What group is this?

September 3, 2006 6:20 AM

musicfilter: a few months ago I heard a snippet of a female folk duo from NYC. I think one or both of them is the daughter of another well-known musician (possibly from the 70s, but not totally washed up or disrespected today--example Elton John's collection of Disney movie songs would be an example of someone who once was great, now stewing in mediocrity..that is another can of wigs all together...). Their music was the solid singer-songwriter crafted sound (vs hippie, vs traditional etc; maybe this is my own folk classification but hopefully someone gets it). Any clue who this is??

oh, and any of my clues could be totally incorrect!
I guess at the time I thought I would hear of them again since they already had a genetic toe in the business AND they sounded great.

posted by TheLibrarian to Media & Arts (17 answers total)

Could it have been Martha Wainwright? She usually sings with her cousin Lily, and they are both daughters of Kate and Anna McGarrigle. Fits your description.
posted by mikel at 6:39 AM on September 3, 2006

Maybe FolkUke? They are the daughters of Arlo Guthrie and Willie Nelson, and toured through NYC a few months ago.
posted by ewagoner at 6:48 AM on September 3, 2006

even though I guess it is a close fit (and sounds good), that is not it.
also, I really don't know who their parents Kate and Anna McGarrigle are....so.
The girl(s) had famous dads. Famous as in mainstream famous.
Also their sound I thought lean on instruments, maybe just a guitar or piano. Martha sounds like she has a full band.
posted by TheLibrarian at 6:51 AM on September 3, 2006

folkuke not it BUT I would love ti see or hear more of them...
the group I am thinking of is not so country folk sounding and I think their lyrics were clever but probably not so humorous as folkuke.

keep guessin'
posted by TheLibrarian at 6:54 AM on September 3, 2006

The first person who came to mind was Sally Taylor the daughter of James Taylor and Carly Simon. But I don't know that she ever sings as part of a duo, except with her brother and that doesn't fit your description.
posted by jdl at 6:58 AM on September 3, 2006

Martha Wainwright's father is Loudon Wainwright, who is moderately famous.
posted by leesh at 7:08 AM on September 3, 2006

Well, and "a few months ago" is when Martha Wainwright was touring with her cousing singing backup. See this clip from May 31st (the other singer is Lily Lankin). Does it sound familiar? But I don't think they were touted as a duo; see this clip from the same night--it's just Wainwright on stage. I think it was more of her cousing chipping in vocals, much like Martha has done for her brother Rufus.
posted by neda at 7:31 AM on September 3, 2006

I just don't think MW is it.
I heard it online and had to click on something to listen, I probably wouldn't have done so base on the Wainwright last name. I am pretty indifferent to the whole family.
Oh well, maybe I will run into it again eventually!
Thanks for the suggestions:)
posted by TheLibrarian at 8:52 AM on September 3, 2006

Was one of them black and the other a redhead? You might've run into a couple of my friends...
posted by nasreddin at 10:00 AM on September 3, 2006

Is it Folk Uke? The daughters of Willie Nelson and Arlo Guthrie?
posted by iconomy at 10:03 AM on September 3, 2006

Here 's a photo.
posted by iconomy at 10:05 AM on September 3, 2006

Ooops...missed ewagoner's comment.

Never mind! /roseanne rosannadanna

Carly Simon and James Taylor also have a daughter who sings in a folk duet.
posted by iconomy at 10:08 AM on September 3, 2006

Sarah Lee Guthrie?
posted by smorange at 10:33 AM on September 3, 2006

not sally taylor. probably would not have clicked on that to listen to it either based on lineage. plus, she sounds like she has a full band backing her and these girls I am thinking of (or totally IMAGINING?!:) had few instruments.
not Sarah Lee Gutherie. too hippy for what I am thinking. I've known of her for a while anyway and would not have clicked on anything to listen to her.

this was straight up singer songwriter maybe more the alternative pop side of folk (but not hippie, country or traditional folk and not bubblegum pop).
posted by TheLibrarian at 11:02 AM on September 3, 2006

could it have been Petra Hayden? She supposedly sometimes performs with her siblings, and they're the children of jazz bassist Charlie Haden...
posted by ab3 at 11:11 AM on September 3, 2006

no on petra. I have no idea who charlie haden is, wouldn't have clicked.
the parentage is pretty mainstream musicians. (not arlo, james and carly, or willie)
posted by TheLibrarian at 11:31 AM on September 3, 2006

Wilson Philips?
posted by turducken at 3:47 PM on September 3, 2006