In the Pines

It’s a wonder that In the Pines came back to Kansas City, after the warm way it was received in Germany and Austria last summer. Fortunately for us, our city’s reigning Appalachian-chamber-rock band left the VIP Deutschland treatment behind to write another handsome album. The six-piece group will debut at least six new songs when it hauls its violins and violas onstage for the first time since June 2008. Singer and guitarist Brad Hodgson says he senses a pronounced evolution in the group’s sound that stems from shared experiences — they were merely young lovers when they hit the studio to make their first album. With engineer Chad Meise rolling tape, it’s a good bet that the Pines’ sophomore release will have those Austrians crying in their Wiener schnitzel.