Angel Band

Fri., Aug. 13, 7:30 p.m., $15, with Carsie Blanton, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., 215-928-0770, tinangel.com.

by Mary Armstrong

roots

Philly's bluesy, bluegrassy Angel Band has been touring madly of late, which is probably why Nancy Josephson, ordinarily a very chatty sort, has been hard to get on the phone. Or maybe she just wants the songs on their just-released CD, Bless My Sole (Appleseed), to speak for themselves. Except for the one Beatles cover, she wrote them all. As ever, she takes a clear-eyed look at tough situations, like the urban purgatory of "Black Tar Sway." Clear-eyed doesn't preclude hope and encouragement, however; "Same Boat" reminds friends and neighbors that we would be well-advised to pull together. The Angel Band's sound continues to focus on the tight trio of women's voices — including Kathleen Weber and newcomer Aly Paige — with acoustic support from stellar players like Josephson's life/music partner David Bromberg.