Sarah Glynn - vocals, guitars, bass, keys, drums, violin, skin flute Live Band (past/present):
Seth Whitney (bass), John Thomasson (bass), Nathan Lynch (bass), Terri Lord (drums), Rob Lee (drums), Eldridge Goins (drums), Mike Irene (drums), Julio Figueroa (drums), Jesse Jack (keys), Victor Bustos (guitar), Dan Huff (guitar), Philip McMarthy (guitar)
Influences
It's impossible to differentiate between influences & bands I like, so here's a short list of current favorites:
Led Zeppelin, Miles Davis, Jen Trynin, Keith Jarrett, Radiohead, Neil Finn, Elbow, Doves, Travis, Coldplay, Phish, Ry Cooder, Stars, The Streets, Nelly McKay, Beth Orton, Duncan Sheik, Sondre Lerche, Everything but the Girl, Kristin Hersh, Lucinda Williams, Bjork, Stanley Jordan, Mary Lou Lord, Interpol, My Morning Jacket, The Smiths, Liz Phair, David Bowie, Ed Harcourt, Built to Spill, Dave Matthews Band, Broken Social Scene, U2, Tom Petty, Frou Frou, The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Matt Pond PA, most bands from 1983, Bloc Party, Tracy Bonham, Allman Brothers, Laura Veirs, Eric Clapton, Jennifer O'Connor, Jeremy Enigk
"52. Ken / Keeping Still, Mountain - Rest is merely a state of polarity that always posits movement as its complement. True quiet means keeping still when the time has come to keep still, and going forward when the time has come to go forward" The I Ching, or Book of Changes
"There is here no measuring with time, no year matters, and ten years are nothing. Being an artist means, not reckoning and counting, but ripening like the tree which does not force its sap and stands confident in the storms of spring without the fear that after them may come no summer. It does come. But it comes only to the patient, who are there as though eternity lay before them, so unconcernedly still and wide. I learn it daily, learn it with pain to which I am grateful: patience is everything!" Rainer Maria Rilke, 1903
"If you really want to hurt your parents, and you don't have the nerve to be gay, the least you can do is go into the arts. I'm not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something." Kurt Vonnegut, 2004
COLLEGE RADIO: To Sweeten Up is getting some TLC from the following college radio stations: (click for list).
Just before graduating from Wellesley College, Sarah Glynn drastically altered her post-college plans: she would skip out on Med School and focus entirely on her music. Sarah, now 29, moved from Boston to Austin in 1999, released 2 CDs (for which she has written, recorded and performed all instruments) and put together a 5-piece live band.
Sarah describes her quirky pop/rock, which is often layered with piano, horn & string arrangements, as "somewhere between Liz Phair & Peter Gabriel -- intricate parts with a strong rhythmic push forward." Despite the many layers in Sarahs mixes, she takes a minimalist approach to songwriting and production only adding what she deems the song cannot do without. Her lyrics have been described as smart and slightly acidic and her voice has drawn comparisons to Bjork and the Sundays Harriet Wheeler.
Compositions of Sarahs have found their way into independent films, including Below the Break '04, Girl Wrestler 04 (PBS), Prize Whores 01 (SXSW selection), and A Pursuit Race 97 (directed by co-writer & producer of feature "The War Within"), and onto local and national compilation CDs (New Music Monthly Mar 06, Urban Box Office, Aug 05). She is currently gigging in support of her newly released sophomore effort, To Sweeten Up, which has garnered favorable press reviews (see below) and been added to college radio stations throughout the US & Canada. The Sarah Glynn Band has shared the stage with Juliana Hatfield, Mason Jennings, the Butchies, Patrice Pike, & Bob Schneider, to name a few, and has showcased at the Dallas New Music Festival, Ladyfest TX, & GirlxGirl Fest.
In addition to her own band, Sarah also plays lead guitar for country artists Erin Condo and Idgy Vaughn. Sarah is lead guitarist for Austin-based Echoset and plays drums for Austin-based Las Damas. Currently, Sarah is recording her 3rd album with hopes of a 2007 spring release. She is also producing alt-country Erin Condo's upcoming CD.
"To Sweeten Up is one of the most original and magnetic albums I've heard from a female solo artist in years. Her music is as unconventional as that of Suzanne Vega but has the pop sensibilities of U2 or The Police, which makes for quite a compelling combination." American Songwriter
"This is as original and unconventional female singer-songwriter album as I've come across... you find yourself smiling at the sheer audacity and exuberance of it all. You can't take your ears off this album for a moment, and no reason why you'd want to." (five stars) Musical Discoveries (Hereford UK)
"Immaculately produced and well written songs, with not a negligible amount of creativity, Sarah Glynn has talent in both her voice and her performance." Tasty Fanzine (Leeds, UK)
"To Sweeten Up appeals to the finicky listener who orders her pop with a side of intellect." Feedback Magazine
"Her sound is so wonderfully peculiar... a pop-rock omnibus with unconventional undertones. My guess is that Sarah Glynn will soon be filed in your collection between G. Love and Patty Griffin." 512Magazine
"Sarah Glynn once again proves that Austin, Texas is the place where time after time, great music flourishes... we might be listening to the next Belly. The modern alternative rock world hasnt seen a great female artist come around in a while and Im pleased to say that it might be Sarah Glynn who will next make that storied climb up the charts." Smother.Net
"Opening with the guitar-driven 'Dont Say No,' this album proves that its not the run-of- the-mill local release... but describing it is much harder than any album Ive ever heard to date. The title track is an infectious song that belongs on a radio station in heavy rotation. If youre into catchy indie-pop youd do well to search this one out." INsite Austin
"Sarah Glynn is a one-woman band--- writing, performing and producing her way through a tight album of catchy pop songs. She embraces an early 80s new wave style, which is often blended with an offbeat, herky-jerky rhythm. It's an endearing combination." MishMash Indie Music Reviews
"This track [You Always You Never] delivers melodies on top of melodies and right when you think you can predict them, she throws an instrumental break at you that lasts just long enough to leave you yearning for the melodies that you just took a break from. Its a truly infectious, almost hypnotic experience. The driving rhythm, the guitars, the melodies; they hold you captive and before you know, the song ends on the CD...but not in your head. You've got a radio single for sure." The Muses Muse
"It's like U2 meets Dido." Broadjam reviewer
"A smooth fusion of jazz and indie-pop - interesting melodies, introspective lyrics, clever phrasing and syncopation... very cool music." Hybrid Magazine
The 24-year old exhibits such songwriting moxie and confident command of her multi-instrumental talent that her band could be The Next Big Thing, or at least the Next Big Thing After That. . . .The song is so catchy, the performance so accomplished, I do a take, eyes bulging and jaw dropping to chest. Austin American Statesman
Fronted by a mean axe-wielder with a delicate touch named Sarah Glynn, the Luck Band neednt rely on chance to snare fans with its intricate, dual-guitar web. Austin Chronicle
Its like Radiohead meets Sam Phillips. KGSR DJ, Jenn Garrison
Not since Bellys Star have I been so enchanted by a female artists entire album. CD Baby customer
Hello Sarah many thanks from France for the add it's a real pleasure to be in the lot of your friends it's a nice day for us Long life at your and our music
