Concert Preview: The Vespers
February 1, 2016
Student Activities is proud to present The Vespers in concert, featuring Joel Kaiser with Native Spirit, on Saturday, February 6 in the LaHaye Event Space starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance for Liberty students, $15 for general public ($18 for everyone at the door), and are on sale now at the ticket link above.
Sisters Phoebe and Callie Cryar were The Vespers prior to meeting brothers Taylor and Bruno Jones in Nashville, Tennessee in 2008, but it wasn’t until the brothers and sisters joined in 2009 that the group became the band-on-the-rise they are today. The Cryar sisters have the musical pedigree and experience, as they are the daughters of 80’s & 90’s CCM star Morgan Cryar, and had the privilege of working on various professional music projects even as young girls. Their experience in the music industry certainly contributed to their polish and professionalism, but there is no denying their talent, both as vocalists and instrumentalists. The collaboration between siblings produced three albums. The first two, Tell Your Mama (2010) and The Fourth Wall (2012), are squarely in the indie folk/Americana vein. Both have lighter, pop moments, such as the songs Not So Nice and Flower Flower. However, for the most part those albums are more delicate, folk-influenced songs, led more by the subtle vocals of Phoebe Cryar, whose voice is reminiscent of Sixpence None the Richer’s Leigh Nash or even Alison Krauss. Callie Cryar, described by Phoebe as “a vocal powerhouse”, certainly makes her presence felt on those albums, but it isn’t until their most recent effort, Sisters and Brothers, that her vocals take center stage. And yet, despite Callie’s power, the dynamic relationship between the sisters’ vocals remains strong throughout, their respective ranges providing a perfect balance to one another. Their contrasting yet complementary styles are also what allow The Vespers to tackle a wider range of musical styles on Sisters and Brothers. The album’s first track, Break the Cycle, is appropriately titled, as the introductory drums alone represent a stylistic departure from their previous works. Where their first two albums fit more comfortably in the Americana box, drawing direct comparisons to groups like The Civil Wars or The Head and the Heart, Sisters and Brothers maintains that original sound while drifting towards pop country (think Little Big Town) and even R&B on tracks like You Leave Me. Still, with all the variety, the album closes with the track Thirst No More, what can only be described as a worship chorus, revealing that they remain grounded in both the sound and faith that got them where they are today.
Be sure to check out all of The Vesper’s albums, as well as the music of Joel Kaiser and Native Spirit, in advance of the show, and keep up with us on Twitter and on our website here for information on all of the great concert events Student Activities has for you this spring.