Notes
'...from witty to wildly innovative, there seems nothing out there like Mad Agnes, and certainly nothing like it in the folk world. A fusion of folk, pop and classical contrapuntal harmonies - contemporary and yet also timeless - sort of Paul Simon meets Bach, as sung by the Bitching Babes.' - Peter Spink, New Age Voice 'This trio brims with experience and sophisticated musical gifts... funny showmanship and the most agile, rambunctious harmonies. The beauty can be intense.' - Dan Gewertz, Boston Herald ***************** 'Mad Agnes isn't really mad at all,' says Pete Fornatale (of WFUV in New York), unless mad also means quirky, intelligent, warm, insightful, and humorous. Mad Agnes' music - created by Margo Hennebach, Adrienne Jones, and Mark Saunders - delights, incites, and heals. They do it with rich, heart-rending three-part harmonies, synergistic musicianship, and clever songwriting that is at once familiar and completely unique. Witness this for yourself on their most recent release, Magic Hour. Rich Warren of SING OUT! Magazine says, 'This recording is magic...glorious harmonies, highly original arrangements and memorable songs...perfect production.' The Connecticut-based trio's musical bond stretches across three bands, two solo careers, one and a half decades and a vast repertoire encompassing ten releases. In concert, they move from bold, lushly arranged songs to pared down, spare and simple ones, showcasing their ample musical range. 'Akin to progressive-folk artists of yore, most notably Fairport Convention, the multi-faceted Mad Agnes thrives on story-telling and a traditional aesthetic steeped in classical motifs, intricate harmonies, and complex counterpoint.' Tom Semioli, Minor 7th. Full instrumentation (acoustic, electric, slide and bass guitars, piano and synth) and arrangements support harmonies that spring from angelic to rambunctious. 'This trio brims with experience and sophisticated musical gifts...funny showmanship and the most agile, rambunctious harmonies. The beauty can be intense.' Daniel Gewertz - Boston Herald Mad Agnes' first studio release, Magic Hour, showcases songwriting that is sometimes whimsical, often poignant, and ultimately powerful. From bold, lushly arranged songs like Mommy, Do to the pared down a cappella, Guardians, their music is at once familiar and completely unique. The syncopated rhythms of Dancing Man and the uplifting chorus of Mercy bring together a spellbinding collection of songs. The music of classically trained, 1-800 Prime CD recording artist Margo Hennebach has been described as 'contemporary and timeless' by the Star Gazette and 'captivating' by Sing Out Magazine. Fellow songwriter Adrienne Jones is a self taught fingerstyle & rhythm guitarist and bass player. Of her second CD release, Talking River, Dirty Linen magazine praised her 'expressive ability to wrap meaning around a lyric with the simple rise or fall of a note.' Mad Agnes also features Hartford Conservatory graduate Mark Saunders on vocals, mandolin, and acoustic, electric, and National steel guitars. Recognized for their terrific live show, Mad Agnes was a formal mainstage artist at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference in 2004, and a TriCentric Artist in 2003. They perform nationally at listening rooms and festivals, including the Kerrville Folk Festival, TX; Mountain Stage New song Festival, WV; Forksville Folk Festival, PA, The Birchmere, VA, The Sellersville Theatre, Bethlehem Musikfest, and Godfrey Daniels, PA; The Bitter End and The Towne Crier, NY, WFMT's Live Stage, IL; Sunrise Civic Center Theatre, FL; University of Hartford and Cheney Hall, CT; Johnny D's,MA; and First Nights Morristown, NJ and Worcester, MA.
