Sara Wendt: lead vox, acoustic guitar
Ann Klein: lead guitars, slide, mandolin, keys, backing vox
Jen Caruana: backing vox
Mark Nilsen: sometimes guitar
Drums: Konrad Meisner
Bass: Derek
Influences
She gives all credit to Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell, Joan Armatrading, Jane Siberry, Radiohead, the Beatles, and her mom's fave, David Bowie's Ziggie Stardust. She currently loves Imgen Heap.
Sounds Like
She's been told she sounds like Natalie Merchant, Chrissie Hynds, Belly, Lisa Loeb, The Cranberries, Sinead O'Connor and no one.
Weightless with Love builds into a minor masterpiece. Sara has a rich, beautiful voice, with breathiness and falsetto at key moments. The violin- driven "I’m For You," which opens the album, shows off the folk-pop side, with a gorgeous melody and loud/quiet/loud dynamics. Other favorites include the raga-riffic "King of the Ghosts," which mixes distorted and twangy guitars with East Indian-sounding percussion, then throws a twisty melody on top. I also enjoy the quiet elegance of "Cool Blue Pools" and "Ask," both of which occasionally veer into Mediterranean-sounding vocal territory. The title song wraps things up with a melody which recalls the best of Chrissie Hynde--Ricky Flake, South Mississippi Sun Herald.
BAND BIO:
A former lead singer of the East Village cult band, Homer Erotic and the founder of her own band, Went, Sara Wendt’s other-worldly lyrics and bell-like voice has been charming the Lower East Side of Manhattan audiences for several years now. City Canyons Records recognized the haunting brilliance of her songwriting, and signed her to the Manhattan based label. Now, as she moves out under her own name, her songs get softer but more intensely emotional.
The songs from Sara’s first record, Parachute, have been described as "music for your dreams" (Folkways) and "like diving into a tropical sea-warm, bright and filled with strange, cool twists" (Maggie Dubris).
With the release of her long-awaited full second album, Weightless with Love, Sara gives us the title song "Weightless with Love" and it makes us hop and sing along a la Peppermint Patty with it’s 70s style la-las and then she takes us to the life of a sad New Mexico drifter who doesn’t like the radio in "Pretty Dark Knight" while she’s off in those other worlds in "I’ll Be Waiting" posing as a spiritual guide leading us along sunnier, soothing paths.
Sara attributes much of the gorgeous textures and arrangements on Weightless with Love to her guitarist and fellow writer, Ann Klein and also to Tim Hatfield, the record’s co-producer and engineer (Cowboy Technical Services). "Ann and Tim have completely read my mind on this one. I asked for Emmy Lou Harris’ Wrecking Ball with a sitar and they delivered it with a bit or a lot of me in there."
Listen to Weightless with Love. This record is beautifully personal. I felt Sara was singing just to me, leading me to a better place.
Hi, Sara! Absolutely beautiful!! I've added you to my favorite songs blog - hope that's ok :-) Thank you so much for sharing with me & thanks for finding me - I hope you're having an awesome week!!
How's 2007 been treating you? Thanks for letting us feature your music on our podcast last year. I really enjoy listening to your music as "Here's Us," "I'll Be Waiting," and "King of Ghosts" have become part of the soundtrack to my life. Thanks.
I think I'm way too far down your top friends list! How rude! Lovely to see you last week... we didnt have coffee tho! Thank you for your lovely voice in the play... beautiful. xxx kel xxx
The Alright's sound is one that most modern bands are unwilling to attempt and their musicianship is compelling. Their ability to present a diversified series of sounds insures that The Alrights should be able to capture the audience that appreciates bands whose albums don't reek of homogeneity. High School is an intriguing debut. One hopes that they continue to experiment on future releases, because if they do, they are certain to strike gold--Roy Opochinski, Groovevolt. Listen to "City Underground" from HIGH SCHOOL right here on the City Canyons MySpace page. Sample more music from The Alright's critically acclaimed album. Stay tuned for a new EP this fall from The Alrights and City Canyons Records!
Sara, your balcony photos, remind me of the time I lived in a storage closet at a rooming house in the Village for young working women.
It was 1966, and very hot. (The Lovin' Spoonful released "Summer in the City" that summer, and I first heard it on a store radio one hot and muggy night.)
The good thing was the storage room had been cleaned out, and a bed, dresser, etc had been brought into the area.
The sad thing was I was this pathetically shy, geeky boy who didn't know how to enjoy the presence of all these young and beautiful women.
But thinking back on the experience... perhaps that was when I fell in love with New York women.
As you know, Sara, I love all your songs, but I'm really hot over your new ones.
Sarah...wow i saw u*r name in the CITY at PEACE program...
kool..have you been to the show?
my daughter is in it...
congtratz on all u*r xiting music stuff happening...
hope to see you soon..
x00x0x0
Oh oh I just got really excited to see that you have another gig coming up in April!!! I've already added it to my calendar! :) Don't forget to bring me flyers...I've got to start advertising!
Never Postpone Joy Sara!!!
