A symbolic, 460-year-old tree stands quietly in Maryland. Known for its mystic wonder, it has stood since Native Americans hunted in the area to now, when motorized vehicles threaten its existence.

The tree is known as the Wye Oak, and a woman-man folk-rock duo has grabbed the same name.

Wye Oak has released two albums in its three years of existence, the most recent being The Knot on Merge Records. The band features drummer Andy Stack, who plays drums and keys simultaneously. At first, vocalist Jenn Wasner feared people might not respond well to his performance, thinking it as gimmicky.

“The thing is, he’s really good at [playing two instruments], and it’s gotten to the point that it’s much less limiting than you’d think it would be,” Wasner wrote in an e-mail while touring Europe.

“Obviously, there are still limitations to the kind of sounds we’re capable of making with two people, but they’ve become exciting and challenging ones rather than a drag. People always seem to like it.”

The group not only creates a full sound with just two people, Wasner’s lyrics explore relationships and how people tie to one another, especially with The Knot. However, she wanted people to look beyond just romanticism.

“It was important to me that people didn’t just immediately grab onto the romantic relationship/wedding connotation of the title,” she wrote. “Because, in truth, although that’s certainly a facet, it’s only a small part of how I want these songs to be perceived. There’s just as much in there about my relationships with family, friends, and complete strangers.”

The wide range of relationships she tackles in her lyrics allows for different people to react in different ways, some feeling nostalgic and others experiencing disconnect or doubt. The lyricist is flattered by such a variety of responses.

“I’m a firm believer that a great portion of one’s influences and ideas are unnoticed and unconscious, and when I’m writing songs, I’m just regurgitating these ideas in the context of my own experiences,” she wrote. “I couldn’t tell you exactly what’s what, because I’m incapable of peering down into my own consciousness-belly.”

KRUI general manager Nathan Gould thinks this is a show to catch, and he says Wye Oak is a group different from the typical independent-music stereotype.

“They have very pretty songs, but not in a cutesy way. There is a cinematic sound to them that’s very nice,” he said. “And it’s their consistency, releasing two critically acclaimed albums, and are sincere in their performing and songwriting. I don’t think all bands can convey either of those.”

After playing a show in Iowa City this past semester, Wasner looks forward to enjoying the colors of the town.

“We’ve played a couple of times in Iowa City,” she wrote. “Our reaction has always been that it’s an incredible, utopian wonderland. It’s clean, beautiful, there’s an awesome co-op, attractive college students everywhere — you guys are lucky.”