The Elms w/Mike Dunn and the Kings of New England at Twelth and Porter
by Chris Parker
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Opener Mike Dunn taps into Americana ranging from the amped-up folk of Tom Petty to the scruffy, ne’er-do-well amble of The Replacements. He may not have Paul Westerberg’s gift for vein-opening epigrams, but his unvarnished sentiments mesh nicely with the vibrant, polished arrangements, while aching ballads like “Get Up” off his Edge of America EP suggest a penchant for singer/songwriter AC. Rootsy headliners The Elms began as Just Visiting in ‘96, releasing two albums before brothers Christopher and Owen Thomas changed the name and promptly signed to EMI/Sparrow. While somewhat marginalized by their CCM association, there’s no denying the alluring sound of their three albums, which blend British Invasion melodicism, rich harmonies and dusty jingle-jangle twang. Frontman Owen Thomas’ soothing tenor melts like butter, contributing to the radio-friendly, frictionless ease of crisp country-pop tracks like their latest “This is How the World Will End.”
Tue., Nov. 18, 7 p.m., 2008
Tue., Nov. 18, 7 p.m., 2008
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