I can remember driving through Southern Greece and seeing Gypsies on the roadsides or hanging out in small towns. Occasionally, the sound of tempo-changing violin (or fiddle) and horns would spout about during the nightfall. I can also remember hearing similar music being played in the film ‘Everything Is Illuminated’. Both were just as settling to the mind, but therapeutic for a beating heart.

A Hawk and a Hacksaw started out a project by former Neutral Milk Hotel drummer Jeremy Barnes. The project grew into a duo consisting of himself on Percussion and Accordion and Heather Trost on Violin. A Tuba and a Trumpet/Flugelhorn were included in the mix and there you have this unique, Eastern-European sounding Mariachi-esque band hailing from New Mexico….and boy, do they have ideas.

Truth be told, I was only at The Drake to see Evening Hymns perform (video shot and edited by Kat Burns). Since their performance was AMAZING, as usual, I decided to stick around and see what the fuss was about for the headliner. Hawk/Hacksaw were beyond what anyone could describe as “brilliant.” Keeping a beat with my foot or hands to the sweet strings and beats was not an issue. A band like this doesn’t let up, and for many reasons they shouldn’t. Near the end of the night, they stepped away from their mics and played in the middle of the room. At Jeremy Barnes’ kind request, he asked for people not to clap their hands to the beat as it was throwing him off. Stomping feet — now THAT was fine.

What would have made the night perfect: if it were warmer, on the seaside or in the hills SOMEWHERE in Europe, having a nice beer sitting out by fire or candlelights….yeah , I’m dreaming.