Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem spectacular performance in Starr theater of Walton Arts center on Thursday November 12

After performance of Brooklyn Rider in Walton Arts Center a week earlier, Fayetteville residents had chance to watch more of string quartets and beautifull collaborations! Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem are part of a wave of string bands who blend traditional tunes with contemporary songwriting. Daisy Mayhem is, at its core, a string band, driven by fiddle and guitar and upright bass. But rhythmically, the band strays far from the boom-chick of bluegrass and old-time music. Guitarist Anand Nayak plays with a strong blues and ragtime feel. And the drumming of Scott Kessel, Arbo’s husband, is steeped in zydeco and R&B. He built his main instrument, known as the Drumship Enterprise, out of tin cans, a cardboard box, and a suitcase.Their new CD, Big Old Life, shows that the most uplifting music often comes from the toughest times. They have the ability to make everything from mountain folk dirges to raucous jug-band rambles speak in new and noteworthy ways…
Last night, Arbo’s alto deftly shifted from smoldering to playful, and her fiddling speaks of old-time blues and jazz, all tinged with a talent for translating anything into accessible music. I walked away form concert while singing humming lyrics that will stick with me for a while.
If you missed to see the performance, check out some of their music at www.rainarbo.com and a review of “Big Old Life” from NPR’s All Things Considered.

Embracing life

Its not surprising that Arbo sung so beautifully about embracing life. In 2004, she was diagnosed with breast cancer just months after giving birth to her first child. Three years later, she has a clean bill of health, a busy tour schedule, and a CD of songs about seeking light and hope.
However, Big Old Life is not an autobiographical CD. You won’t find any obvious references to Arbo’s bout with cancer. I found that this music ultimately isn’t about hardship but about celebration—and a feeling of gratitude that’s deepened by taking nothing for granted.