Rachael & Vilray, Club Helsinki
They’re young, they’re talented, they’re a bit nostalgic for a musical golden age that happened before they were born. But Rachael & Vilray (The latter name is pronounced vill-ree ,his website advises.) are doing their best to keeps its essence alive. Their website says the two met in 2003 as students at the New England Conservatory of Music and began performing as a duo a few years later after finding that they share a “reverence for the pop music of the 1930s and ‘40s and its wide range of emotions. With simple arrangements and only a guitar for accompaniment, they perform original works and revive forgotten gems of the jazz big bands and western swing ensembles. Their sound recalls both the warmth of radio’s golden age and the intimacy of parlor concerts in a time before recordings.” In a January 2018 interview with Chronogram, Vilray expounded on the appeal of swing era music, describing it as “very hip, a little experimental, and sometimes very dark and lovely. It’s a populist music: danceable, singable, easily understood, humorous, heartbreaking, authentic, and unpretentious.” Not bad characteristics for any genre of popular music, we say. The duo said in the interview that they planned to work on an album in 2018, but there appears to be no recording for sale on their website or Facebook page. On the latter, they said early this month, “We have new tunes to play when we hit the road next week,” so that’s something for old fans to look forward to. ■ 8 p.m. Wednesday. $25/$35. Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia St., Hudson. 518-828-4800 helsinkihudson.com.