What You Should Know About Celebrate Brooklyn Artist: The Head and the Heart

If you’ve got Feelings (that’s "Feelings" with a capital F, which aren’t to be confused with mere "feelings"), then you’ll probably want to check out The Head and the Heart  play a free show (alongside Lost in the Trees) at Celebrate Brooklyn in Prospect Park this upcoming Friday. 

The Seattle-based Head and the Heart has developed quite a following since its formation in 2009, and not just because the band’s name reminds me of a fantastic 30 Rock episode (synopsis: Liz and Jenna “switch” roles when they discover that the tall, handsome man in the elevator with a full head of hair is attracted to plain, thin-lipped Liz and not blonde, hottie Jenna). The Head and the Hair’s success is likely due to their aural mixture of intellect and emotion. And although I’m not sure pensive music videos and throwback arrangements actually equal real sentiment, this band is pretty pleasant on the ears (even if it might just be all surface). I’m guessing their live show on Friday will be pretty pleasant as well.

The band was formed through a series of open mic nights at Seattle’s Connor Byrne pub. They began selling burned copies of their CD in handmade, denim sleeves, which Seattle record stores had difficulty keeping in stock. Since signing with Seattle’s Sub Pop records in November 2010, they’ve opened for Vampire Weekend, Dave Matthews, The Decemberists, Iron & Wine, and Death Cab for Cutie. When they come to Brooklyn this week, they’ll be the headliners.

Let’s take a look at some of their work:

“Rivers and Roads” is about rivers and roads (what else?). This live video demonstrates both that these guys don’t lip sync and that they look good in cardigans. This seems like the kind of song that college seniors in small towns in Maine would totally relate to.

Choice Lyrics: “If you don’t know what to make of this, then we will not relate.” “Rivers and roads, rivers ‘til I reach you.”

Get ready, guys. The “Cats and Dogs” video is pretty quirky! OMG, fake beards and masks! The video for the band’s more upbeat effort (and that’s not saying much) was filmed in a basement and only lasts 2 minutes.

Choice Lyric: “They take away the lonely days for now.”

“Down in the Valley” is extra Feeling-sy, and includes shots of the band sleeping in a van on open country roads. Life touring on the road with your bandmates is so solitary! And sometimes you laugh with friends, but other times you’re sad because you have to sit in a car all day. But then you brush your teeth, pull out a violin, and get ready to jam. Suddenly, you’re king of the world! There are people, and they’re all there to see you play music. Shake that tambourine. Belt into that microphone.

Choice Lyric: “Lord have mercy on my rough and rowdy ways.”