Meaghan Gasch and Sarah Galvan are the Bows and Ties. When we met up with the multi-instrumentalist folk duo, each were adorned with at least one bow, but we didn't notice too many ties between the two.
The two songstresses hail from very different backgrounds, but both are music therapists. Gasch is a little bit classic country. She was homeschooled by her older Baptist mother in College Station, Texas. Galvan is Hispanic and comes from Queens, attended NYU, and grew up on the Rolling Stones. Gasch is more Hank Williams; Galvan is more Johnny Cash. But birds of a folky feather, do flock together.
They found each other working at a clinic in Hollywood. Gasch describes their creation story, turning to Galvan, "You were like, 'wow, you have a banjo.' And I was like, 'yes, I do,' and you were like, 'we should have dinner.'" When they hung out, Gasch happened to have all her instruments in her car -- and there are a lot of them. "'Let's play a song' turned into 'let's record it and put it on YouTube,' and 'let's do this all the time,'" she explains.
Together, they craft original tunes and give their own flare to cover songs. Gasch points out that they have "really different creative processes. Which actually makes us compatible." She is classically trained, has a degree in piano performance, and she's very organized. Galvan describes herself as, "more of a hippy at heart. I hear more melodies in my head and I can sing it, and Meaghan can play it."
They both are adept at guitar, banjo, ukulele, and they swap out percussive instruments; Gasch also plays the accordion, washboard, and keys. They swap out instruments song-by-song at their shows. "It makes our set list a little tricky!" Galvan says. "We have to really make sure not smack ourselves when we change instruments, and get tangled in cords."
The two are making their way around Wynwood, but also found ease getting shows in Fort Lauderdale. The Bows and Ties played Fourth of July at Gramps, the opening of Pamela Wasabi's store the Kult, and at the opening of the Flagler Community Garden in Fort Lauderdale. In a few weeks, on October 17, they'll kick off the new live music lineup at Wood Tavern, and they plan on playing for haircuts at Junior and Hatter.
You can catch the them in Delray Beach at Stitch Rock on October 5, too. They'll be performing there though neither is particularly crafty. Gasch says, "I am ever so slightly crafty and it's only because I work with preschoolers." But Galvan is more of a physical person than a DIY gal. To represent birds, she'll flap her arms. But she'll definitely be purchasing goodies at the event. "I already saw a picture on Instagram of a little stuffed animal unicorn that you put on the wall with ice cream around it. I was like, 'oh, my God.' Holy shit, it's on my wall," Galvan says with a laugh.
Though they lament the lack of a folk scene in Miami, Gasch notes, "We're getting our foot in the door, and we feel like once people hear the music we have, they'll realize it's something different. It's interesting, and they enjoy it."
Tiger Beat Question Time
What's your favorite dessert?
Gasch: I am a cheesecake whore. I'll eat cheesecake every day, I don't even care. There's a place in Texas that has a baklava cheesecake, which is the most amazing creation I've ever had in my life.
Galvan: I have many. That's the problem with my life. Now that it's somewhat Fall in Miami, I love pumpkin pie. I guess I love apple pie with ice cream. One of my favorites is at Gigi's because it's well portioned. And actually, Lost and Found Saloon, their pies are insane.
What famous person were you in love with when you were growing up?
Gasch: I had an older sister that I'm really close with. She's about 14 years older than me. She would always watch Johnny Depp movies, and I remember the time I saw Don Juan with her, and I was like 11 years old, and I was like, "I just want to make out with you right now."
Galvan: I love John Lennon. I'm not sexually attracted to him. But I'm obsessed with him. I mean I wouldn't kick him out of bed either.
Would you kick Yoko out of bed?
Galvan: She would be nowhere near. People I was attracted to, I loved Punky Brewster, I loved Jem, even though she's a cartoon, truly outrageous. I really loved Madonna even though it was inappropriate for me, but my sister is much older than me. And I loved the Rolling Stones.
Stitch Rock, Indie Craft Fair and Bazaar, noon to 5 p.m., on October 5, Old School Square, Vintage Gymnasium, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. Indie Craft Bazaar on October 13, at Revolution Live, 100 SW 3rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale.
Follow the Bows and Ties on YouTube, Instagram @thebowsandties, and Facebook.
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