MUSIC REVIEW: The Parkington Sisters: Mozart & Bob Dylan?!
"There, There" Radiohead cover
© Parkington Sisters - Used with permission
Sat. Sept. 18, 2010.
What a night!... The Parkington Sisters' music escapes modern comparisons...they just don't fit into any convenient musical genre found on radio today. Is that a blessing or a curse? When asked to describe their music, even the sisters themselves had trouble putting a fine point on it. But one enthusiastic spectator replied "Their music?...Like Mozart and Bob Dylan fell in love, got married and had 5 daughters!"
Defying adequate definition these days is probably a good thing. But the following Facebook post is the reflection on the night from one eager member of the audience (in the back row!). We can't write perspective as 'spot-on' as this...well, we could, but we'd be as transparent as window glass, and boring! We think the following post sums up the night perfectly:
"The Parkington Sisters performed at the New North Music Hall in historic Hingham, Massachusetts, September 18, 2010. The Hall is affiliated with New North Church, founded by general of the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Lincoln, 200 years ago. Every word and note the Parkington Sisters sang and played was audible in this sturdy and elegant hall. About fifty spirited spectators enjoyed the simple beauty and intimacy of this stately auditorium. The Parkington Sisters adjusted easily in this setting and received enthusiastic applause as they charmed everyone present. Their new CD "Till Voices Wake Us" was on sale. The CD jacket is very nicely designed with a separate card that contains the lyrics of the thirteen songs. After the concert the Parkington Sisters mingled with the crowd, all five autographing my copy of their CD. It was a very memorable event."
There were many in the crowd, if not ALL present, that would have likely dictated the same conclusion as above, if asked to do so. From the moment 'the sisterhood' graced the stage, the crowd was hushed into a blissful, self-induced silence...scarcely talking or moving, waiting for more of "...that which moves us beyond all measure." Musical euphoria. Mozart's music was famously quoted as having that rare ability to "...Make the Divine human, and the human, Divine." This same sentiment holds true for the music of the Parkington Sisters.
Immediately following the last note of their last song, a crowd began to form to purchase a copy of their newly minted CD, Till Voices Wake Us. The songlist from the nite is listed here for your pleasure. (* indicates particular stand-out performances on this night - but all were amazingly beautiful and haunting).
1. Sailor Song* - feat. Lydia Parkington
2. Raindrops
3. Geese
4. Eagle and the Wolf* - feat. Nora Parkington
5. Sleepwalk
6. America*
7. Skeleton
8. The Calling
9. Chains* - feat. Sarah Parkington
9. Snow is Dropping
10. The Orchard* - feat. Rose Parkington - Featured on their new album, "Till Voices Wake Us", and recent played this song with Cape Cod Symphony few weeks back.. videos on their website
11. Shake Sugaree* - All - Elizabeth Cotten - who musical talent wasn't discovered until she was 85 years old!
12. There There* - feat. Rose Parkington - Radiohead cover...one of the reasons/inspirations the sisters began playing the streets of Provincetown years back
13 Let Go* - feat. Rose Parkington
14. Encore - Goodbye (Beatles bootleg)
The Ravens by sharp contrast (due to age and sex, not necessarily talent) did not disappoint either. This Duxbury-based, acoustic guitar-weilding quartet (was recently a quintet, but that's a sticky subject) kept the crowd visibly entertained with their rendition of Wicked Game (Chris Isaac classic) and a score of others that kept the patrons warm and toes tappin'. No one yelled "FREEBIRD" although one might expect such a number from this crew, with chops to match a low-key Skynard lineup and songs from the way-back machine to boot. Here's the set list you might want to bookmark for your next outing to see these gents -- a show not to be missed: (* standouts on this night)
1. Wicked Game
2. My Back Pages*
3. Woodstock*
4. Every Little Thing
5. So Far From Home*
6. Heaven's on the Way
7. Marilyn*
8. Box of Letters
9. Someone Special
10. Beautiful Friends
11. I am a Pilgrim!
12. Sea-colored Eyes
13. Knockin' on Heaven's Door*
Again, it was a nite to remember and we don't think the hall will hear this much harmony again until the Mormon Tabernacle Choir comes a callin'. Until then, keep listening and always...keep it real!
-NNMH
IN ANTICIPATION OF THE PARKINGTON SISTERS: Performing 09-18-2010
Read about their eponymous EP here:
July/August 2009, American Songwriter, Under the Radar by David Mead
“The Parkington Sisters four-song eponymous EP (Self-Released) is like the best first date you’ve ever been on: transcendent, gooey, and short enough to leave you yearning for more. Aged 17-29, the five Parkington Sisters manage to channel Joni Mitchell, Shostakovich, and Thelonious Monk in such an understated manner as to make the uninitiated heart leap. Opening track “Let Go” manages to cover more emotional and harmonic territory in five minutes than the last two Iron and Wine albums combined. This collection may not be easy to find yet, but rest assured that these songs and more should be widely available and sooner than later. In the barren landscape of girl groups as forgettable as Twitter posts, the Parkington Sisters are the musical manifestation of Louisa May Alcott.”
Visit their website!
Please check back for our review of their show with The Ravens (9.18.2010)
Peace!
JUNE 19: ONE STEP AWAY w/CLOSER THAN WE APPEAR
Ah...what a night, huh? Makes you not want to go back to work, huh? Don't GO! Don't GO! This show was HOT! And no, not just because the boyz were good-lookin' either, but because the house was rockin' and the girls were 'flockin'...and for good reason.
The night featured popular up-n-comers, and N. Andover, MA heartthrobs, One Step Away , being warmed up nicely by a consistently fantastic array of musicianship by south-shore young bloods Closer Than We Appear (CTWA).
One Step Away (heretofor referred to as "OSA") had top-billing for this gig and shiny 'Best of Boston' performance credentials to prove it, and carted with them not only their soundman and P.A. down from up north, but also ALOT of Marshall stack amplifiers, drum risers, wireless mics and other arena-rock-cum-Jonas-brothers-live type show accoutrements.
The current OSA line up is made up of:
Adam Carrington (Lead Vocals)
Terence Healy (Lead Guitar)
Mike Nuzzolo (Bass/Vocals)
Ben Trudeau (Drums)
When the dust settled and the last giddy school girl had taken her last iphoto with the bands, one couldnt be sure if this was a battle of the boy bands or just a bunch of great kids having an awesome time in the same venue that very well may have hosted a big-band dance night for their great-great-grandparents back in 1920, complete with derby hats and flapper dresses.
Closer Than We Appear are:
Gabe Goodman - 14, vocal and guitar
Max DiRado - 13, lead guitar
Jack Duff – 14, bass
Here's a quick run-down from the opening setlist by CTWA:
Silhouette - opening song- jazzy..(max used wah wah pedal)
Sleeper Car- original
1,2,3,4 cover from plain white Ts
Distorted Figures - original
Title And Registration- Gabe and Max
Glass Houses- Original
Trapeze Swinger/under pressure/One - compilation they arranged of favorite songs- song from death cab for cutie, queen, U2 then back around to Iron and Wine
The Last Bell- memorial song about teacher/friend, Dick Blake, who recently passed away
In The Darkness- newest piece- 2010 Gates songwriting comp winner
Just When You Think That It’s All Over- Possibly the standout song of the night, both vocally and lyrically and no secret why it won the lads the South Shore Conservatory's 2010 Songwriter's competition
The Bar Mitzvah Song- kind of a parody of one of their own songs - a bit of a "private joke" that turned into a Gates school crowd favorite.
At the peak of the night, the venue was Standing Room Only (yes, they ran out of chairs) We're thinking about 100-110 fans, who were caught somewhere between texting, oohing, ahhhing, oogling and stuffing down some serious pizza and having a @#$% good time doing it, too
One could not help but notice however, a dramatic thinning of the crowd after CTWA vacated the stage. It appeared to more than one observer, that well over 50% of the crowd had seen who they came to see and were content to bust loose and take on the night.
All told, it was a great night for all--and I am remiss that I did not get a set list from "OSA" to post here, but perhaps can track that down if there isnt some hidden fee for it, now that they are off to Hollywood to cut their new album. OSA left post-haste after the show (well, after they managed to pry 15 girls off of them, each) to set sail to the great state of PA to begin recording their new big time CD. Can't wait. Nickelodeon, here we come!
But steel yourself, because C.T.W.A, are getting ready for their recording session in early August 2010 and will have a TV appearance on Scorch's PFGtv cable show on MYTV network to air Aug 21! Not sure what that is but it sounds like a blast. Also, CTWA did promise to make a triumphant and more effusive return to the stage at ol' New North late summer so get yer iphone ready to vibrate all on its own as the boys get THISCLOSE to your inner-ear.
Keep it REAL.
-NNLN
March 27 show: BARRICADES and Olivia Brownlee
What a night! A crowd of nearly 70 people rushed New North Music Hall to witness a fantastic show featuring songbird and Spokane, WA native Olivia Brownlee cooo and awwww the crowd with her smirky/quirky/kitschy storytelling and hush-i'm-trying-to-hear-her! vocals. Songs ranged from a lovely rendition of "Charlie" from the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (yes, it was amazing) and other magical originals like Cookin' Tune and one about a famous "shoe fence" in Australia? What the? Her big 'a-HA!' moment came in the form of the delightful "Ice Machine Breakdown" cover by The Kindess Kind songstress Alessandra Rose .
Barricades took the stage en masse, featuring their new lineup w/Justin Lutz on bass (pronounced "Lootz" not "Luhtz" you Klutz!) and our guy friday, Mattie DeVito on keyboards. The boyz from Quincy did not disappoint, and jangled and crooned their way through most, if not all of their songlist off their debut CD Strong Foundations. Crowd favorites like "Our Home," "Apology" and "Drive Me" carried the night. Barricades were a bit on the loud side for the modest listening room venue--at times vocals and guitars fighting for equal rights--but what do you expect when guitarist Chris Norton takes the stage replete with a Marshall stack?!! What the--?
All in all, great night, good turn-out and the boys promised to behave next time they come back, leaving the BIG amps at home, in leiu of acoustic guitars and quieter set for both the band and drummer Dan "I-will-not-go-quietly-into-that-dark-night" Norton. Can't forget lead singer/guitarist Jared Walsh, who will always keep you wanting to hear what's on his mind next--and sorry, ladies, he's devoted his life to his music and his God (in that order) and therefore, untouchable. =:o)
