Joy Williams and John Paul White of The Civil Wars are not what you think.
For starters, they're not an item. Their music does reach intense heights of emotion, but the pure passion you hear is driven by talent — not some twisted back-story or tangled love affair.
Comparisons to The Swell Season may be inevitable, but this pair is more playful; their live shows are full of wisecracks and laughter. Their demeanor is that of brother and sister and, coincidentally, their voices blend in much the same, glorious way that siblings' sometimes do. And, while we're at it, in spite of the duo's name, The Civil Wars' music is not political, angry or even topical. As you'll hear on the band's album Barton Hollow and in this session, it's the music of the heart, loaded with true soul.
Copyright 2011 WFUV
