Mahalo and Goodnight

Subject Movements

Classically, most indulgences come in the form of decadent little taste treats we help ourselves to now and again. So who would have ever fathomed there were sound bites as equally satisfying? Some things just go great together: wine and jazz, champagne and sushi, chocolate and great shoes…but when the sound of slow rock meets “newgrass,” music becomes a guilty pleasure.

One such music morsel arrives in the form of one Mahalo and Goodnight, Baltimore’s latest guilty pleasure.

What’s that you say? Never heard of them? Where the -halo have you been? This indie trio’s been rocking out the east coast since O-five. If you haven’t been privy to the latest phenomenon, allow me to bring you up to speed. Bandmates Kenny, Joe, and Dan comprise the unique experience of the acoustic Mahalo and Goodnight, effortlessly putting local bands to shame. They prove they’re not only good, but worthy of rivaling the ranks of some of today’s undeserving chart-toppers. Although—inexplicably—the band has yet to be signed, their orphan status hasn’t stopped them from touring. Already, their travel trajectory has run the gamut from Virginia, to D.C. to nearly every part of Maryland. Not bad for a “local” band. It’s no wonder their fan base is growing faster than wildfire.

Their, latest (impressively self-produced) album, Subject Movements, strives for a rich ambient sound, incorporating an interesting aural landscape. For a genre so over-explored by masses of well-meaning, yet unfulfilling, artists, it’s refreshing to find such an intricately crafted and sophisticated sound in this class. Profoundly arranged into three movements, the song trio collaboratively represents a set of philosophical aspects of complete existence—Objective, Self, and It. Objective is a sonic mix of upbeat electro-rock with mellow and embracing jazz textures laced throughout. In a phrase: it delivers. It’s easy to get into, and doesn’t leave you dissatisfied. It offers a more intense, yet similar electronica feel, not redundantly, but with greater emphasis on heavier rock themes. Self starts off in an enticing place, like the opening score to an adrenaline-rich, action sci-fi, video-game-turned-movie film. From there, it takes a softer spin, evolving into an eclectic mélange that’s sure to prove entertaining.

But will you be impressed? You should be. These heartthrobs have been doing their thing at masses of local events and venues, and, in several years of performing, have yet to meet a crowd they haven’t pleased. But don’t take my word, check them out for yourself on their unofficial homepage at www.myspace.com/mahaloandgoodnight.