Bearded Ballads: Iron & Wine, Bon Iver, and William Fitzsimmons

One of the most striking similarities shared by these three musicians is a simple, well-cultivated beard. Indeed, for some music fans, that may be reason enough to attend their concerts, buy their albums, and lump them into a single blog post. Arguably, it may very well be that patch of chin hair that causes these artists to create such delicate, even bare, music. Some of William Fitzsimmons' lyrics can be so bleak he probably needs the extra hair to keep him warm throughout his performances. Even more, Justin Vernon wrote the majority of his first album, For Emma, Forever Ago, in a backwoods cabin in beard territory, Wisconsin. Robust facial hair growth aside, Iron & Wine's Sam Beam, Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, and William Fitzsimmons' William Fitzsimmons share a musical style brimming with a poetic depth and instrumental subtlety that leave listeners feeling supremely relaxed or ready to bust out some flamenco (to make sense of that last comment, watch Iron & Wine's music video for the song Boy with a Coin). These gentlemen are perfect whether you are seeking mellowness after a hectic day, watching the rain from your window (as rare as that may be), or slowly emerging from bed on a Sunday morning.

Read more »