"Love landed somewhere in Philadelphia," sings Kentucky transplant and Spinning Leaves vocalist Michael Baker on "Bridges for Free." Baker met Pennsylvania native Barbara Gettes on her birthday in October 2006 and, pretty much the same day, Americana duo the Spinning Leaves was born. Much of the band's debut album, Love, was recorded in an 1800s-era rowhome just north of Philadelphia's Chinatown - which some have dubbed the city's "Eraserhood" - and was independently released in 2009. Each CD was adorned with found materials such as cut-up cardboard boxes, pages from old National Geographic magazines, and yarn, making every copy a mother-earth-approved, original work of art.
The twelve-song album is refreshing, featuring clever, upbeat songwriting, solid orchestration, and enchanting harmonies. These nonconformists left the sterilized studio experience out of their recording process, forgoing the typical practice of Auto-Tune and shunning over-production. Consequently, the music is free-flowing and even a bit magical. That organic energy touches listeners, making them feel as if they are right there in the parlor, bedroom, or backyard with the band as it was recording.
Love garnered plenty of acclaim from those in-the-know. Morgan King, founder of Yer Bird records, an indie label dedicated to contemporary folk music, said, "Their song 'Bridges for Free' is jaw-dropping, reminiscent of 'Desolation Row'-Dylan and 'Return of the Grievous Angel'-Gram Parsons with Emmylou." Praise like that led Ropeadope, an online record and clothing company, to re-release the album on vinyl earlier this year.
Playing live, Baker and Gettes stand at their mics, harmonizing and strumming acoustic guitars. Gettes, a petite woman, invariably performs in a patterned vintage frock and radiates absolute cuteness. Standing beside her, Bakers's wide white smile shines through a dirty blonde beard and he scans the crowd with a twinkle in his eye. Their voices alone, hanging in the air, seem to be completely in love with each other.
The Spinning Leaves' recent record re-release show was held at MarBar in University City and was attended by many Philadelphia musicians, including local legend Amos Lee. Near the end of the show, the duo came down from the stage to stand in the crowd and lead a spirited sing-along. It was quite the scene, the audience suddenly becoming participants, creating a circle around the charismatic headliners, everyone smiling, singing and feeling the love (no pun intended). That feeling of fellowship should come as no surprise. As Baker and Gettes state on their record label's website, "We believe in community and the connections that can form when people look each other in the eyes...and treasure the complex connections between the earth and humans."
These days, the Spinning Leaves are busy in the studio working on their next release and also playing dates throughout Pennsylvania and around the country. On August 8, the pair pays an in-studio visit to venerable folk icon Gene Shay, host of WXPN's "The Folk Show" and follow that up with an appearance at the 49th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival, scheduled for a Friday, August 20 performance (the time of which has yet to be released).
So look them up, come to a show or tune in, and maybe you'll catch a little bit of the love that the Spinning Leaves are so freely distributing.
