A pretty cool thing is happening tonight: GIVE Seattle, a 36-song compilation of local artists that benefits four local food banks and arts corp, got contributing artists to perform a benefit concert.  And, as if feeling charitable wasn't enough, Grand Archives is headlining.

The four-piece band (these monsters of folk do come with a drummer) has a history that places it proudly on Seattle's indie mantle. Founder Mat Brooke was in the beloved Carissa's Weird and helped launch Band of Horses (he left the band before they lit up). You can see it in Grand Archives, whose Crosby Stills and Nash-inspired songs crest with delicate highs, plainspoken guitars and open hearts.

So, there are knocks on this. Grand Archives dig deep into easy going vocal driven pop that your parents will like. To jaded hearts, they sound like just another way for execs to garfunkel their ads into young hearts.

But I'm not a knocker. Sure, Grand Archives' accessible songs end the way you expect, but the band is essentially a big hug and a hug that jostles you into a violent nose-bleed at the end is a failed hug. Grand Archives' hug celebrates the comfort of being comforted with tunes like “Silver Among the Gold,” a gentle tune that glides along pleasant vocal harmonizing—drifting into a guitar solo that, while not earth shattering, makes you glad it's keeping you company.

Cue the warm chorus and smile. Grand Archives plays the Crocodile tonight, December 3.

Myspace