Beams celebrate new album at JJ’s Bohemia

Hot off an appearance at SXSW last weekend, the Beams stop at JJ’s Bohemia on Wednesday, March 21, for a show celebrating the release of their sophomore album, “Teach Me to Love,” that day. Soften is touring with the Toronto-based band. JJ’s Bohemia is located at 231 W. M.L. King Blvd.

During t he writing of the album, lead singe r-songwriter Anna Mernieks went down a mental spiral that wreaked havoc on her personal and artistic life, according to a news release. The spiral led to Mernieks cancelling her wedding with bandmate Mike Duffield, but the health crisis encouraged her to deal with her depression while it simultaneously sparked the concept of the next record.

“The lyrics are sad but the music is sweet,” sings Mernieks on the f i nal track of the new album before co- front woman Heather Mazhar comes in for the chorus, their voices combining to strike exactly the bittersweet balance the lyrics describe.

Brothers Dave and Keith Hamilton on mandolin and singing saw/vibraphone respectively, bring texture and personality. Duffield’s drumming, alongside Craig Moffatt on bass, acts as both backbone and pulse. Martin Crawford’s guitars lift the songs just as high as Mernieks’ and Mazhar’s harmonies.

The Beams have been building a fan base across North America with its hard-to-classify sound for the last five years. Led by Mernieks and her banjo, the band is usually called some variation of country The Beams or bluegrass — a natural conclusion since there could be a mandolin, lap steel, singing saw or sever- al band members wearing plaid onstage at any given time — but the band really can’t be boxed into any one genre. Show time is 9 p.m. For more information: 423-362-5695.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO