And my mind is proud but it aches with rage

I remain gobsmacked by the pop band Lucius, fronted by two absolutely killer young lady vocalists. Due to job scheduling issues I have now missed them in Portland on three occasions. So the best I can do for now is enjoy their amazing YouTube live performances.

Here is their cover of The Kinks "Strangers", a Dave Davies nugget from "Lola vs. Powerman and the Moneygoround, Pt. 1". I love how this song keeps cropping up. It was used to devastating effect in Wes Anderson's film "The Darjeeling Express". The Lucius girls bring a vocal intensity that this beautiful song richly deserves.

So where are you going to I don't mind 

If I live too long I'm afraid I'll die 

So I will follow you wherever you go 

If your offered hand is still open to me 

The next best thing to be...

Here is a little taste of heaven, at least at the aural level.  I am so besotted by the duo lead singers of Lucius that I sought out every YouTube video that I could find.  And in the process stumbled across their live in the studio rendition of John Lennon's Free As a Bird.  The first soft vocal entry is absolutely perfect - the tone and harmony work is spine tingling.  And then.. on the next verse... the first word "Home" is delivered as a cascading overload of harmony.  A perfect sense of rhythm coupled with dead on pitch and breath control shoots this into the stratosphere.  The contrapuntal acoustic guitar and over amped electric lead guitar add sparse accompaniment that fits the song perfectly.   My partner and I are kicking ourselves for missing Lucius twice in 2014 here in Stumptown.   Next time they are anywhere near the West Coast - we will be there.