With a quavering stridency reminiscent of Jolie Holland, Samantha Crain delivers a wallop from her tiny frame. The singer-songwriter mines a comfortably familiar terrain of indie-friendly Americana on 2010's You (Understood) — banjos pluck in circular patterns, and guitars get strummed into submission around Crain's voice, while loose and resonant drums clap away in the background. She never settles on one sound for too long, though, and this month Crain released the "A Simple Jungle" seven-inch, recorded with famed songwriter and producer John Vanderslice.
Reunited (And It Feels So Good): Beth Bombara, keyboardist for local opener Old Lights, formerly played as part of Crain's backing band. Don't be surprised if they relive some old times onstage.
