Pearl and the Beard

Blending folk, gospel, pop, and Americana, eclectic Brooklyn-based trio Pearl & the Beard formed in the late 2000s around multi-instrumentalists Jeremy Styles, Jocelyn Mackenzie, and Emily Hope Price. Employing an arsenal that included glockenspiel, guitar, cello, accordion, melodica, and pitch-perfect three-part harmonies, the band's skillful and soulful brand of acoustic art pop has drawn comparisons to artists like Andrew Bird, Beirut, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, and the Low Anthem. Pearl & the Beard issued a number of EPs before releasing their full-length debut, God Bless Your Weary Soul, Amanda Richardson, in 2009. The Black Vessel EP arrived in 2010, followed in 2011 by the group's sophomore LP, Killing the Darlings. After some delays, including time off for Price to play cello in the pit orchestra for Sting's 2014 Broadway musical The Last Ship, the band's third and final full-length album, Beast, was released in July 2015. Citing differing ambitions, Pearl & the Beard announced that summer that they would disband after playing a farewell show in New York City on November 19, 2015. The following year, three of their existing songs were featured in the Sally Field film Hello, My Name Is Doris. ~ James Christopher Monger & Marcy Donelson