Sparrow and the Workshop
Moles, Bath Friday, October 15
‘Is this the band?’ is the immediate thought as the Glaswegian three-piece arrive on stage. All casual T’s and worn jeans, they might have just come from a kick about in the park. With no introduction the base drum kicks in commencing the safe foot-tapping intro of ‘Horses Grin’. The Belfast born, Chicago-raised Jill O’sullivan heads the band. Hunched over a ¾ sized electro-acoustic, eyes hidden behind her Joey Ramone fringe. She opens her mouth. It’s a surprise, the sparrow can wail. Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane fame springs to mind or for a more contemporary comparison I’d put her somewhere between Florence and Kate Bush.
The tempo changes with ‘Into the Wild’, foot-tapping turns to stomping as Gregory Donaldson gives the drums a military marching. We are given another level to the bands already weighty sound. Sparrow are not just a (Pixie-esque) post-punk band, though they have titled themselves “not a folk band”; the two piece harmonies between Donaldson and O’sullivan bring a depth that appeals to my Fleet Fox generation folk sensibilities.
Memorable songs of the gig include ‘Devil Song’ – O’sullivan’s piercing voice cry’s “Shake away my soul” with such conviction and emotion, followed by crashing drums and bone shaking bass. I find myself, along with the rest of the swaying crowd, getting shaken into a state of euphoria with every syllable and every crash of cymbals. ‘Black to Red’ showcases O’sullivan’s eclectic range, each verse is sung with hard precision, mixed effortlessly with the chorus of rhythmic falsetto, building into crescendo then back into verse. It’s definitely the catchiest song of the set with just enough of their trade mark punchiness to maintain originality.
Sparrow and the Workshop have an impressive set with plenty of soaring highs and slit your wrist lows with just the right amount of subtlety, in a finely worked out sound that towers over any need for categorisation.
Setlist
Horses
Into the Wild
Snakes in the Grass
Devil Song
Crossing Hearts
Medal Around Your Neck
Wreaking Ball
Last Chance
Black to Red
You’ve Got it All
I will break You
Crystals
By Teagan Lucas
