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stage presence // KATLYN CONROY AND THE local musicians. feel free to swoon. WILD AND WOOLY
They may adapt exotic animal personas, but these "wild" musicians' true mascot ought to be the underdog.
Just weeks after forming, Katlyn Conroy and the Wild and Wooly took to the stage at the 2009 KJHK Farmer's Ball, and, despite stiff competition, won the title and coveted recording time by audience vote.
"We kind of felt like we were the underdogs because we were new," Conroy says. "The finalists were so different from each other and were equally good that we honestly had no clue we were going to win."
But don't mistake this young band to be amateur-sounding. From the viola to drums, this six-member band is comprised of talented musicians.
Conroy describes the band as orchestrated, upbeat and melodic. The 22-year-old's vocals are delicate and powerful. The band's infusion of keyboards and sleigh bells add to the ambient arrangement. Conroy says her musical influences include Bright Eyes, Rufus Wainwright and Neutral Milk Hotel.
Since winning Farmer's Ball, Conroy, her partner, Joshua Landau, and the other band members have continued crafting their skills, playing shows and recording. They expect to
have a single released in about three months. "We've been getting a lot of good press and it's been very unexpected," Conroy says. "It's very surreal."
You can hear the band's melodic tunes at 10 p.m. tonight at the Eighth St, Taproom, 801 New Hampshire St.
// ANNA KATHAGNARATH
Contributed photo
Wild and/or wooly. Band members Joshua Landau (fox), Brook Park bear (bear), Katyn Contro (person), Corey Vitt (lion). Hannah Jensen (rabbit) and Christopher Brower (giraffe) will be playing tonight at the Eighth St, Taproom. 801 New Hampshire St.
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