Despite being happily married for almost 20 years now, it’s no surprise that she kept her maiden name. And why not; she is Steve Earle’s sister, and that’s a name that can open some doors when you’re trying to make a go of it in the music business. Stacey grew up listening to her older brother’s jam sessions with the likes of Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Townes Van Zandt, and Lyle Lovett; talk about learning at the feet of the masters. Her first show was on an arena stage in Sydney, playing rhythm guitar in her brother’s band, Steve Earle & the Dukes, on “The Hard Way” tour in 1990. She went on to appear on three CDs released by Steve Earle and The Dukes: The Hard Way, Shut Up And Die Like An Aviator, and Transcendental Blues 2000.

Mark Stuart was serving a similar musical apprenticeship. He started his schooling listening and admiring his uncle’s guitar playing and his Dad’s fiddling. Years were spent learning and listening to the greats such as Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, John Fogerty, The Beatles and many more players and singers of all genres. By age 15 he was a member of his Dad’s band, and found himself playing in the School of Honky Tonks and Beer Joints in and around Nashville. He managed to stay awake in high school after playing late nights polishing every riff and bend and vocal chord, and by age 17 he had formed his own band, made a record, and still found the time to play on the road as lead guitar and vocals for acts like Freddy Fender and more. One of those other bands was Steve Earle and the Dukes, and like Stacey he recalls it as a time of glamour: appearing on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and MTV. “I had someone tuning my guitar, strapping on my guitar,” he said. “Now we carry our stuff three flights up in the Red Roof Inn.”

A great description of Stacey and Mark is “They have voices that make you like them.” Earle’s Iris DeMent-like voice (once described as “a mercurial marriage of spun-glass fragility and molasses-thick Deep South twang”) and Stuart’s high tenor blend better than most male-female duos; their voices not so much melding into one sound, as many good harmony singers achieve, but each retaining its own distinct timbre while enhancing the other. Stuart’s guitar playing is worth raving about: no flashy, many-notes-per-minute pyrotechnics, but instead impressively clean, satisfying accompaniments and leads–and visually unique. He plays bass lead lines by reaching across the top of his guitar neck with his left hand, rather than fretting the strings in the conventional manner, curling from beneath the neck. It looks different, and, while it shouldn’t affect the sound, it somehow manages to. He maneuvers so smoothly from note to note that his instrument often sounds like a Dobro or pedal steel guitar, even when he’s not using a slide. Reminiscent of Chet Atkins, he’s got down pat the muffled, percussive alternating bass, with the clear-as-a-bell melody line ringing out above it.

Together, their songs are incredible. They are polished, faceted gems that evoke feelings rather than convey messages. The lyrics fall into the “poetry should not mean, but be” category; neither literal storytelling nor a random, arbitrary farrago of words but instead spare, compelling sketches that allow us to fill in the pictures.

Star and Micey’s first performance at Blue Canoe in Tupelo, MS was so well received that we hope to keep the band in our constant rotation of booking. The energy they brought to the stage was contagious turning an ordinary night into something exceptional. Look forward to this amazingly talented band’s return. –Meredith Martin, Blue Canoe Booking

Best known for the unique blend of soul, folk and pop found on their debut record, Star & Micey is currently producing it’s sophomore album for the Ardent Music label based here in Memphis and home to power pop icons, Big Star. The band has been a showcasing artist at SXSW for 2 years running and has been touring extensively since the release of it’s debut record in 2009! You can check the guys out at: www.starandmicey.com

Music for the night outside is John Bull Band, Destiny Brown and Wendy & Paul

If you come in Tuesday and pay a small fee of $10, you will get in to EVERY show the rest of the week! That would have cost $27 otherwise. Also, you will get FREE high-life from 9-10 on Tuesday and $1 high-life the rest of the week!

Tuesday, September 13: The Beggar Folk ($5) http://thebeggarfolk.com/

Wednesday, September 14: Davin McCoy & the Coming Attractions ($5)
http://www.reverbnation.com/davinmccoyband

Thursday, September 15: The Grenadines ($5)
http://www.reverbnation.com/thegrenadinesbirmingham

Saturday, September 17: The Great Book of John & Sanders Bohlke($7)
http://www.thegreatbookofjohn.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sanders-Bohlke/37698476361

Late Night Saturday, September 17: Hematovore ($5)
http://www.reverbnation.com/hematovore