The Lovely Sparrows debut EP pulling up floors, pouring on (new) paint has been one of our favorite releases this fall. True to the band’s name, the songs’ arrangements are beautifully lush and vibrant, yet often with an understated intimate atmosphere that draws the listener into the swelling crescendos. Like the best folk-pop, Shawn Jones’ voice is distinctive but smooth, while the collective handclaps and chorus harmonies of the songs belie the heartbreak and desperation of his smart lyrics. “War has Seen the Best of Me” (available for listen on their myspace), perhaps mixes all these elements the best – bursting at the end with a frantic mandolin that even recalls Okkervil River’s early work. This Friday, the Lovely Sparrows will be opening at Emo’s for the Evangelicals and Jimmy Flemion of the irascible Frogs.
Profile: The Lovely Sparrows
Year Formed:
2005
Members/Instruments played:
Shawn Jones-songwriter, sings, guitar, horns
Earl Vallery-drums, bells and whistles, casio
Lauryn Gould- flute, melodica, guitar, sings
Steven Garcia-bass, sings
Sweney Tidball- Piano, wurly, sings
ALSO: Michael Landon and Jason Cooper played on the EP.
Former Bands/Side Projects:
Larks and Owls (sometimes member Jason Cooper’s band). Jason plays on the EP.
Albums:
Take Your Hats Off, You Godless Bastards - 2005, self released 7″ green vinyl
pulling up floors, pouring on (new) paint - 2006, Abandoned Love Records
Influences:
Bill Fay, Destroyer, David Bowie, Paul Simon, Magnetic Fields
Strangest comment or comparison ever made about your music:
We are often compared to the Shins and the New Pornographers, whom I love, but do not really hear in our music…mostly I attribute this to lazy journalism! My favorite comment thus far was made by a DJ at KVRX “We finally played you as promised and the sky exploded and all the trees died and Mars turned into a deer. It was awesome.”
Favorite local bands:
Karrie Hopper, Larks and Owls, the Channel, and (smog)…well he is, isn’t he?
Favorite local venue:
Tie: Emo’s/Jesse’s Bed & Breakfast
Upcoming shows scheduled:
Friday Nov. 24th Emo’s with Evangelicals
Thursday December 14th Emo’s with Shapes and Sizes & the Weird Weeds.
Shows over the next month that you’re excited to see:
Mount Eerie, Danny and the NIghtmares, Heybale, Real Live Tigers, Joanna Newsom
Some of your favorite albums from the past year:
Smog - Rock Bottom Riser EP, Destroyer - Rubies, Frank Black - Fast Man, Raider Man
Ideal band (past or present) to open for on a national tour:
Animal Collective, Flaming Lips, RAM era Paul McCartney
Austin Sound questions:
Top three best songs best songs about birds ever:
1. “And Your Bird Can Sing” - The Beatles; Revolver
2. “Bird Flew By - Nick Drake; Tanworth-in-Arden
3. “Sparrow” - Simon and Garfunkle; Weds. Morning 3AM
AND I couldn’t pick three, so I picked 5.
4. “Bird on the Wire,” Leonard Cohen; Songs Room a Room
5. “I’ll be Your Bird - M. Ward; Transistor Radio
“If Love’s a Sparrow” then Hate’s a…a quiver of cobras.
Song Introduction:
Chemicals Change: I wanted to do something very different than the 7″ that preceded this EP, so I went for more of a Bryter Layter-era Nick Drake meets Roger Miller feel for this song. Well, at least that’s how I viewed it. We also wanted this EP to be arranged with lots of little parts that would stand out after repetitive listenings. These are my favorite kind of albums. Bleep. Crash! Oh, I never heard that part before.
Sound Off:
We’re happy people who seem to be enjoying what we’re doing. We put out the 7″, with the intention that if people liked it, we’d keep going. We did the same thing with this new EP. We actually found the label we’re on now (Abandoned Love Records) when they saw us at an in-store. Now we have some forward motion and I have a better sense of the songs I’m writing, and how they are arranged for the band. We will be touring in the next couple of months to support the new EP. I just bought a warm coat, and three out of five Sparrows have donned their winter beards, so it’s time for us to go where the cold weather calls. I guess the next logical step is to release a full length in the spring. That or Broadway.
Mp3s:
Chemicals Change
If Love’s a Sparrow
Wraith (live at KVRX)
Websites:
www.thelovelysparrows.com
Myspace
