Drew & Ellie Holcomb at le Poisson Rouge

Drew Holcomb began his musical career as a solo act, recording his debut EP in 2003 in his native Tennessee. He met Ellie Bannister, daughter of producer-songwriter Brown Bannister, while attending university. Together they founded what would become Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors in 2005. Drew and Ellie married in 2006. In 2012, Ellie stopped touring to take care of their first child and found success with solo recordings. The You and Me Tour: An Evening with Drew and Ellie Holcomb is the first time in a decade that the Holcombs toured together, briefly leaving their three children home in Nashville.

Although the band personnel looked similar to the core of an earlier-era Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors concert, this was not meant to be a rocking program. Drew sang and played acoustic guitar, and Ellie sang and played acoustic guitar and mandolin. Two other Neighbors played softly behind them, Nathan Dugger alternating between piano and acoustic guitar and Rich Brinsfield playing an upright bass. The acoustic set was softer and more deeply rooted in Americana than a Neighbors show.

Dividing two sets with an intermission, Drew and Ellie sang solo and duets for about two hours, drawing from solo and group albums and possibly as-yet-unrecorded songs. The chemistry of their personal relationship parlayed into their intertwined singing. They are still in love and it showed in their tender lyrics and in their understated vocal dynamic, whether they sang in unison or tag teamed.

Drew and Ellie sang like life is always a celebration. "Hey Rivers," for instance, recollected humorous moments raising their young son, Rivers. Ironically, even a Neighbors song entitled "End of the World" made an apocalypse more festive than concerning.

From start to end, Drew & Ellie Holcomb created an inviting, intimate setting for their music. The duo comfortably welcomed the listeners into the Holcomb household with personal anecdotes and an informal presentation. When Drew and Ellie harmonized on "Feels Like Home," they sang with such warmth and amity that it felt like the audience was indeed at home with the Holcombs. Few concerts are as wholesome and homey as this one was.

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The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music developments as they happen. All photographs are by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise. For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right of the home page and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music." For a listing of upcoming concerts for live audiences, visit The Manhattan Beat's February calendar.