photo by Laura Harris

The music of Rosary Beard is made up of intricately intertwined acoustic guitar parts co-written and fussed over by Hunter Sagehorn and Matthew Loiacono.

Each known in the northeast for abundantly different music – Hunter’s angular, rhythmically-cryptic guitar work in rock band Alta Mira and Matthew’s solo experimental mandolin and voice music as Matthew Carefully, the duo found new synergy in composing quiet, thoughtful music together throughout a year’s worth of weekly hangs.

These casual sessions lead to a series of performances in 2011 held in wildly unique venues; from impressive church acoustics, low-ceilinged art galleries to simple bare attics, folks piled in to listen quietly to what Hunter and Matthew had created.

Next, the “Yes, Trespassing” video series was born. After enjoying the sonic differences in unique performing venues, the idea arose to capture the duo playing music in off-the-beaten locations to hear what it sounded like when acoustic guitars trespassed in new environments.

In order to psychically move their music further, Rosary Beard began recording what would become their debut album Halfmoon Fever in December 2011 in a historic ballroom in Troy, NY. The album was recorded entirely live in that fabled room, engineered by Ian White of Swordpaw, mixed by Troy Pohl and then mastered by Paul Gold at Salt Mastering.

Rosary Beard’s music effectively skates a thin line that meanders between melancholy reflection and moments of uplifting release.

In their short time together, Rosary Beard has shared a stage with Winterpills, Joy Kills Sorrow, Cuddle Magic, Railbird, The Fling and David “Goody” Goodrich.

Website credits:

Custom logotype, text manipulation: Leah Koransky
Band photography: Laura Andrea Harris
Halfmoon Fever Album cover photography: Justin James King