Chocolate and peanut-butter is your go-to analogy for lazy writers looking to describe a great combination (and bring back fond memories of vintage peanut butter cup advertisements), but while Thao and Mirahs sensibly named collaboration,Thao and Mirah, is sweet and toothsome, its also more complex and exciting than that prosaic pairing. (Maybe more like dates and blue cheese?) Thao Nguyen of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down and Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn of, well, Mirah, are both impressive singers and songwriters with outstanding solo works to their credits. Together, though, theyre something else. Mirahs aerialist singing hits amplitudes that Thaos lower, smokier vocals dont reach; Thaos more electrified guitar playing gives Mirah more exciting scaffolding to play on than shes had in years; and their duets can go from sweet to sharp in the turn of a phrase. (Add tUnE-yArDs Merrill Garbus to ecstatic opening track “Eleven” and youve got, well, devils on horseback, basically.) With Led To Sea, Marissa Anderson. ERIC GRANDY
Sat., May 7, 8 p.m., 2011
