Article and photos by:  Gary Flink

New York, NY-  Mandolin Orange, the incredibly talented Americana duo from North Carolina of Emily Frantz and Andrew Marlin, played New York City’s Bowery Ballroom on their way up the East Coast in support of their 5^th studio album, Blindfaller.

Frantz and Marlin met at a bluegrass jam session in 2009 and the musical chemistry they shared, along with a love for the same Americana roots music, was immediately evident to each of them. They began playing and writing original songs, deeply rooted in folk, bluegrass and country, with each other shortly thereafter and have been together ever since.

With Frantz mostly on fiddle and Marlin predominantly on Mandolin they share duties on vocals and one guitar, which they exchange often with each other depending on song choice.

Marlin took the lion’s share of lead vocals throughout the night with Frantz’s angelic harmonies adding tremendous texture and warmth to the night’s set list. Opening their night with “Hey Stranger”, the first track on Blindfaller, they moved next into “Old Ties And Companions”, the first track on their previous album, Such Jubilee.

From there they focused primarily on their newest release with a few songs from earlier albums sprinkled through and ended the night with an encore of “Waltz About Whiskey” and “Drink Up And Go Home” which the band performed standing together in close, energetic Bluegrass style.

With their infectious style, seamless harmonies and amazing musicianship they draw easy comparisons to Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, and the addition of drums (Kyle Keegan), stand-up bass (Clint Mullican) and an additional guitarist (Josh Oliver) on stage, delivered their songs throughout the night with intensified color, clarity and character and helped to paint their songs, mostly about love, home, and the roads they travel with vivid and welcomed detail.

Their East Coast tour continues, along with a few shows in the mid-west, until mid-December.