The Guggenheim Grotto

about

When Dublin alt-folk songwriters Kevin May and Mick Lynch of The Guggenheim Grotto first appeared on the U.S. scene in 2006, comparisons to Simon and Garfunkel dominated the critical landscape. With their two-part harmonies, folk-acoustic stylings and earnest pop songwriting, it seemed no one could resist. Over the past four years, however, the duo has transcended the comparison – creating rich, multi-instrumental soundscapes. They dabble in synths and effects and radiate melancholic beauty. And sometimes they silence a room by simply harmonizing over a lone ukulele. Always though, their songwriting is marked with a belief in the promises of the universe, a curiosity about humanity and a hopeless romanticism embodied by only the most passionate of artists and dreamers. This romanticism shines on the band’s new album, The Universe Is Laughing. A lyrical journey through life’s beautiful mysteries, the record sees Kevin and Mick further develop themes of self-discovery and enlightenment they first visited on 2009’s Happy The Man. The Guggenheim Grotto emerged in 2005 to critical acclaim in Ireland with its debut album …Waltzing Alone when the first single “Told You So” reached No. 12 on the Irish National Airplay Charts. Later the band found success abroad much in part to early champions like David Dye at WXPN in Philadelphia, XM Radio’s “The Loft” and Nic Harcourt at KCRW in Los Angeles. …Waltzing Alone eventually spent weeks at the No. 1 spot on the iTunes Folk Char

top songs

albums

Waltzing Alone

The Universe Is Laughing

Happy The Man

▥

Philosophia - Single of the Week

... Waltzing Alone

▥

Indie/Rock Playlist: January (2009)

...Waltzing Alone

▥

Indie/Rock Playlist: November (2010)

▥

SXSW 2009 Showcasing Artists

▥

Paste Magazine Sampler 50

▥

Paste Magazine Sampler 29

▥

Paste Sampler Magazine #50

similar artists