Up All Night
The Waifs may hail from Australia, but their canny blend of acoustic blues, country, and folk wouldn’t sound out of place in the sort of hip Texas roadhouse that hasTownes Van ZandtandBob Dylanon the jukebox. The trio consists of sisters Vicki and Donna Simpson, who both play guitar and harmonize beautifully, and multi-instrumentalist Joshua Cunningham. All three are fine songwriters, and although they each have distinctly different styles, their compositions fit together like a musical mosaic. Cunningham’s moving, hopeful "Lighthouse" can be heard as a response to Donna’s bittersweet song of homesickness, "London Still," which in turn echoes in Vicki’s road ballad, "Three Down." The Waifs may play the same Dobros, mandolins, and guitars that any American folk or alt-country band play, but their Australian accents and outlook give them a refreshing take on the style.--Michael Simmons