On fourth outing, “Cover Thy Neighbor,” the ethereal, old-soul rock group’s missive goes beyond engaging the masses. Saint Bernadette is also intent on embracing the local artistic community: to plug and plug-in as many brethren as it can muster.
Led by producer and guitarist Keith Saunders and femme fatale vocalist Meredith DiMenna, with mainstay slide guitarist Joe Novelli, bass player Brian Anderson and drummer Dave Valle, the quintet offers a boozy, erotically charged aural accord that meshes a disparate template of psychedelic-meets-arena rock, with a peppering of jazz, all candy-coated with sing-along choruses.
And the group is putting it's money where it's mic is. “Cover Thy Neighbor” is a collection of covers, all written and originally performed by such local acts as The Zambonis, Shangk, Jar-e, Unicorn Wild Ox, Diplodocus and Jargon Society. It will launch Dec. 13 on the pair’s own label, Exotic Records, with a limited release in-town, followed by digital distribution in January.
“We realized the importance of our peers as both conduit and catalyst,” Saunders explains. “There is a rich base of composers and performers here, and these songs needed an opportunity to be recognized beyond their initial reception.” DiMenna adds, “We felt like there were so many published works right here that made me say, ‘God, I would die to sing that song.’ ”
All of this ties neatly into the group’s namesake, based on the very real Saint Bernadette, who reported repeated visions of holy apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1858 in her native village of Lourdes, France. The Catholic Church wasn’t buying it—until further investigation following her death. Suddenly, Bernadette was deemed Our Lady of Lourdes, named a saint in 1933 and ever since, millions have made an annual pilgrimage to pay homage to her shrine there.
DiMenna notes, “People thought she was crazy, but she ultimately transformed Lourdes onto the world stage. We took on Bridgeport as our pilgrimage. We saw a vision and many thought we were out of our minds. We want to be the engine that puts this place on the map. There may not be a Virgin Mary, but we’re saying, look at all this talent. Everything we do plays into that.”
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~~ WORDS FROM THE WORDY ~~
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”sweet as an angel and edgy as hell”
--BUST
The six-song EP grabs attention with guitar openers out of any Cars song and sped-up endings that make you want to jump up and down on your bed again."
--NYC EXAMINER
"This is a stellar tune, one that's bound to be lodged in the back of your head for weeks after listening."
--POP TARTS SUCK TOASTED
Have you suffered at the hands of the false idols of Rock-n-Roll?
Then let Saint Bernadette’s Word To The Lourdes be your saving grace.
--INDEPENDISC
"This Bridgeport-based band has just released its third disc, "Word to the Lourdes," in about a year and a half and the group continues to amaze. Maybe because the group, led by the husband-and-wife team of singer Meredith DiMenna-Saunders and guitar whiz Keith "Touch" Saunders, makes itself right at home in whatever style it chooses. Equally at home playing swinging jazz tunes as well as raunchy rock songs, the band's magic starts with DiMenna-Saunders, whose vocal talents allow her to make any song -- from any genre -- uniquely her own."
--CONNECTICUT POST
"Watch out Shirley Bassey. Meredith DiMenna of Saint Bernadette wields an old-school femme fatale voice that would be perfect for the next 20 years of James Bond themes." -- HARP MAGAZINE
"I'll be damned if Saint Bernadette's retro-flavored rock/rhythm-n-blues menagerie isn't getting me through the coldest week of the winter... If you've ever wished Gentleman was recorded from a female perspective, your wait is over." -- MY OLD KENTUCKY BLOG
"These 11 originals hint at retro '60s styled mood with contemporary touches. But it's the subtle dynamics that elevate the material; lap steel guitar brings a somewhat ghostly approach to the songs as DiMenna's husky, sexy singing weaves through the spaces in the sound. Turn the lights down low, burn some incense, and lose yourself in Saint Bernadette's intense yet lithe charms."
-- ALLMUSIC.COM
"The debut album from Connecticut’s Saint Bernadette hits the sort of notes and touches that make me weak in the knees, by expertly melding things I’m a sucker for: ballsy broads, smoke-filled jazz clubs, and, of course, the element of surprise."
-- SENTAMENTALIST MAGAZINE
"The small, big band whose sound can be as sweet and lofty as heaven and
as down and dirty as hell."
-- INDEPENDISC.COM
"The music on "In the Ballroom," is seductive, eclectic, sophisticated and a natural fit for DiMenna's superlative voice."
-- THE STAMFORD ADVOCATE
"a group that has matured like Uma Thurman--getting sleeker, sexier and ever more butt-kicking as time progresses. Meredith DiMenna's voice bursts out with a cutting, shimmery power."
-- THE FAIRFIELD WEEKLY
"Meredith DiMenna & Keith Saunders have exported some very cool sultry sounds from Bridgeport , Connecticut. The live recorded debut album..In The Ballroom..is sickeningly good , smoothly rounded & fantastically mixed by Peter Katis.
Superb lounge vocals & Jazz filled Beats ... Pass me my slippers!"
-- MOJOPHENIA PRODUCTIONS, UK
"They'll make you drool."
-- THE HARTFORD COURANT
"Right off the bat, you note that Meredith DiMenna's voice is captivating - it's got a sultry heft to it, a growl . . ."
-- NYROCK.COM
"You guys out AC/DC'd AC/DC on that one!"
-- Jake Frankel MOUNTAIN XPRESS
"If you're not horny after that set then there's something wrong with you"
-- JOHNNY TOYMAKER
"There goes Dolly, Dolly Dagger...her love's so heavy gonna make you stagger, There goes Dolly, Dolly Dagger...she drinks the blood from the Jagged Edge....Drink up Baby!"
Hope all is great on your side of the world. We are happy to have already booked 13 paying shows and great charity show in our first week of trying. Visualize your dreams....Optimism Baby!!...it works!!
We salute...Those About to Rock!..(that would be you)
If you can, join us at the worldwide Audio Engineering Society this Friday in NYC with thousands of other Music Producers, RecordingEngineers, Music Equipment Companies and Rock Stars....we will be cruzin around saying hello!
Beat Dialogue (and some others) have a huge Beth Gibbons influence? Am I right? Always loved Portishead. I cant wait to spread the news about you!!!!!! :) (just wish you werent playing Halloween damn it)
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