The roots of Americana extend to some unexpected places. We’re somewhere in the Mediterranean, reporting on the Keeping The Blues Alive cruise for Guitarist. Sisters Megan and Rebecca Lovell, better known as Larkin Poe, are one of the stellar acts aboard and they’re gamely posing for photos as the sea breeze gusts so hard over the rail that it nearly knocks our photographer’s light stand over. Still, Larkin Poe is something of a breath of fresh air themselves. Their sound is as raw as gasoline but tempered by dulcet vocal harmonies and sure melodic instinct. As sisters inspired by bluegrass and country blues guitar, they follow in the grand American tradition of pioneers such as Maybelle and Sara Carter – though theirs is a decidedly heavier sound, as well it might be 90 years on. The family bond, though, is just as relevant to their sound as it was to the Carters.
“We’re very close and from the ground up, we’ve really done everything together,” Megan, who plays lap-steel slide, reflects. “We started touring when she was 15 and I was 16. Really, we’ve shared everything, so there is a lot of that twin-like communication. I can just look at her and know what she’s thinking and especially on stage. It works so well because she can shoot me a little sideways look and I know what she’s thinking.”
Rebecca, who is the Fenderwielding half of the duo, agrees: “We are intensely close and at times we feel sort of like we’ve been cloven from the same soul, but we’re very different people and we have very different strengths. Learning how to allow my weaknesses to be covered by her strengths, and vice versa has made us a lot more of a lean, mean killing machine. At least we try on stage to lay waste.”
Denne historien er fra October 2019-utgaven av Guitarist.
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Denne historien er fra October 2019-utgaven av Guitarist.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Sonic Shaper
Electro-Harmonix revisits the effect that launched the company with the LPB-3 Linear Power Booster and EQ
Platinum Blonde
PRS has updated its Texas-voiced David Grissom signature amp with more features, lower wattage and a more approachable price tag
TAN LINES
Many of us regard straps as a bit of an afterthought, but to find one that matches the quality of a custom or vintage guitar, Rod Boyes of Pinegrove Leather can help
ELECTRIC STRINGS
Your tone starts with your strings - strike a balance between sound, tuning and durability with six of our favourites
DIFFERENT WINDS
While there's no end to repros of all the classic pickup styles, more and more pickup makers are mixing things up to move forward - Cream T is a good example
Long termers
A few months' gigging, recording and everything that goes with it - welcome to Guitarist's longterm test report
Top Guns
Chapman's new factory move coincides with a bit of a rethink. We track down the key players all around the world
the Wishlist
Dream gear to beg, borrow and steal for...
Reach For The Star
Earlier this year Guild reorganised its 70s-era Polara range. We spent some time with this mid-range 2024 model: a modern pawn-shop prize or a copy too far?
HIGH FLYER
Adrian Thorpe of ThorpyFX remembers the flight path - and turbulence behind Chris Buck's Electric Lightning overdrive/boost, named after a fighter jet and packing a bona fide valve