By DAN ARMONAITIS
When Darby Wilcox performs with her backing unit, The Peep Show, she’s often accompanied on harmony vocals by fellow Greenville-based singer-songwriter Lisa Stubbs.
It makes for an magnificent blending of distinctive voices, but the focus isn’t necessarily on that aspect of the performance given that there’s an entire band on stage with them.
That won’t be the case, however, on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Yee-Haw Brewing Company in Greenville. Stubbs will perform an opening set with her psychedelic folk duo Mourning Dove, which also features guitarist Niel Brooks, before accompanying Wilcox, who will be giving an otherwise solo acoustic performance.
“I am always so excited to share an evening with Mourning Dove,” Wilcox said. “Lisa has been singing in my project, The Peep Show, for a little while now. We don’t often get to have the intimacy of just us and guitar. This will be a treat.”
Wilcox, who is known for her soulful indie folk sound, said she was first exposed to the ethereal music of Mourning Dove through her longtime friendship with Brooks.
“I remember thinking how incredible Lisa was,” Wilcox said. “Her vocal tone and delicate plucking. She’s very vintage. Niel just adds the perfect touch to anyone he plays with.”
For Brooks, getting to hear Wilcox and Stubbs sing together is always a treat.
“Their voices blend together really well,” he said. “I think Lisa was probably more formally trained to be a singer, and it’s a different way to sing when you’re singing harmony. You have to blend with another voice, so you can’t just sing like you normally would as a lead singer. So for her, she gets to stretch a different muscle, and it’s really cool.”
Noting the differences in their vocal styles, Brooks added, “I think if I had to compare them to more well-known names, to me, Lisa is more like a Fiona Apple kind of person and Darby is more like a Cat Power kind of person. They’re not the same, but they blend well. It’s a cool concoction.”
Wilcox described Stubbs as “a great friend” and also pointed out how impressed she is by her work ethic.
“She gets very serious about knowing her material,” Wilcox said. “We’ve worked together on a few tribute projects. She inspires me to be more prepared.”
And, of course, Wilcox, who is often seen on stage with her dog, Lucy, also appreciates Stubbs’ devotion to animals.
“We do love the furry babies, too,” Wilcox said. “That is a great connection for sure. Sometimes more than people.”
While nothing beats a good pet, that’s not to say there aren’t plenty of people in the Upstate music community who garner Wilcox’s respect.
“We have a really special music family full of incredible talent,” Wilcox said of the Greenville music scene. “We often take for granted what we have and wish we were something else … but truth be told, we have something worth celebrating. We inspire one another constantly.
“When Kelly Jo (of the band Phat Lip) comes out with a single or new merch, it makes me want to step up my game. When Lisa comes out with a new photo or a new song, it inspires me to keep up to produce. When I see Matt Fassas or anyone else taking some vocal coaching, it reminds me that I have room to grow.
“I love this family. That’s how it should be. Constantly wanting to grow into our best selves and having each other to push us to get there.”
Wilcox said she’s been writing a lot of songs lately and hopes to start pre-production on her next album with The Peep Show soon. Brooks, meanwhile, said Mourning Dove has already begun recording its next album.
In the meantime, Wilcox is thankful for the many fans she’s accumulated in the past few years.
“It honestly moves me to tears,” Wilcox said of having a strong fan base. “To see others singing my words in the crowd at Fall for Greenville completely blew me away. Those experiences that I sing about give others validation to recognize their own experiences. … It’s truly something special.”