Menage

seen live female dance americana blues

Mary Ellen Bush and Sarah McDonald are the gifted talents that merged to form “Ménage,” a band whose intimate, harmonic landscapes echo the authenticity of Emmylou Harris, the Indigo Girls, and Neil Young. While legendary predecessors inform any current artist, Ménage has etched their own signature perspective: folk-rooted melodies wrapped in a bluesy swing, conveyed in grooves ranging from smoky, rollicking roadhouse, to dreamy, three-quarter waltz. Originally a female trio with a focus on vocal harmony, Ménage now has a new attitude. The band is fronted by 2003 founding members Sarah McDonald, the swanky wordsmith (guitar, banjo, super sultry singin') and Mary Ellen Bush, the sophisticated growler (dog house bass, guitar, harmonica, and amazing boots.) Ménage is proud to introduce their newest members, Matthew Kinne (electric guitars) and Matthew Roberts (drums). Ménage’s collective musicianship underscores lyrics of whimsy and gravitas delivered in unfettered harmony, sparked by the occasional Texas croon. Solid stringed riffs laced with distant artful flashes of harmonica and accordion are siren songs to those lucky enough to be within earshot. Sweet harmonies and distinct song writing are the backbone of this band's novel style. Menage presents an exciting and powerful live show that began in a small neighborhood pub in West Asheville, NC in 2002. Since that time, much of the positive and widespread buzz about Menage can be attributed to the support of local...