"Good Folks"

Oak Cliff singer-songwriter Lisa Markley and her new husband, Bruce Balmer, this month marked their May nuptials with their first collaborative cd, markley & balmer.  The newlyweds debuted this funky, freewheeling acoustic romp of all-original songs with a packed concert at the Soda Gallery in Bishop Arts, then hit the road for the rest of the month to promote the album.The duo--popular neighborhood music teachers--tied the knot at the Kerrville Folk Festival, then returned to Dallas to put the finishing touches on this latest release from Oak Cliff record label Soona Songs.  Markley's other worldly, folk-tinged vocals mesh perfectly with new husband Balmer's fiery guitar--but the songs themselves are the real standouts here.  From the quirky "Landing on the Moon" to the spirited "Don't Make Me Do It", the husband-wife team seamlessly blend country, folk, blues, jazz and funk, creating a signature sound that's impossible to listen to without smiling or tapping a foot.  It's a sound that's as unique as Oak Cliff, which Markley has long called home.  --MELODY TOWNSEL