A Hawk and a Hacksaw - “Fernado’s giampari”
I went to see Andrew Bird last night, and opening for him was a band I had never heard of but who I now can’t stop thinking about: Albuqerque-based A Hawk and a Hacksaw. The core of the band consists of former Neutral Milk Hotel percussionist Jeremy Barnes and violinist Heather Trost. Their music is mostly instrumental but with the occasional unintelligible vocals used mostly for sound effects rather than meaning, and their sound is straight from The Balkans. Watching them perform these songs live - with Barnes simultaneously singing, playing accordion, and hitting a base drum from which dangled chimes and bells - was an experience in and of itself. It’s some strange, eerily beautiful stuff. Enjoy.
(And as an added bonus, here’s a live performance of “Serbian Cocek,” which they perform with The Hun Hangár Ensemble, and which is lovely.)
