It is beautiful when voices are in harmony. That is what listeners can find with Red Molly.
Dobro player Abbie Gardner, bassist Laurie MacAllister and guitarist Molly Venter perform May 23 at Beverly Arts Center in Chicago.
“We share a love of really great sounds and three-part harmony. We just love to sing together,” said Gardner, who co-founded Red Molly in 2004.
“If I was in a room full of all the people who came to the show, I wouldn’t be able to talk to all of them and connect with them. When I’m on stage singing a song I wrote and that came from my heart, I feel like they all know me so it’s a pretty special thing.”
Red Molly plays covers and originals and plans to do two 45-minute sets.
“Generally I like to do songs I wrote. They are always more exciting for me, to hear them come to life with three-part harmony and all fleshed out. Once in a while the audience will know the song. That can make you feel like a rock star,” said Gardner, of Jersey City, N.J.
“For me, it’s really a mystery how songs come about. They come about in different ways. I never really feel like I have control of what I write and how I write. It’s still rewarding but it’s still a big mystery. That can be frustrating sometimes but also really exciting and takes me places I wouldn’t normally go.”
Those who like what they hear can buy a CD at the gig for a cost they feel is fair.
“Our latest album is called ‘The Red Album.’ That came out last year and made it to the top 10 on the Americana radio charts, which is pretty great for a band that doesn’t have a record label. That’s pretty awesome,” Gardner said.
“It was also No. 1 on the folk charts for the year of 2014. That’s something that was great. You never know when you are making these things how well they are going to be received. We were really happy.”
Red Molly’s repertoire features styles including folk, roots, bluegrass, ballads and honky-tonk.
“It helps us to be able to just focus on great songs and not really be limited to worrying about what genre they might come from. It also keeps the show really exciting. We get a lot of variety that way. It’s not like every song sounds like the last,” Gardner said.
“One reason to especially come see the show is because, after 11 years, in September we’re going to be taking a hiatus so this will be the last time we’re in Chicago for a while. We don’t know how long the hiatus is going to last, but this is the time to come see us.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter.
Red Molly
When: 8 p.m. May 23
Where: Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago
Tickets: $25 ($22 for center members)
Information: 773-445-3838, beverlyartcenter.org or redmolly.com
Etc.: Features special guest Tim Shelton
