Smokey and the Mirror is headed up by husband and wife duo Bryan and Bernice Hembree. The Hembrees are also members of the Americana band Three Penny Acre, and have branched out with Smokey and the Mirror to express their Rock and Pop influences in a primarily acoustic ensemble. Echoes of Buddy Holly, The Indigo Girls and Bruce Hornsby are all evident in an upbeat and soulful presentation.
Building on the critical and commercial success of Three Penny Acre, Bryan and Bernice leaned back towards their early rock, country, and R&B influences to create Smokey and the Mirror. Bernice’s love of American theatre and Motown are both evident in her heartfelt and soulful delivery. Bryan’s distinctive vocals and rhythm guitar sound shape his ballads and rock tunes, in an acoustic Americana production.
Part of Goose Creek Music’s ongoing series of live album releases, Three Nights Live was recorded over 4 days in November 2013 at three classic Southwest listening-room venues….McGonigel’s Mucky Duck in Houston, The Cactus Café located on the University of Texas’ Austin campus, and The Blue Door in Oklahoma City. With a cast featuring Rebecca Loebe, Smokey and the Mirror, and Raina Rose Three Nights Live features original songs from four songwriters, and a few surprising covers ranging from folk, to country, to Motown and grunge. Goose Creek traveled with the artists on tour, and recorded the performances in multi-track audio and video. A web video series about the sessions and the Artists’ lives as touring musicians was released simultaneously with the album, along with individual EPs for Rebecca and Smokey and the Mirror featuring additional performances from the tour.