thePULSEDan & Dorette
By Jennifer Russo
Dan Kirouac and Dorette Weld met through Dan’s wife (who is Dorette’s sister-in-law) and realized that though they had been performing on their own for a number of years, they could combine their musical talents and create a pure sound that would win over audiences of every age group. They cover pretty much every song that is or was once on Billboard’s Top 20 with a fresh and uncomplicated style that rattles the bones of singers long gone.
So how does a girl who loves Paramore and a guy who loves The Beatles decide which music to play at various venues and functions? Dorette tells me that she and Dan “…have to be in agreement on what we choose and we are pretty open to most music.” Dan agrees, saying that he “…wouldn’t refuse to cover much, unless it was really lyrically tasteless.” Their set list ranges from Rhianna to Carole King.
“I like the sound of two voices better than one, and I think we fill a bit of a void in the area by being able to cover a lot of the songs that a female lead vocal is known for, but then also have the luxury of doing duets that are lyrically designed for both genders,” says Dan. “Dorette is funny and really easy to work with,” he adds.
Dan himself is virtually a one-man-band. “I’m trained on drums but rarely get the opportunity to play them anymore,” Dan says. “I’m self-taught on piano and acoustic guitar and I recently taught myself a mandolin song.”
In addition to covers, they have also recorded a couple of originals including “By My Side,” a song with a sweet and simple Lady Antebellum-ish vibe that’s played on the radio and can be found on-line. They also hope to branch out a bit more. Dan would love to play some casinos and cruise ships and Dorette would like to play in Boston at an acoustic Sunday brunch type of setting.
Dan & Dorette will be playing at Periwinkles Bar in Auburn on Saturday, April 7th at 8:30pm. Check them out on YouTube (search “Dan and Dorette”) and while you’re at it, be sure to “like” them at www.facebook.com/DanandDorette.
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Erin Ollis
By Bruce Elliot
The happiest discoveries are those that are completely unexpected. Such is the case with the beautiful, young, and talented Erin Ollis. When looking for the next country-pop female vocalist, one would hardly begin a search in the heart of Worcester, MA, but like a yellow rose of Texas blooming in the cold New England spring, we find beauty in the unlikeliest of places.
Ollis grew up in Holden and began singing in the 5th grade. When her high school honors choir was given the opportunity to sing with Kenny Rogers at Foxwoods, she discovered a true passion for country music. Ollis became a voice performance major at Franklin Pierce University. “I studied and sang a lot of classical music and performed many solos in foreign languages.” But her heart was moving her in another direction: “After I finished my freshman year as a voice performance major, I knew that singing classical music was not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” The following year, Erin began taking voice lesson at Bristol Voice Studios to transform her voice for pop-country music. She developed the motto “Sing, strive, succeed,” and she’s never looked back.
Ollis is the pretty girl-next-door ~ but with a strong edge. She’s part Carrie Underwood and part Miranda Lambert with a dash of Martina McBride. Ollis plays guitar, sings, and writes powerful songs with strong personal connections. Her honesty shines through on songs like “Heartbreaker” and “Crossroads” (available on her FB page). She possesses remarkable range, capable of dark, smoky lows and bright, weightless highs ~ all within the same line.
Her talent has already garnered her much attention. She’s performed at the Hard Rock Café and the DCU Center. In her first gig for the New England Country Music Association, she was named “Female Vocalist of 2011” and now she’s set to travel to Tennessee to compete for a national title. Erin’s next moves include iTunes, radio airplay, and getting to sing the National Anthem at Fenway, Gillette, or the Garden….
But you can hear her now by visiting www.facebook.com/erinollismusic1.
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Tall Heights’ Rafters
By Bruce Elliot
The EP, which arrived a few weeks ago, has traveled from my car, to my living room, to my office, and back many times. While the sleeve is already beginning to show signs of wear, the music remains as fresh and surprising as it did on its first play. It’s not often that I have this kind of reaction to a band I’ve never heard of, but such is the simple purity and beauty of Tall Heights’ latest EP, Rafters.
The Massachusetts acoustic duo was playing for change in open markets just two years ago, but now finds itself touring the country, carried along by the magnificence of their music. Tall Heights is Tim Harrington on vocals and guitar and Paul Wright on vocals and cello. This simple combination of strings and voice mixes to craft astonishingly simple yet charming music. Not since Crosby met Nash have two voices harmonized so perfectly.
The opening track, “To Be Young,” recalls the energy of Mumford and Sons, but with sweeter vocal harmonies and well-drawn images that lament the loss of innocence and promise of youth. Our lives are merely “…leaves floating down a stream.” “Do Not Resuscitate” expresses the fear of loneliness with the coming winter. With “The Hollow,” Harrington and Wright convey the need for a safe place or refuge to love and be loved. Each song, including the title track, paints beautiful New England images, and one can almost picture Walden Pond looming just over the horizon. Tall Heights’ delicate musicianship, poetic lyrics, and soaring harmonies are rare, and demand repeated listening.
For more on Tall Heights or to purchase Rafters, visit www.tallheights.com, like them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/tallh?sk=info#!/tallh?sk=wall), or better yet, catch them live.
