Featured Artist: Thao with The Get Down Stay Down

In an effort to prepare for this year's Treasure Island Music Festival, I've decided to spend some of the week getting to know, and hear the scheduled artists.


Thao with The Get Down Stay Down
For Thao Nguyen, the adorable 23-year-old Virginia-bred cheeky
songwriter, things have come a long way since her 2006 appearance
on the KRS compilation, The Sound the Hare Heard. Last year, Thao
gave us her sophmore release We Brave Bee Stings and All, a perky, twee
guitar and vox-filled album. She and Justin Power, a Portland
songerwriter, have most recently collaborated with Kill Rock
Stars labelmates Portland Cello Project. While comparisons may
draw this Washington, DC/San Francisco bi-coaster to Feist, Thao's
buoyant songs and nuevo guitar skills armed with plucking tools,
toothbrush or sharpie pen, horns, and a full rhythm section with
her band, The Get Down Stay Down, make her delightfully unique.
-CAROLINE PARTAMIAN

Thao with The Get Down Stay Down: "Bag of Hammers"