Now that this Blog has Officially launched, here’s a taste of what will be offered here…
The Lonesome Sparrows – Black Velvet Royalty
On April 10, 2010, I had the honor of emceeing the CD release party for The Lonesome Sparrows. My introduction went something like this: “Back in the summer I had the pleasure of attending The Lonesome Sparrows show at Frank Critelli’s Songs from the Sofa series. As I sat there, the woman next to me leaned over and said, ‘These guys can play.’”
Dubbed the “Acoustic Army,” we have a trio of professional pickers: James Velvet (acoustic rhythm guitar), Johnny Memphis (acoustic lead guitar, fiddle), and Dick Neal (dobro, mandolin, banjo), who have been trading licks, picks, and chops for decades. Anchored by Johnny Java (electrified bass guitar, percussion), who keeps these three from swaying too far off the amazing tightrope they walk, the band takes Velvet’s compositions and pushes each other to expand the limits of what they can do with familiar songs. I say familiar because they have taken songs from various points of James Velvets career (Solo, The Mocking Birds, The Ivory Bills), songs each of them have played on at one point or another, and recreated them in a live setting where each may lead or follow as they please.
Attend more than one performance of The Lonesome Sparrows and you will hear a varied, yet true rendition of any of these songs. The band was put together for this purpose - to continually create and recreate these songs as they feel them while playing together. That is why James decided to record these tracks “mostly live-all-together, under the watchful ear and careful baton of Mr. Dick Neal.” This type of recording suits the Rolling Thunder Revue style presentation in a way that accentuates James’ distinct, warm, whiskey smooth vocals, which deliver distinctly penned tales of life lived in Anytown, USA as experienced by a native New Haven, CT activist. We celebrate holidays, summer, spouses, family, the circus, Jesus, Elvis, and more. We examine human nature, both good and bad, religion, politics, love, life and more.
Black Velvet Royalty is just that. And more.
Sit back, relax and enjoy, because that woman was right,
“These guys can play.”
Listen: The Royal Heart / Gotta Keep Goin'
The Lonesome Sparrows - Mother, O Mother
Live 05/07/10 @ The Huntington Street Cafe`
Shelton, CT
The Lonesome Sparrows - Mother, O Mother
Live 05/07/10 @ The Huntington Street Cafe`
Shelton, CT
G Gone,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on getting your blog up and running (like you don't have enough to do already!) Thanks for honoring The Lonesome Sparrows with this post.
JV