Freight Trains, Hobo Wine and Marah at JB’s Aug. 26

Listening to Marah with your eyes closed may induce a specific daydream: riding a freight train through the Rockies, hobo wine in one hand, banjo in the other, your buddies next to you singing songs from long ago; enjoying the free spirited living of vagabond life while slowly rockin’ on the tracks to California, where you’ll fail to reach the limits of your youth. Part jangly rockabilly, part 90’s alt, Marah’s tunes are one hundred percent road songs – caught somewhere between Wilco and your grandfather’s farm hymns, a few cups of Joes in. In “Angels on a Passing Train”, lead singer Dave Bielanko explains the need for all the travel and adventure: “We’re just tryin’ to sail to heaven on an old shipwreck.” Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ (Photo by Hannah Torresson) – Katie Bennett