Before I gush about the headliner, I must give a very honorable mention to Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band. This was my first time seeing them live and - whoa - I will definitely be seeing them the next time they're in NYC. Now onto SSDB...
A few years ago, I had the good fortune to learn of the existence of a powerhouse of funk, ska, reggae, and R&B, fronted by a tiny, doe-eyed, and perplexingly humble woman with a voice the size of at least a continent or two. Just one look at 8 scraggily, well-seasoned musicians supporting a stunning, uncaged Rainbow Lorikeet with a voice that would make Aretha Franklin say “Damn! That girl can sing!” will convince you: You need to get hip to Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds. Having been first introduced, seeing them perform on the barely-big-enough-to-fit-them-all stage at Rockwood Music Hall in 2008, I never could have imagined I would eventually - in the course of the past year - see them 6 times on some of the biggest stages on the East Coast.
As The Dirty Birds began to take the audience on a climb up the euphonious stratosphere in anticipation of the crown jewel of hardcore Brooklyn funk, Sister Sparrow, I was mesmerized by the wicked harmonica riffs of Jackson Kincheloe, the face-melting shreds of Sasha Brown's guitar, backed up by some of the tightest percussion, bass, and horn sections I've ever had the pleasure to experience. As Arleigh Kicheloe (Sister Sparrow herself) gracefully fluttered to the stage, so did my heart and soul. It was show time, and I was in the front row. They proceeded to perform the quintessential set list to show off their classics as well as give us Birdheads a glimpse of their next album (being produced by Randy Jackson, btw). It was almost as if someone had been writing down every song I had requested- via my facebook and twitter status messages over the last few weeks. I could not have been happier with the song choices.
The more I see them and allow their music to course through my veins, the more I can’t help but feel like a Kincheloe, or at least a close family friend.