band crush: the head and the heart

Most people perform at open mic nights in hopes of gaining a couple more fans, and, if things go really well, cultivating a mini-following. But for Seattle band The Head and the Heart, one chance meeting at a local open mic night lead to the formation of one of the most buzzed-about new bands of the year.

Their self-titled debut album is filled with easy, vintage-sounding folk melodies- think Crosby, Stills and Nash meets Mumford and Sons- that are equally perfect for rainy day listening as well as cruising in the car with the windows down.

It's a testament to their talent that we prefer listening to the recorded live performances of singles like "Cats and Dogs" and "Down in the Valley" over the polished studio versions. They officially blew our minds at SxSW, and thanks to a U.S. tour with Iron and Wine, their fan base is about get a lot bigger.

Check out "Down in the Valley" below, and prepare to hop on board The Head and the Heart bandwagon...it's going to be a great ride.