The Silver Spring Penguin

Despite its name, MSG plucks all-natural, minimally processed acoustic blues.

The Virginia-based trio plays Piedmont blues, the missing link in rock and roll’s evolution. The style bridges Appalachian bluegrass‘ warm guitar tones with rhythmic blues dirges, and goes a long way to explain Elvis Presley.

Add to that some mellow jazz mood lighting, and you get MSG — initials for Jackie Merritt, Miles Spicer and Resa Gibbs. (Say it with me: Ohhh.)

“Frankie and Johnny” follows a bluegrass beat, with rolling guitar work, narrative lyrics and fancy kazoo work (or maybe it’s paper over a fine-toothed comb). And “Come to Me in Prayer” is all Appalachia, on the order of the Carter Family.

The trio transitions easily to slow acoustic blues on “Isabel”, recorded for the hurricane that trashed Virginia in 2003. But on “Jody’s Got Your Girl” and “Midnight Special”, MSG takes a familiar blues theme (loose women) and uses more narrative, less repetitive lyrics akin to bluegrass and modern country.

Get a taste of MSG from the band’s website, then check out their sets on Saturday and Sunday at Silver Spring’s old firehouse (8131 Georgia Ave).

The entertainment is free. The Hook and Ladder preview will cost you.