Pearl and the Beard

Pearl and the Beard

Pearl and the Beard is a group from the United States formed in New York by Jocelyn Mackenzie, Emily Hope Price and Jeremy Styles. The trio builds its songs around three voices and a multi-instrument line-up that includes cello, guitar, glockenspiel, melodica, several drums and accordion.

Music and style

The group is known for a genre-blending sound that sits across folk, acoustic, indie, indie pop and alt-folk. Its songs are described through melodic, layered arrangements and a strong emphasis on live performance, with the three members moving between voices and instruments.

Career

After coming together in New York, the band tours widely in the United States and plays in the UK, including a first UK tour in 2011. Its profile extends beyond the New York scene, with attention from The Boston Globe, Filter Magazine and The Wall Street Journal.

The video for “The Lament of Coronado Brown” appears on NPR’s All Songs Considered. The band also plays in unusual settings as well as conventional venues, including subway platforms, parks and fields, and is noted for drawing crowds into its performances.

Live performance

Pearl and the Beard’s live show is central to its reputation. The group performs in a way that combines close vocal interplay with instrumental variety, and its performances are described as immersive and strongly audience-focused.