Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds Get Even Dirtier

With Mardi Gras having passed so swiftly, it can leave you craving more of “The Big Easy” and its legendary sound. Thankfully, a fresh, funky group can fill that void and then some with their contemporary twist on classic soul. Nine-piece, Brooklyn-based troupe Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds have dropped their second album “Pound of Dirt” today and with it comes their raw, gritty take on the blues.

After witnessing this young group perform in Pittsburgh twice last year and sweating my ass off to the tunes of their self-titled debut release in 2010, I thought it would be hard to top. However, with this new album, it’s easy to see (and hear) they have outdone themselves. The title track “Pound of Dirt” really says it all…Sister Sparrow and her birds have revived dirty, funky blues and have set the genre free to the modern world. With its grinding guitars, blasting horns and frontwoman Arleigh Kincheloe’s smoky vocals, the tune represents everything the blues once stood for. Coupled with slow, sexy and jazz-inspired “Hollow Bones,” the two tracks transport you to the unabashed, dirt-under-your-fingernails lifestyle of trolling down the dark streets after a long night on the band stand.

Impossible to go unnoticed on stage or on this album is Arleigh’s brother Jackson as he shreds the harmonica to pieces. An interlude titled “Bulldozer” is two minutes of Jackson’s wizard-like ability to slap you in the face, leaving you wanting more, which works out as it leads seamlessly into “Too Much,” a wild, powerful arrangement of Arleigh’s badass, coarse tone and the New Orleans-charged, four-piece horn section. Admitting in the true, over-indulgent fashion of blues hounds, “Too much ain’t no good, I want it all more than I should,” the birds’ soaring melody reminiscent of Galactic and Robert Randolph gets you fired up and ready to move.

You will get this opportunity to dance and sweat and spit and holler as the flock flies into Pittsburgh on March 31 at The Rex. With Sister Sparrow’s feisty stage presence and eight men backing her up with an extraordinary strength, fervor and funk, you do not want to miss out on this show or on their latest album.

So let’s get dirty, shall we?

The Color Fleet: Vibrance in the Steel City

Yes, it was dark and cold. Yes, I was still hungover from the night before. Yes, the bar was so full of smoke that my lungs turned black by the time I left. But I also left Howler's Coyote Cafe knowing there is a young, fresh band emerging in the local Pittsburgh music scene. They're called The Color Fleet and I bet that if you like a variety of bands from Tegan and Sara to Cold War Kids, this band will rock your socks off. With their playful harmonies and wicked guitar riffs, these kids are more than just your average garage and dive-bar band. Also, it doesn't hurt to have two chicks who can play the guitar like pure badasses and a bassist who actually moves his feet.

You can get a free download of the group's tune "Animals" on their Facebook page and you can check them out March 27 at the Shadow Lounge. Also, stay tuned for a multimedia piece on The Color Fleet soon.

Weekend Show Update 3/2

I can't believe March has come so soon. So many awesome local and independent acts have rocked it out already and I can't wait for the rest of the year! For now, check out these bands you can see this weekend :)

Friday, March 2

The Pressure @ OTB Cafe (Happy Hour show)
6pm

The Harlan Twins @ The Thunderbird Café
9pm

Velvet Heat @ James Street Gastropub and Speakeasy
5pm

Roger Humphries @ James Street Gastropub and Speakeasy
8pm

The Blues Orphans @ Penn Brewery
7pm

Saturday, March 3

Sweet Earth @ The Rex Theater
9pm

RML Jazz @ The Supper Club
7:30pm

Jill West and the Blues Attack @ Centi Anni 2500 Bar
10pm

More Weekend Shows!

Friday, February 24

Blue Orphans Trio @ Acoustic Moose Cafe
7:30pm

Jill West and the Blues Attack @ Moondog's Pub
9pm

Saturday, February 25

Neon Swing X-perience @ James St. Gastropub and Speakeasy
8pm


*Also, don't forget Cello Fury collaborates with Bodiography for the third time this Friday and Saturday at the Byham Theater! Buy your tickets here!

Weekend Show Update 2/23

Thursday, February 23

Geña and Preach Freedom @ Seviche
7pm

Friday, February 24

One World Tribe @ the Thunderbird Cafe
9pm

Lyndsey Smith @ the Rivers Casino
8pm

Saturday, February 25

The Color Fleet @ Howler's Coyote Cafe
10pm

Boogie Hustlers @ Club Cafe
10:30pm

Title Town Soul and Funk Party @ the Shadow Lounge
9pm

Cello Fury and Bodiography Contemporary Ballet

Cello Fury will be collaborating with Bodiography Contemporary Ballet for the third time next weekend, February 24 and 25, at the Byham Theater. Check out this piece of the group talking about this venture, featuring Kirstie Corso from Bodiography.

Cello Fury from Chelsey Engel on Vimeo.

Black Coffee at the Speakeasy

Were you at the Speakeasy this past Thursday night? If so, why not!? Well, if you missed it, here's a peak at what you didn't get to see from Black Coffee.

Black Coffee at the Speakeasy from Chelsey Engel on Vimeo.

www.nocreamorsugar.net

Cello Fury Sneak Peak

Just a little tease of what you will see in my upcoming multimedia piece featuring Cello Fury. Check out the group collaborating with Bodiography Contemporary Ballet next weekend at the Byham Theater to check out more of what this shot brings :)

Extra Weekend Performances!

Oh, how great it is to have a three-day weekend :) If you're lucky enough to enjoy the President's Day holiday this Monday, make sure to make the most of it and go enjoy some live music Sunday night! You don't have to worry about waking up early, anyways ;)

Dangermuffin @ the Thunderbird Cafe
9pm

The Boilermaker Jazz Band @ the James Street Gastropub and Speakeasy
6-9pm

In the Studio with City Dwelling Nature Seekers

I spent some time in the studio this past weekend with three of the City Dwelling Nature Seekers as they worked on mixing their upcoming album. This folkternative Pittsburgh group has been rocking the band stand with sounds reminiscent of The Band, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Ryan Adams for the past four years and they've established a unique tone all their own. Check out this quick bit and make sure to become a fan of the CDNS on Facebook.

City Dwelling Nature Seekers from Chelsey Engel on Vimeo.

Weekend Show Update 2/16

This weekend is bangin' for local music. Check it out!

Thursday, February 16

Black Coffee at the Speakeasy
7pm

The Color Fleet at the WYEP Community Broadcast Center
7pm

Friday, February 17

Glenn Strother Project at the Thunderbird Cafe
9pm

Jill West and the Blues Attack at The Hop House
10pm

The Armadillos at OTB Cafe
10:30pm

Saturday, February 18

Rusted Root at Playmaker's Bar and Grill
7pm

RML Jazz at the Supper Club
7:30pm

Rocking Your Heart Strings

While everyone else moaned and groaned about the snow, I spent this bitter night at the Red Ring Bar and Grill listening to the unique, harmonious and chilling sounds of Cello Fury, a trio of, you guessed it, cellists from Pittsburgh. I've seen this band around town for the past few years and it never ceases to amaze me how I literally get chills when I hear them play. Combining classical styles with modern rock, this group provides a refreshing kick to one's playlist. If you're looking for something different, something that will move you or something that will give you a spark, purchase Cello Fury's self-titled album.

Stay tuned for a multimedia piece on the group. For now, here are a few photos from tonight's performance.

Chelsea Baratz Jazzin' It Up

Check out hometown girl Chelsea Baratz performing with her New York band at the famous Blue Note Jazz Club. Chelsea hopes to work on new material this summer and even return to the stage at the Speakeasy where she grew up playing with Roger Humphries.



www.chelseabaratz.com

Wake Up and Smell the Black Coffee

Meet local blues and soul band Black Coffee, bringing funky grooves and laid-back tunes back to life!

Wake Up and Smell the Black Coffee from Chelsey Engel on Vimeo.

www.nocreamorsugar.net

Weekend Show Update 2/10

Friday, February 10

Cello Fury
Red Ring Restaurant @ 7pm

Phat Mandee with Burlesque-A-Pades
Rex Theatre @ 9pm

Saturday, February 11

Night Shift Band
RPM's Rock Club @ 9pm

Lyndsey Smith and Soul Distribution
Hard Rock Cafe @ 10pm

Getting Dirty with Sister Sparrow

These cats are coming to the Burgh at the end of March at the Rex. But if you're like me and can't wait, check out their performance of "Pound of Dirt," a track off of their upcoming album due out Feb. 28. And mark your calendars for March 31- you will not want to miss this dirty bunch.

With Love, From Puerto Rico

Geña brings Latin beats to the Burgh

On stage, her passion is electric as she moves effortlessly to the Latin beats. Her dreadlocks sway and her voice transports you to a place you always wished you could go. Off stage, her kindness is natural and her smile is beguiling, making you feel you’ve been friends for years. Her name is Geña, and she’s taking the city by storm, one band, one stage, one performance at a time.

Raised in a northwestern coastal town in Puerto Rico, Geña was engulfed in the middle of a large family of six kids. She grew up inside bohemian bars watching her father play guitar and on an island where music runs through everyone’s veins, it was only a matter of time when Geña would catch the bug.

"It’s in the air. They breathe music,” Geña states about the people of Puerto Rico. “You’re born dancing and singing, like Italian women are born cooking.”

Music is what composes Geña’s blood, which is evident in the singer’s diversity. At the age of 18, she started a psychedelic band and also experimented with punk rock. However, life decided to turn the tables on her and experiment with Geña’s strength at the age of 21. After enduring a horrific carjacking and kidnapping, Geña was forced to reexamine her life.

"I felt rebellious on my own island. I thought, ‘If I can’t feel safe in my own home, what’s the point of being here?’” Geña remembers asking herself.

Overcome with the feeling of obtaining a second chance at life, Geña took off to New York City in 1997 with little knowledge of the English language and no job. In order to support herself, she began working in restaurants and acting in commercials like many starving artists.

Finally snagging a job at the Theater for the New City, Geña found herself surrounded by musicians of all kinds, including world-renowned producer Joel Diamond. The two began performing in a jazz trio that continued for about five years, marking Geña’s first of many musical ventures. After several mediocre successes such as working with Diamond on a documentary soundtrack, The Believer, Geña was beginning to feel like she had run her course in the Big Apple.

“I just didn’t see how someone could be a full-time musician and struggle all the time,” Geña reflects.

After meeting the man who would become her daughter’s father, the two picked up and moved to Pittsburgh in 2004. Her hope for a music career was dwindling, but once she gave birth to her daughter, that all changed.

“I realized music was it,” Geña states.

Immersing herself in the city’s culture, Geña found a slice of her home right here in the Burgh. Organizations such as the African Drumming Ensemble and the Latin American Cultural Union allowed her to begin performing the traditional Puerto Rican music she loves with people who love it just the same. A few of these like-minded people embarked on another musical journey with Geña as they formed Machete, a “rebel, rock and riot salsa” band. Drawing from their Latin roots, the group resembles everything Geña exudes- energy, passion, life and love.

Geña also found a musical soul mate in Preach Freedom, the drummer for Pittsburgh’s own Rusted Root. After meeting through a mutual partner, also Rusted Root’s guitarist Colter Harper, the two began making magic with their similar passion for traditional Latin sounds.

Watching the two perform together as they often do at venues such as Seviche in the Cultural District, it’s easy to see the organic relationship the two share as Preach works his bongo and Geña transforms the microphone into a channel for Latin vibes.


“It’s as if he’s drumming my body,” Geña states. “It’s synchronized, simultaneous talk. It’s beautiful.”

Although the pair has only been working together for less than two years, Preach feels like it’s been decades and believes Geña is a force to be reckoned with.

"She’s an incredible artist to work with,” Preach proclaims. “She’s a powerful, passionate, proud Latino woman. Just fire.”

There’s a lot of passion in Geña’s life right now and it doesn’t seem to be fading away any time soon. She has many goals in order to keep that fervor thriving but there’s one that continues to inspire her and she wishes it for all of us as well.

"Being able to do what I love- that’s what it’s all about,” Geña says. “Do what you love.”

Speakeasy Sessions: Black Coffee

Here's the first of hopefully many Speakeasy Sessions with two members of the Pittsburgh soul and funk band, Black Coffee.

Speakeasy Sessions: Black Coffee from Chelsey Engel on Vimeo.

www.nocreamorsugar.net