The name's Carolina, but the sextet and its namesake frontwoman hail from Brooklyn. Wherever they lay their heads, most of their time must be spent in a world of silent movies, speakeasies and Model Ts. Reminiscent of the Squirrel Nut Zippers' jazz-roots oeuvre, Carolina and company are moodier and a tad more languorous, less concerned with inciting a party than drawing you into sultry ragtime sway. Carolina possesses a big voice, her affectless energy imbuing a vibrancy that goes beyond the music. The band's supple touch provides a warm, lived-in feel. —Chris Parker