The Bacon Brothers will perform a concert at 8 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at the Waterville Opera House, 1 Common St., in Waterville.
Bound by blood and a mutual love of American roots music, The Bacon Brothers have spent the past quarter-century in a creative whirl, funneling their shared DNA into a genre-bending sound. They call that sound “Forosoco” — a blend of folk, rock, soul, and country influences, delivered by two songwriters who were born to collaborate — and it’s taken the siblings across the world, from shows in Japan to performances at American landmarks like Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry.
The Bacon Brothers turn a new page with their 11th release, “Erato,” whose five songs showcase the duo at their diverse peak. It’s an EP of dynamic contrasts: quiet moments and big payoffs, organic instrumentation and electronic textures, self-penned songs and high-profile collaborations. For Michael and Kevin Bacon, it’s also the continuation of a story that began long ago in Philadelphia, where the two siblings were raised on a soundtrack of 1970s singer/songwriters, Philly soul singers, and classic rock bands.
This time around, The Bacon Brothers’ songs point the duo toward unexplored territory. “Let Me Happen To You” grew out of a piece of unused music Michael had originally composed for a television show two decades earlier. “Michael has another musical life as a composer,” Kevin said in a news release from the opera house, “and turning one of his instrumental compositions into a lyrical song is not something we’ve ever done before.” Likewise, “In Memory (Of When I Cared)” finds the siblings teaming up with songwriting legend Desmond Child for a track that splits the difference between minor-key rock & roll and modern-day pop.
Another unexpected collaborator was Kevin’s son, Travis Bacon, who produces the track “Karaoke Town.” “I wrote it on acoustic guitar,” Kevin said, “but I also knew that I could support the song’s simplicity with a bigger, darker, more electronic arrangement, which is right in my son’s wheelhouse.” With its balance of warm acoustics and digital flourishes, “Karaoke Town” represents a rare collaboration between father and son, proof that the apple doesn’t fall far from the family tree.
Tickets cpst $53-$63.
For tickets, or more information, visit operahouse.org.
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