MEGAFAUN

Though Megafaun was once the pride and joy of just a few music fans, this trio from Durham, North Carolina, has reached a real highpoint with its fourth album. Making Appalachian inspired experimental music, sometimes referred to as psych folk, you are welcome to discover this striving band during their Showcase concert on 6 February 2012 at the Rockhalcafe.

The North Carolina root rockers and brothers Brad and Phil Cook (bass/guitar and banjo/keys, respectively) plus Joe Westerlund (percussion), all in their early thirties, have been developing their psychedelic Americana fare since their playground days in Wisconsin. They consistently pushed the boundaries of folk music by incorporating jazz, psychedelia and both experimental and acoustic rock.

On their fourth album named "Megafaun", the group strikes a balance of musically adventurous improvisation and traditional styles of modern folk music. According to the band, this is perhaps best represented in the melancholy, blues guitar-laden jam "State/Meant." "Real Slow" features Phil Cook's jaunty banjo, while the doo-wop harmonies on "Second Friend" recall Beach Boys-era surf rock. Recorded in the April Base studio, the lads have managed to embellish their Americana in a refreshing way with heavenly harmonies, inventive electronica and adventurous elements from other genres.

Megafaun's past three years ripple with the power of varied experiences usually reserved for a lengthy decade: 250 shows over the past two years, supporting tours doing double-duty as backing band with nearly every notable and diverse tour mate, and musical exploration spanning albums and generations of musical history. Megafaun's performances make one think "All is right with the live music scene" and only few bands come off as crunchy as Megafaun, while even fewer sound quite as sonically rad.

Get ready for a Showcase concert of this talented band, as Megafaun will make a stopover in Luxembourg at the Rockhalcafe on 6 Febraury 2012. As usual, the entrance is free!