can check out their website here
Autumn Micketti 