Event

Girlyman

After Girlyman's first gig they earned enough to buy a milkshake. Now they sell out The Barns at Wolftrap, The Old Town School of Folk Music, and The Freight and Salvage. The venues have gotten more famous, but filling the seats is just part of the story of Girlyman's connection to their audience. Fans drive hundreds of miles to hear their three-part harmonies. If they live overseas, they make a special trip to America. If they bring friends, the newcomers leave hooked.

When a rabbinical student writes a prayer based on their music, that's really unexpected. When a fan tattoos their lyrics on her feet, that's really different. The band's blend of acoustic, Americana and rock winds its way into your life, whether you're novelist Anne Beattie quoting the song "On the Air," or characters listening to the band in The Last Lie written by best selling author Stephen White, or college choral groups who perform a capella versions of Girlyman's songs.

The three founding members of the Atlanta-based band handle songwriting duties, penning lyrics about love and loss and memory. But, as Slate magazine wrote "Girlyman doesn't wallow in such emotions; the band approaches them frankly, capturing, in a story or a surprising metaphor, a feeling you've had but never heard so well-expressed." Their music spans genres-they play acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, djembe, and electric baritone guitar-but even in large venues their shows are accessible in the coffeehouse style. They handily finish each other's jokes. Their improvisational harmonies and on-the-spot songs (about everything from the Antipope to the benefit of firing a cannon in a musical composition) have become cult favorites.

Most recently, Girlyman has been collaborating with comedian Margaret Cho, co-writing songs for her upcoming CD. She also produced their first music video for the song "Young James Dean." Of Girlyman, Cho says, "It's the music of my heart and soul. Girlyman is the future and the past and the present."