The Lovely Sparrows are, have been, and may include Shawn Jones, Earl Vallery, Lauryn Steinberg, Stephen Pierce, Gray Parsons, Steven Garcia, Michael Landon, Sweney Tidball, Paul Brinkley, Jason Cooper, Nathan Siler, Steven Stark, and Meaghan Perry.
Influences
David Bowie, Paul Simon, Bill Fay, Talking Heads, the Microphones, Pavement, Little Wings, Neutral Milk Hotel, Destroyer, Cat Stevens, Leonard Cohen, the New Pornographers, The Stone Roses, The Who, (smog), The Replacements, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, the Zombies, The Kinks, Nick Drake, The Chocolate Watch Band, The Rolling Stones, Mission Of Burma, Velvet Underground, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Beatles, Belle & Sebastian, Television, Joanna Newsom, Margo Guryan, The Beach Boys, The Association, Os Mutantes, Camille Saint-Saens, Frank Black & the Catholics, The Raspberries, Elvis Costello, Wilco, the Jicks, Sebadoh, Marvin Gaye, Velvet Underground, the Silver Jews, Yo La Tengo, The Flaming Lips, etc. etc. etc.
Austin's the Lovely Sparrows blend lush, complex arrangements with sing-along choruses that bring to mind glorious folk-inflected pop and well-written novellas. Pulling Up Floors, Pouring on (New) Paint, set for release by Abandoned Love Records, captures the gorgeous melodies and warm, organic maladies of lead Sparrow Shawn Jones. Friends as well as former, current and occasional members of the band contributed their talents to flesh out Jones songs of heartbreak, blunted resolve, and shimmering resignation.
The Sparrows began work on the EP after finishing their self-released 7 Take Your Hats Off, You Godless Bastards which, despite its limited distribution, caught the ear of online reviewers, discriminating music blogs and select college radio stations. Pulling Up Floors, Pouring on (New) Paint was recorded both at Jones home and at Jesses Bed & Breakfast, a
makeshift recording studio and live music venue which quietly hosts much of Austins burgeoning underground pop and folk community.
"I submit to you another reason to pay attention to Austin—The Lovely Sparrows." Daytrotter
"Lead Sparrow Shawn Jones pulls together a solid cast of colleagues to help flesh out his delicate, folky compositions and create the much-needed counter-points (especially the boy-girl dynamic on many of the vocals) that give the album its wings. The five songs on this tasty little EP go by way too fast, leaving you wanting more." Harp Magazine
"A great track...theres a level of energy and passion contained within the lyrics that manages to poke out through the restrained presentation." You Ain't No Picasso
"I've said here before how much I like what I've heard of them, but it appears they've raised the stakes." Cable and Tweed
But here's our favorite: "Me and Mars finally played you as promised and the sky exploded and all the trees died and mars turned into a deer. it was awesome." "Megan, KVRX
For current press and more please visit www.thelovelysparrows.com
Year of the Dog, the first video from Bury the Cynics (2008 ALR, Rebel Group)
wraith (r-ay-th) n. 1. An apparition of a living person that appears as a portent just before that person's death. 2. The ghost of a dead person. 3. Something shadowy and insubstantial.
I recently conducted a lengthy interview with Shawn Jones for a website based in the Twin Cities called Reveille Magazine that I figured some of his fans might want to read. Here's the link for those interested ...
I hope you can attend this benefit that I'm organizing on June 28th. It will be lots of fun! If you can't make it, please consider donating a few dollars to a very good cause. There is a paypal donation button on my profile. Thanks so much!
thank *YOU* for your lovely music...:) Two pugs?! I can barely handle one! :) But I can imagine that double the snorts, twirls, and head tilts makes it all worth it...:) I love Department of Foreseeable Outcomes by the way...light and love from Minneapolis...
You say you want a Revolution, I'm ready Ready Teddy, I'm ready ready ready to rocknroll
JOHN LENNON HOOT ROCKNROLL REVIVAL coming this spring on the April full moon, 4-20, 2008 at Ruta Maya HQ in South Austin, Texas. Twistin' and shoutin': THE VIET MINH (THE BLACK ANGELS side project), NIC ARMSTRONG, SHAPES HAVE FANGS, RIPE, THE BELLFURIES, GOLDEN BEAR, THE TUNNELS, A FEW NICE THINGS, 3 BALLS OF FIRE, LZ LOVE, HACIENDA, THE STORY OF, THE BOXING LESSON, THE CHANNEL, AUGUSTINE (featuring JADE DAY), SUMNER ERICKSON & THE TEXCENTRICS, LALALAND (featuring JOEL MULLINS of TAMMANY HALL MACHINE), THE LOVELY SPARROWS, and more. This cool spring night not only features the righteous catalogue of JOHN LENNON performed live by fab Austin bands, but further includes a Roots of LENNON Happy Hour w/ DJs PSYCHOTROPIC, featuring LENNON's rocknroll, r and b, and blues influences that made him pick up a guitar. Valuable footage chronicling LENNON's movements in rocknroll and our world screened between hot sets all night. Portion of proceeds donated to Resistencia Bookstore, for assistance in raising awareness of human rights of the people. Who needs a reason to rock? Come see JOHN LENNON 12 feet tall. 6pm-2AM 8 bucks, 7 if yer in school. Bring 3 friends. Drink a beer. Shake it up. Rip it up. Ball it up. Think. Come ready ready teddy come ready ready ready to rocknroll. Backlining by Gibson GUITARS. This is your revival.
xo The Jacks
