Click to watch

Brightblack Morning Light performs "Everybody Daylight"

Brightblack Morning Light’s music is so groovy, so mellow, it’s like Donovan without the (shall we say, Donovan-esque?) lyrics. Also like Donovan, it has redefined “folk” and “psychedelic” for a new age. Brightblack, as the group is affectionately known, is a collaboration between self-described best friends Nathan “Nabob” Shineywater and Rachel “Rabob” Hughes, and whatever stray folk (musicians) may come along. Hughes and Shineywater both grew up in rural Alabama but have since relocated to Northern California, where their particular style may be better appreciated. Yet if they’ve left their roots behind in some ways, they certainly haven’t musically. This so-called “freak folk” is heavy on rhythm and blues, and even though they are white neo-hippies, Brightblack’s blues sounds as sincere as can be. The music includes elements of folk, rock, blues, and psychedelia that is simultaneously progressive and Southern-flavored. This is one of the best examples out there of weird yet accessible music. Listening to Brightblack Morning Light (their first full-length, for Matador Records, is self-titled) is like a shot of natural opium. That is to say, listen to it when you want to feel a certain way: like really, really good. Also on the bill are Daniel A.I.U. Belteshazzar-Higgs (Interdimensional Song-Seamstress and Corpse-Dancer of the Mystic Crags) and Philedelphia-based electronics artist Chiara Giovando.

Monday, April 30 at 9pm. Soundlab, 110 Pearl St. (440-5907, bigorbitgallery.org/soundlab). $8 advance (TicketWeb.com), $10 at door.