This Friday February 12, the Swedish American Hall presents Clare and the Reasons and Van Dyke Parks for one night only.

Clare and the Reasons is a Brooklyn-based “chamber-pop” group, dubbed as such by the establishment due to their facility (both live and recorded) with cellos, violas, kazoos, baby kotos, saws, recorders, and drums.

Van Dyke Parks, the indefatigable American composer and lyricist says:

“Clare is the Reasons’ raison d’être. Melodious et mysterieux–(the group) defines esprit de corps. Elegant arrangements for your dream escape—chamber music with edge. Get this visa to real musical adventure. Totally transportive!”

Also on board for the night is Josh Mease, a soft-spoken Texan songwriter, whose work might be characterized as gentle prairie-like soundscapes informed by the original lonesome cowboy songs that came from his home state.

Parks’ live performances are distinguished by his personal panache, a charm bested only by his infectious percussion on the piano. Parks intersperses poetry and lore among melodic selections from his bountiful songbook. While none of Parks’ albums have gone platinum, his songs all sound familiar as apple pie.

Hope to see you there.

From the San Francisco Chronicle, Eccentric Van Dyke Parks finally reaches S.F. by Joel Selvin, Chronicle Senior Pop Music Correspondent