Artist Spotlight: Emily Clark Duo
Clark offers soulful songs and passionate performance
By Eric Frank
May 6, 2019
The Emily Clark Duo at Mile High Spirits - Bloodies & Bluegrass - May 4th, 2019
Bloodies & Bluegrass at Mile High Spirits
For the past few weeks, our Colorado weather has seemed to warm up nicely for the weekends. Saturday, May 4th (yes, may the Star Wars puns never die) was no exception. Two gaggles of bachelorettes and a horde of pedal-hoppers were serenaded into the gorgeous afternoon by The Emily Clark Duo at Mile High Spirits Distillery in downtown Denver, CO.
The duo—Emily Clark on vocals and Jack Pelletier on guitar—performed a batch of recognizable covers such as “Ventura Highway” by America, “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye, and “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” by Tear For Fears.
Reliving the renditions of the past is very fine and lovely, but what really stood out this afternoon were the original songs performed by the duo. The pairing was perfect for the Bloodies & Bluegrass event at Mile High Spirits, which is now celebrating its 2nd season. Clark intimately broke down all 5 songs from her upcoming EP. Her song, “Big Sky” speaks to what some transplants in Colorado might have felt before they found this Rocky Mountain oasis. “Who needs a big sky when you have nowhere to fly? Spreading my wings on a field of Columbine. There is so much here for me.”
Pelletier’s homespun, electric-blues originals pierce the heartstrings. “Colder Than Alaska” is the painful story of divorce. “I thought it was about a friend, but by the time I finished it, I realized I was my own story.”
“Moon Love” is a collaborative writing venture by the pair. Pelletier devised the structure and concept of the song while Clark filled in her personal experience and perspective, creating a “visceral description about a lost or broken love.” Heavy stuff. The duo’s delivery cozies up all these heavy notions into music we can all relate to, but doesn’t keep us too down and depressed.
Colorado is gearing up for another beautiful weekend. You can catch Bloodies & Bluegrass (while it lasts) every Saturday at MHS starting at noon. And don’t miss Emily Clark and The Passing Fancy at Joyride Brewery on Saturday, July 6th.
Bloodies & Bluegrass May, 2019 schedule:
May 4 - Turkeyfoot w/ Emily Clark duo
May 11 - BowieGrass w/ Niek Velvis Blues Band
May 18 - Highland Ramblers w/ Off The Rails
May 25 - Very Special Guests!
