Stagecoach: Vocal harmony from the Secret Sisters, Rhonda Vincent and Steel Magnolia

Vocal harmony has played a crucial role in country music dating back to those wondrous vocal blends of the Carter Family in the ' 20s and even earlier, and Stagecoach audiences were exposed to an invigorating variety of ways to combine voices on Saturday.

Rhonda Vincent and her band keep winning bluegrass industry awards for good reason: They uphold and perpetuate the highest standards of musicianship as instrumentalists and singers. She and her cohorts huddled around a single mike the way so many groups were required to do when performing on live radio broadcasts.

Steel Magnolia, on the other hand, played up the contrast between Meghan Linsey's sweet and spunky -- but soulful -- voice and her partner Joshua Scott Jones' grittier male counterpart, no doubt aiming to win some of the following that Sugarland has built.

The two exhibited good chemistry, although their harmonizing didn't plumb the depths the Secret Sisters reached applying their sibling symbiosis to songs of the deepest emotions. The unearthly intervals Laura and Lydia Rogers chose for Bill Monroe's "The One I Love Is Gone" made tangible the sense of eternal heartache voiced in the lyrics -- the message, perhaps, that the only solace for human suffering may be found in music.

-- Randy Lewis

Photo: Meghan Linsey and Joshua Scott Jones of Steel Magnolia perform at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival. Credit: Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Lucian]

Out of plain curiosity-is the writer of this article a pro on this subject matter or a novice? I ask because most people in entertainment can spell Mic as in Microphone not Mike as is Michael--oh I get it(wow). I challenge the editor of this article to look at the purpose of the article. It appears to take a pot shot at two artists who, from this article would appear to be novices next to the other group? I don't understand the Sugarland reference at all--Lady A maybe but Sugarland?-hmm. Though no disrespect to Sugarland they are marv. Sibling symbiosis? FOR REAL? (wow)..your article is an obvious attempt to be partial--shame on you..sibling symbiosis--seriously? (wow). The use of big words, a writer does not make (writing 101). I don't like the spirit with which this article was written, if you can't tell.

[Chris]

It sure sounds like the folks of at the festival got a great show from Rhonda Vincent!! She isnt called the "Queen of Bluegrass" for nothing. I have seen them numerous times and her and the Rage never fails to deliver a top notch performance with amazing musicianship, harmonies that will give you goose bumps and great entertainers. I love the fact that at the end of the shows, she will meet and greet each person and will treat you just like a best friend. In my opinion, all genres of music need more folks like Rhonda and the Rage out there. Love supporting these types of artists and I will be the first one in line to buy her and Gene Watson's new duet album when it hits the streets June 7 :-)

[Cathy]

I love good country harmonies, there's nothing better. We weren't able to come to the show and I appreciate Randy's description of what we missed.

We've seen Rhonda Vincent and the Rage before and they put on a very entertaining show.

[drakester]

I don't know anything about Rhonda Vincent (never heard of her) and Secret Sisters are fairly new - don't know much about htem either but this guy is DEAD WRONG about Steel Magnolia! They put on a great show, have wonderful harmonies and the fans LOVE THEM!!!!!!! Josh & Meg show love to their fans also doing meets & greets and personally thanking as many fans as possible. Seems to me this guy knows a lot about nuthin'!!!