I don’t tend to get over-excited about bands until I’ve seen them live, if I can avoid it, so I don’t want to overdo it with these fellows, but the new songs from Sparrow & the Workshop are sounding really rather good.
More importantly* they bring a good dose of variety to the tinny and lovely quality of the first batch of demos they uploaded to MySpace. The sound is fuller and in many cases angrier, and all in all they sound like they have the makings of a really good band.
There’s something wonderfully old-fashioned about Jill O’Sullivan’s voice - something so beguiling I instantly think of three or four bands I’d love to ask her to sing with. The drums (played, I find myself tentatively guessing, by Gregor Donaldson - their MySpace isn’t that specific) bring a rhythm that is often driving and urgent, although never aggressive. They’re a band with strong emotional undercurrents, but not one who’ll charge at you with nothing but bluster and noise with which to dazzle.
They’ve got a few dates up on their MySpace page at the moment, including a date over here during the Festival, so I’ll definitely be catching them live in the next month or so. Honestly though, the nine songs I have sneakily ripped from MySpace could be put together into a really good little album already.
Sparrow & the Workshop - Devil Song
Sparrow & the Workshop - Coldhearted Twist
* More important than sounding really rather good? Eh? What am I talking about?
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I have a lot of love for this band. Top of my ‘Gigs to See’ list.
I don’t think you’re the only one, mate. Bart is dead keen too, so there might be a small scrum at their first Edinburgh gig!
About the only good thing at the Edge festival is the ‘your sound’ night with sparrow and the workshop (y’all is fantasy island, woodenbox and we see lights).
and i’ve just realised it’s the same night as the eagleowl EP launch.
bum cakes.
(ps the only other good thing is the broken records show, obviously)
Yes, those both definitely qualify as Very Good Things. I think, timing permitting, I will try and dodge into the Sparrow gig and then try and scoot to catch your show. I assume they’ll be on pretty early, but I’ll ask them. They’re playing on a Friday aren’t they? A Toad Session the next day might be quite a good idea.
I know of these yet I am not sure how - have had a handful of their charming ditties floating about my ‘new’ folder for a good while but I keep forgetting to playlist them. Mainly, one suspects, because I have them all labelled up all wrong.
Lovely, lovely stuff, though.
Well if you’re up for another SbT recommends then that might be a chance to mention them, along with the Velcro Quartet perhaps and a couple of others.
I’m off on another West Coast trawl in August - should be in Portland for Pickathon, too (fingers crossed the itinerary don’t double fuck me) - so have a marathon set of pre-records to complete in the next week. If you fancy doing a handful send ‘em on over.
How many, old chap? And brilliant news about Portland.
Wait a moment bart. what about shed seven at the corn exchange???!!
In the words of Monty Python - it’s enough to make you chew your own foot off.
As many as you want, old fruit. I’m off on 5th & back at beginning of September, so however many weeks that is I suppose.
I’m presently compiling my hotel/internal flight/car rental costs for the trip & fuck me its doing my head in.
[...] 14th, Monday: Song, By Toad posts Sparrow & the Workshop’s “Devil Song”. I leave the apartment with a bounce in my step. And what a [...]