I met these two today after work. I noticed them standing facing each other on the sidewalk as I rode on Tryon toward my car. They were strumming away and smiling into each other’s eyes as they sang. I had to stop. I was delightfully surprised to hear how tight and clear their music was, with such lovely, well-wrought harmonies.

“You guys are pretty good!” I said at the end of a song. They were humble, saying they’d only played a handful of shows. I introduced myself and learned their names, George and Kelley. Kelley said they were from Naples, Florida but had moved to Greeneville, South Carolina. George said he was in town for a gig tonight, but the two of them were just doing some busking to practice together.

Two of my friends serendipitously rode up on bikes from opposite directions, and then we watched as they played this song, which they transitioned into a medley with Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison as my phone ran out of storage. My friends and I stood there practically gaping, exchanging awed smiles.

My Girl My Whiskey & Me are fun to watch because they have fun playing. They lock eyes and smile. They read each other and steer their music spontaneously. It’s clear they know what they’re doing, and it’s just as clear they wouldn’t rather do anything else. They are enthusiastic – thoroughly alive – and the effect is contagious.

Leave a Reply