The folk-rock band Delta Rae makes its first appearance on Mountain Stage, recorded live in Huntington, W.V. A six-piece band with four powerful vocalists, Delta Rae was formed on and around the campus of Duke University in Durham, N.C. Brothers Ian and Eric Holljes serve as the band's primary songwriters, drawing influences from classic pop acts like Billy Joel and Fleetwood Mac, while the voices of Brittany Holljes and Liz Hopkins evoke Southern rock and blues.
The band's set reflects its eclectic influences: "Burning in Carolina" calls to mind a modern, uptempo Broadway anthem, while for the swampy "Bottom of the River," Eric Holljes trades his keyboard-based percussion sounds for a chain and trash can. This segment also features two songs not heard in the radio broadcast — including "If I Loved You," which showcases Hopkins' soulful vocals.
Delta Rae is followed here by Bob Thompson, who performs the Jimmy Cox blues standard "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out."
This Mountain Stage performance originally aired on September 11, 2012.
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