The Staves- Club Garibaldi, 6/5/16

photo by Will Piper

Simply put, I could listen to sisters Emily, Jessica, and Camilla Stavely-Taylor sing all day.  The Watford, Hertordshire England trio, known as The Staves, produce some of the best three part vocal harmonies I've ever heard. Etherial, enchanting, moving and joyful are all words that come to mind when describing The Staves' music.  The folk trio's sound was literally goose-bump inducing for the 150 or so folks who made it to Club Garibaldi on a Sunday evening.  The crowd was extremely polite and respectful of the band, as the fans soaked in the harmonies that swelled in the room.  For a band that is destined to play bigger venues in town, this was a special treat to see them in such an intimate setting.

The Staves have developed a reputation for their performance by gaining the attention of Eaux Claires founder and Bon Iver frontman, Justin Vernon.  In fact, at last year's Eaux Claires festival where I discovered The Staves, they played almost the entire set with Bon Iver, and are slated to do likewise again this summer.  Vernon also produced their excellent 2015 release If I Was.   

Their Club Garibaldi  set featured work from their latest EP, Sleeping In A Car, alongside a large amount of tunes from If I Was, and 2012's Dead & Born & Grown album.  Alongside the beautiful vocals, The Staves have a knack for incorporating vivd imagery into their lyrics and telling tales rooted in the simple complexities of the human experience.  Vocals aside, these sisters are darn fine songwriters to boot.

photo by Will Piper

Setlist:
Hopeless
Blood I Bled
Sleeping In A Car
Black & White
No Me No You No More
Let Me Down

Steady
Roses
Damn It All
Facing West
Mexico
Outlaw
Make It Holy
Winter Trees
Tired
Teeth White