With so many groups falling over each other to recapture the spirit of Appalachian folk, it's thrilling when a modern act can convey the necessary grit to make the music sound real. On record, The Baltimore String Felons truly sound like ghosts from another time. But the band's edge doesn't come from sonics alone. Appalachia may seem exotic to us, but the Felons have a subtle, more lifelike way of embracing darkness, and their music amounts to way more than just a pose. Three string players switch off on different combinations of banjo, violin, guitar, and mandolin, while two percussionists provide spoons, tambourine, and dusty kick drum. Sparks will fly if the Felons sound nearly as un-polished in person as they do on record. Thimble Wit also appears.

The Baltimore String Felons

Sunday, June 28

Mez, 389 Gregory St