Mikaela Davis, Nic Panken at The EARL

CRITIC'S PICK:
Fri, July 24
Mikaela Davis, Nic Panken, The EARL - Americana singer/songwriter Davis' main instrument is the harp. But you'd hardly know that for the support role it plays on her new album Graceland Way. It's there in the background, but the focus is on Davis' emotional voice and breezy and flowing melodies. Guitars get ramped up on tunes like "The Wrong Way," then disappear for the stark piano-driven "Spring Petals in the Snow." She's probably the most pop artist on her Kill Rock Stars label. Panken, lead singer of Spirit Family, plays songs from his recent quirky pop album, intriguingly titled Near Divine or Merely Rhyme. - Hal Horowitz