Darlingside

This is basically as early a show can happen, was the sentiment Darlingside shared as they stood on stage. Performing this week’s Free at Noon, WXPN’s weekly free live show, today taking place at Ardmore Music Hall, the crowd certainly didn’t seem to mind the “early” start. In fact, it was a sold out show.
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As Don Mitchell, Auyon Mukharji and Harris Paseltiner, original Darlingside members, opened up the set with some three part harmonies, it was hard to not watch Molly Parden, a more recent addition to the tour, stare at them in her own awe. Staying true to Americana folk as Mitchell played the banjo, we all swayed to and fro as the band alternated between cuts from their latest release, Everything is Alive, and some of their older favorites. 

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing countless Free at Noon shows, and I’ll certainly never pick a favorite. But my favorite moment is never my own, but instead the reaction of the band. They’re always so surprised at how many folks come out in the middle of the day, grab a drink, and want to see some live music. And while they’ll occasionally shout out the listeners at home, too, I hope the feeling of surprise in the room never changes.