Tall Heights capped off an evening of polished Boston-based acts at Harpers Ferry last week with a lot more oompf than one might expect from a Wednesday night acoustic showcase. The duo of Paul Wright and Tim Harrington hails from Sturbridge but have slowly worked their way into Boston to become a fixture in the city’s folk/rock scene.It was evident at this show that it is not just their heart-felt tunes or the novelty of seeing someone rock out on a cello that keep the crowds coming, but a special attention to showmanship. They carefully integrated emotional ballads and upbeat sing-a-longs and kept energy and audience participation high throughout the set. Wright even went so far as to organize the crowd for a group photo between the last song and the encore.

Tall Heights’ success may come in part from their humility. Wright and Harrington, who share songwriting responsibilities, played with a high level of craft and a lyrical depth that defies their young faces. They are both great singers and were not shy about using their gift. They traded off on singing but also harmonized often, creating a sound that seemed greater than just two voices. Along with their bassist and drummer, the duo laughed and smiled throughout, clearly just having a great time and not taking themselves too seriously. It was refreshing to see talented people work so well as a team to create music that is pretty, passion-laden and catchy as hell.