A band named Hem: Not bound by category

Hem
The band Hem
Photo courtesy the band

Mark Wheat thinks there needs to be a new category to sum up the sound of the band Hem: prog folk. The Brooklyn-based group is sometimes a quartet and sometimes grows into a small orchestra.

They're currently touring with a harp, a clarinet, a couple of guitars and--probably most important--Sally Ellyson's gentle and expressive voice, which brings the songs of Gary Maurer, Steve Curtis and Dan Messe to life.

The Maud Moon Weyerhauser studio was big enough to pack them all so they could perform songs from their newest album, "Funnel Cloud."

Songs performed: "He Came To Meet Me," "Great Homes of New York" and "Not California."