Hem at the Bowery Ballroom

As Brooklyn became the mecca of the 21^st century indie-rock music scene, one group of musicians explored an alternate alternative. Instead of experimenting with new electronic sounds for the college crowd, Hem used the most traditional folk instruments to develop an old sound for mature listeners. Formed in 1999, the core band lineup consists of Sally Ellyson (vocals), Dan Messe (piano, vocals), Gary Maurer (guitar, mandolin, harmonica, vocals), and Steve Curtis (guitar, mandolin, banjo, vocals), and is assisted by Bob Hoffnar (pedal steel guitar), George Rush (bass), Mark Brotter (drums), Heather Zimmerman (violin), and Dawn Landes (glockenspiel, vocals). Hem has released six albums (including the new Departure and Farewell CD) and four EPs, heard its music featured in Liberty Mutual and Tiffany advertisements and received a Drama Desk nomination for the music to the 2009 Public Theatre production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

How does a nine-piece band manage to play so softly? At the Bowery Ballroom tonight, Hem’s original collection of dreamy, ethereal songs was almost trance-like. Even the evening’s cover tunes, the usually rousing Johnny Cash and June Carter standard “Jackson” and the Rolling Stones’ crescendo-building “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” have never been played softer or slower. Some songs were lullabies, some leaned to a country sway, but all were calming and peaceful songs with lyrics that reflected on the mysteries of life. This was fine grown-up music, but it may be best not to listen to Hem when driving long distances.