In my years as a music nut, I have watched the lineups of countless festivals year after year get announced and fantasized about attending them. Upon hearing that Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk was making their first ever appearance in Columbus I recognized the name as one that I had glanced over multiple years whilst mulling over the Cornerstone lineup (RIP…I never made it out unfortunately).  A gut feeling told me this show in Columbus would be a good choice above my other options that night, and a group of friends heading over to catch opener Get in the Ark sealed the deal.

While talking with Lauren and her husband Zoltan after the show, I gathered that she started the project as a mostly solo folk venture, but then concluded that the music and live show needed some more muscle to really flesh out the experience. I can tell you this was the right move. The five piece band, along with their myriad of instruments were crammed tightly on the small Rumba Cafe stage. Lauren displayed remarkable comfort and consistency in her vocals, considering the band’s rigorous tour schedule. Her husband Zoltan had crazy stage presence, alternating between keys, glockenspiel, and kick pedal banging against a floor tambourine. He bounced all over the place, wild-eyed and his curly mane flailing. The remainder of the band preferred to maintain a more humble presence, but looked like they were genuinely enjoying themselves. The popular counterpart I would most compare the band’s sound to would probably be Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes – albeit with half the manpower. This is impressive if you think about it.

Get in the Ark and Colin Rigsby opened the show. Rigsby, known more widely as the drummer for House of Heroes, performed a set of acoustic bare bones originals that showed off his tenor voice. Get in the Ark performed a lively set of raw, stripped down folk. This family from Norwalk, OH have a down to earth presence that is fresh and they are gaining traction among the indie community of central Ohio. You gotta love their name, too.