He’s My Brother She’s My Sister just released their debut self-titled EP at the beginning of this month. Led by siblings Robert and Rachel Kolar, this L.A. based bunch produced a 6-song hit, aptly self-described as folk/glam rock/western swing. Adorned with the aesthetic of carnies circa 1900, they’ve certainly created a unique identity among indie artists. Remember Carnivale, the one-season-wonder HBO series in the early 00s? He’s My Brother She’s My Sister could’ve have been the costume designers for that show. Their eerie stage presence, century old attire, combined with band member Lauren Brown’s tap dancing upon a small wooden stage (mic’ed, for rhythmic purposes), really makes their shows a performance rather than just a concert. Beyond this, their first release parallels their aesthetic in its unique, fun, and eccentric characteristics. Check out their styles and chops Saturday, October 16th at The Ritz Ybor with Edward Sharp and The Magnetic Zero’s.

The EP opens up with “Tales That I Tell”, and immediately Rachel Kolar’s mesmerizing voice captures your ear, and you can’t help but fall in love with it. She tastefully sings of an unfaithful man but it’s not in a sad sap story, rather a retrospective tale of an empowering sort of indifference. Their talent for story telling becomes apparent in this first track, a skill that is long lost, few and far between. While the beats are straight forward, Brown’s tap adds an irreplaceable groove to this track as well as the rest.

“How’m I Gonna Get Back Home” my personal favorite, follows. It picks up the pace a bit, and Robert Kolar’s equally soothing voice is finally introduced. The lyrics continue to be as descriptive, intimate, and impressive as the first track, this time speaking of inhibitions lost with a few drinks, as well as the regrets that follow in the morning. The interlude goes, “I may regret the things I said/but I won’t let my mind fret/’cause I know everything will be all right” just before they explode back into the chorus. The siblings exchange verses, and perfectly compliment each other’s melodies. The chorus is almost indescribable in it’s beauty. It’s haunting, explosive, and the harmonies are subtle and make your heart sink into your stomach like your first crush.

“Lazy Days” is the quintessential soft song. It’s reminiscent of something you might hear from The Brian Jonestown Massacre, without the pretention. Cellist Satya Bhabha finally makes his presence more apparent, singing his cello into the climax of the song as a choral melody follows. The climax, as some other aspects of their songs, brings to mind the Mammas and the Pappas, which they put down first on their list of influences. “Moonage Daydream” follows a similar theme, and is equally moving but a little less unique. “The House That Isn’t Mine” is a creepy acoustic song with only Robert singing, Bhabha holding down the rhythm with his cello, and the soft voices of the female vocalists chanting behind it all.

The EP comes to a close with the same veracity it had at the start with “Coattails”, an energetic 12 bar blues track. It’s the perfect beer spilling, friend hugging, sing-along-party-song to bring any night to a close. He’s My Brother She’s My Sister embraces standard chord progressions and makes them their own with incredibly unique and fun lyrics and powerful on-point vocals. The Kolar’s are genuine songwriters, and the band’s talent as musicians is impossible to overlook. They’re unsigned for now, but I can’t imagine they will be for long.

Oh yeah, as a bonus there is a little 0:41 “ditty” at the very end of the EP, which you can hear when you get it. Seriously, get it and go see them, or vice versa.