The Hungry Pines

THE HUNGRY PINES

The best decision (after the inclusion of the beer garden) made by festival promoters was the inclusion of The Hungry Pines. Two gals, two gents, one incredible sound. The girls play the guitars (very well). I enjoyed Chrysti Harrison of the Conversation Heart, who poured out delicious licks on the crowded stage. Drummer Lucas Carlyle kept great time, of note as the band was a tempo-rollercoaster. And (with bass addition Bryce Shoemaker) they pull it off. They are mellow in a PJ Harvey kind of way.

Irene Barber, 24, is very hot. With big dark bangs in her eyes, Irene's vocals stole the show. Where has this girl been hiding? Port Orchard she told me after the 50 minute set. With a background in choir and a brief stint in musical theatre (she says, "I wasn't very good."), Ms. Barber cites T. Rex as an influence. Her voice is piercing, yet not the eardrums, rather the heart. The lyrics, which she pens, are anthemic, but thoughtful. When she sings right on the beat, every head in the bar is nodding, caught within her trance. Now, I'm not going to say that if Eddie Vedder and Natalie Imbruglia had a love child, and Gwen Stafani was her vocal coach...OK, SERIOUSLY, This girl has that special something. While Irene Barber wears the tight black jeans and Converse, she is a throw back. She is an old soul with a fresh face and a kick-ass voice.

The Hungry Pines are hot as Georgian asphalt. Very Seattle. Alterna-punk with the voice of an angel. They rocked that small bar with an upside down American Flag blocking the killer sun outside. The end of the set was intensely sweet, like good chocolate, hard and rich. The place was sweltering and no one cared. They were Rob's favorite band of the weekend. Pound-for-pound the best young band I've seen in a long time.