People use to willingly wear tie-dyed shirts. "Dead Heads" and Phish fans probably still do but that's besides the point. Fads come and go, and sometimes they come back again. Take family bands for example which were all the rage back in the day with acts like The Shangri-Las, Osmonds, and - of course - The Jackson Five. After a drought for a few decades (I'm not counting the Gallagher brothers of Oasis thank you very much), we've recently seen a surge in sibling-consisting bands like Kings of Leon and The Band Perry.
The California-based Sledge Grits Band (No relation to Sister Sledge, who were also a band of sisters) are bringing back a more traditonal family dynamic that evokes the days of a pre-"Off the Wall" Michael Jackson-fronted Jackson Five. The Sledge sibs consist of ten-year-old drummer bo-Pah, 13-year-old lead vocalist Mimi, 16-year-old bass player, backup vocalist Ella, and 18-year-old lead guitarist and songwriter Keiko. The Littlerock, CA sisters, who write, sing, play and perform all of their own music, are currently featured on Cozi TV's "Next Great Family Band," and have reached the finals.
Last week, they performed a cover of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" on A-Sides (filmed at the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains). Watch that killer cover and an interview below!
Watch. Listen. Love.
Like The Sledge Grits Band, Ashley Allen packs a lot of danceable pop. Unlike The Sledge Grits Band, she does so in provocative fashion. Case in point: watch the promo for her first single "Let's Go" in which she dances on a NYC subway. On a related note, I hope she had a lot of anti-bac after that shoot. Anyway, Allen is currently opening for pop star and fellow Long Islander Taylor Dane (remember that mane?) and will soon drop her full-length album which consist of catchy tunes with substance. Last week, she discussed songwriting and more at the Conservatory where she filmed an A-Sides session. She also performed acoustic versions of two songs "Body Say No, Heart Say Yes" and "You Ruined Love." Watch the former (and interview) here, and the latter there.
"Body Say No, Heart Say Yes"
Interview
About asidesmusic.com
Jon Chattman's "A-Sides Music" series usually features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometimes humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, I'm hoping this is refreshing. Support A-Sides' Kickstarter campaign here!