What the Sibleys play is spare, moody music carved out of guitar, bass, drums and vocals. Sort of like the Velvet Underground minus the New York attitude, with a beautiful blond female singer who can, at times, turn a better lyric and can always carry more of a tune than Lou Reed and Nico combined. Laura's guitar snakes in and out of her desert-Dietrich vocals about black Kawasakis and using a jumper cable at the carnival and not smiling unless she wants to, sung in a way that's better heard than read about.
- Peter Gilstrap, L.A. Times.
I bought my house in Wonder Valley in 1998. When I was making my decision on whether or not to buy, I decided to visit the nearest bar to see if I felt at home. So I took the dirt road From Rt. 62 to Amboy Road and made a right. A half a mile down I spotted The Palms. I went inside and every head turned around, just like in the movies. The clientele was a collection of bikers, old men, desert ladies and a dog or two. They eventually gave me a collective look of approval and I ordered a beer. In the back room a band struck up a song. I went in to check it out. On stage were a very young blonde brother and sister (I'm guessing she was 16 and he was but a few years older) with a very gaunt older mustachioed speed freak on drums. They were performing a very interesting version of "Elvira" by the Oak Ridge Boys. That was it. I bought the house and frequented the Palms regularly. It turned out the band was called The Sibleys (Laura and James) and they owned the place with Mary, their mom.
One night they debuted a new lineup (James had replaced the speed-freak drummer and their friend Thom was added on bass) and featured a few original compositions written with Mary. I was astonished by the simplicity of the music and poetic brilliance of the lyrics. I had never heard anything like it. That night I approached the band about working together. We initially recorded their whole catalog at my house only a few miles from the restaurant but the band didnt sound the same as they did on stage at the bar. I realized what was missing was the bar itself, so with the help of a remote unit, I cut them live with no overdubs at the Palms on a hot Tuesday desert afternoon. The band and I are thrilled with the results.
- Ben Vaughn
Selected Performances include:
The Blue Guitar, Palm Springs, 2007
House of Blues Las Vegas, 2006
The Knitting Factory, Los Angeles 2006
Gram Fest, Joshua Tree, 2002, 2003,2004,2005
Selected Media engagements
Weeds Showtime, Featuring The Sibleys song “Angel Dreams” 2007,
WEEDS: HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO DRIVE BY
In episode 307, season three, episode seven
WEVL, Memphis,”Sirens Muse Radio Show” Dickerson, Lea 7/15/2007
KUCR, Riverside,”Undercurrent”,Venable, Elizabeth 7/ 6/2007
Radio reverb 97 FM., United Kingdom, “Simple Folk Radio” Swinhoe,Dillon,
Palms film 2007 By John Bock featuring the Sibleys, premereing at Redcat Theater 2008 Los Angeles, exhibited Shirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt Germany 2007
New York Times, “Art Blooms in California Desert”Chaplin, Julia, 4/21/2006 (Travel Sec)
Simply Luxurios, (Einfactluxurios, Kalifornien) Swiss Television, show featuring The Sibleys, Channel SF Zurich broadcast 11/16/2006
LA Times Magazine, Gilstrap, Peter, April 17, 2005 pp.18 - 21
100 Concerts in 100 Days ( The Sibleys day 4) Pepsi Smash / Yahoo Web broad cast on Yahoo Music. 2005
I truly enjoyed “Nowhere Now” The performance of The Sibleys as well as the other acts, also the other things I learned about the area. We have performed at Pappy &Harriet’s in Pioneer Town, as well as “The Cosmic American Music Festival” in The High Desert Playhouse. We also performed for the internet radio station The Beatnik Cafe in Joshua Tree, but we always have a blast at The Palms.
I am getting ready to watch, and record Nowhere Now, along with you and all the rest. Can't wait!!! jimi see you New Years Eve, along with Killer Sheep. http://www.myspace.com/killersheeprock
HEY !!! it's jack *your MACKIE guy in yucaipa * did you get the L.E.D i sent ya for your cab,,,,,, how does the spk sound???// keep rockin on jack spina (JRSMIR)
Thanks for the Cd guys I listened to it on the loooong drive home, It was great seeing you once again and the Palms still feels like home. Yes please send me a copy of your movie!!!
We had a great time at the festival on Saturday. It was awesome, awesome, awesome :) We enjoyed your performance, as usual. We should set up a show sometime this fall.
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