Mountain Man is a music group made up of three women. Despite the inherrent contradiction in their name, it’s sense of wildness mixed with tradition suits their music well.

The group met at Vermont’s Bennington College, a campus known for its focus on environmental issues and sustainability. That’s appropriate because their music is nothing if not organic.

Their traditional folk tunes are lush and fully realized with three part harmonies and minimal instrumentation. Unlike many roots musicians, there is a wild undercurrent in Mountain Man’s music. Their harmonies are just a little closer, melodies a bit more daring and song structures more free than others steeped in American traditional music. That free sensibility carries through to their personal style and touring philosophy as well.

We met the group when they were on tour opening for Sigur Ros frontman Jonsi in the fall of 2010. It was a major change for the group- they went from playing mostly house shows to theaters seating 1500 overnight. They didn’t let the new exposure change them. Mountain Man were all touring in one Prius and staying with friends.

They performed the song “How’m I Doin” from their album Made The Harbor (Partisan) in our studios for an episode of the Hit It Or Quit It podcast.

In February Mountain Man toured opening for The Decemberists and will be back in Chicago on July 12 for a show at Schubas.

This video is part of the Live Music Thursday podcast- click here to subscribe.