Sound like: On their debut, Gallowsbird's Bark, Eleanor's stripped-bare vocals anchor the duo's frantic folk blues. While she tosses off peculiar lyrics about asthma attacks, strong winds, and snaggleteeth, Matt provides psychedelic guitar noodling and zippy keyboards, conjuring a demented but lovely carnival.
The gloves come off: Will one Friedberger emerge as a sexy, breakout star? "Not me," scoffs Matt. "I don't want to seem like I represent the band," says the oft-photographed Eleanor. "Because I'm the boss of the band!" says Matt triumphantly. Eleanor shoots him one of many looks of disgust.
Go, Granny, go! The Friedbergers say their second album will feature duets between Eleanor and the siblings' 80-year-old grandmother, Olga Sarantos, a church-choir director who once delicately suggested that Eleanor take singing lessons. "She's the best musician in the family," says Matt. "She doesn't get to write her own lyrics, but she can make suggestions."
