Joy Mills -
Tom Parker -
Aimee Zoe Tubbs -
Various shows and tours may be accompanied by:
Moe Provencher -
Jack Quick -
Mike McDermott -
Julian Martlew -
Chad Hinman
New video by Aimee Zoe Tubbs!
Influences
Patty Griffin -
Greg Brown -
Leonard Cohen -
Emmylou Harris -
Neko Case -
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings -
Willie Nelson -
Tom Waits -
Lucinda Williams -
our friends -
Ryan Adams/Whiskeytown -
Steve Earle -
Jenny Lewis -
poached eggs -
murder ballads, boom-chuck, tree sap, Beethoven's 7th Symphony
"Gravity", our new EP, is now available! It's a sneak peek of our full-length we're working on. Seven songs with mostly new material, a reprise oldie and a traditional tune. It's a limited release, so get 'em while they're here. $10, includes shipping.
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"Call it lilt with an edge." -Leicester Bangs (UK)
"Marveling the While" now available at select locations. You can find "MTW" at Sonic Boom Records, in Ballard's Sonic Boom store, CDBaby, and Smart Choice Music UK Updates will be posted as they come in. Drop us a line here or contact AT starlingsmusic DOT com if you would like to order one directly from us.
"MTW" debuted at 8 on the Euro-Americana charts; spent 17 weeks on the Roots Music Report Charts; was a Notable Northwest Recording by KBCS Americana Music Director, Christine Linde; the track "Bluebird" selected for Best of 2008 from The Miller Tells Her Tale out of the UK. Thanks to all the DJ's across the country playing our album.
We spent much of 2008 touring nationally. We're spending 2009 recording a new full-length, and are just releasing a sneak peek of that with our EP, "Gravity" which is available for a limited time on PayPal and at live shows.
Our 6-month tour blog can be seen here, or also here. Thanks to all the folks along the way who gave us support!
"It's rootsy music with a simple beauty. It's a Seattle band with a small-town aura...Mills' timeless, gorgeous voice is the driving force behind the Starlings' twangy serenity. Her husband, singer-guitarist Tom Parker, is no slouch, either. When the two harmonize as a banjo gets plucked in the background, it's a truly wonderful blend." -Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman
"The Starlings vocal harmonies, acoustic goodness and sweet blend of folk and country set the stage for the band's storied original songwriting and the compelling presence of vocalist Joy Mills." - KEXP.org, 90.3 Seattle
"Organic country…both delicate and edgy… For the lo-fi country enthusiast, the Starlings’ natural charm and raw potential, like the Starlings themselves, are a winning combination. Highly recommended.” - Maverick Magazine
“The Starlings hark back to an earlier, simpler time, when folks gathered on front porches with mandolins and harmonicas, singing away the day in dusty twilight. That simple beauty pervades the band’s stellar debut album, “Songbook,” and that easygoing camaraderie personifies the Starlings’ live performances, which find them equally at home playing barnburners and ballads and have made them favorites among Seattle’s twang community.” - Portland Tribune
"The Starlings, a band buoyed by shimmering vocalist Joy Mills."
- Seattle P.I.
The Starlings have captured the ears of fans both in the Northwest and beyond. The 2008 release of their sophomore album, "Marveling the While," which debuted at no. 8 on the Euro-Americana chart for April, follows their successful 2006 release of debut album "Songbook." Based out of Seattle, they've received accolades from notable sources as Maverick Magazine, The Onion and Americana UK; spent several weeks on John Richards'(KEXP) "Top Ten Northwest Bands"; and shared prominent performances with the likes of Todd Snider, The Wood Brothers, The Avett Brothers, Eilen Jewell, The Everybodyfields, Shannon McNally, Hoots & Hellmouth and many others.
"Marveling the While" picks up where "Songbook" leaves off – bringing us further down an aural path of lush production, soulful and sparkly vocals, and featuring guests appearances from Mike Grigoni (Willy Mason, Peter Rowan, Chris Stuart and Backcountry), Lauryn Shapter, and Chad Hinman (producer). With a title inspired by the literary works of John Steinbeck, "Marveling the While" explores themes of time and duality, with the powerful opening track, "Love and War", the bitter sweetness of life in "Silver Thread," a tribute to a gypsy mother in "Geraldine," and the spooky, panoramic montage of "Honey Creek." The Starlings raise the bar in this production, reaching a new pinnacle with their use of metaphor, harmonies, and dynamics.
"Songbook" covers a wide terrain of folk and Americana landscapes including the homage paid to elders in the opening track, "Hand to Mouth," and the wanderer's story in "Alaskan Fire." Other stand-outs include the minor-key foot-stompers "Bones to Ashes" and "Rosie" as well as the elegantly-orchestrated "Sinner's Glory," and the old-time-flavored sweetness of "Acorn."
Led by the magnetic harmonies and songwriting of Joy Mills and Tom Parker, the lyrics and vocals are all at once wistful and fierce, haunting and soothing. Their approach is contemporary and inventive, inspired by the classics of country, folk and Appalachia. Guitar, banjo, harmonica and mandolin give front porch flavors to the songs, while Aimee Zoe Tubbs and Jack Quick provide the solid and stylish foundation on drums, bass and harmony vocals. Occasional musicians sit in on lead instruments such as Dobro and mandolin. Elemental themes create The Starlings' solid repertoire – from a pin-dropping ballad to a foot-stomping barnburner, their images linger – empty boxcars, twilight on the prairie, divining rods, river beds, the long drive home, and an underlying wonder at the mystery of it all.
Both "MTW" and "Songbook" are available from CDBaby, Miles of Music and Sonic Boom store in Seattle.
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Interested in having The Starlings for your next house concert?
New video from tour, created by Chad Hinman...
Tour video from 2007, created by Aimee Zoe Tubbs...
Hey, thanks for the add! Great sound you got there. Theres lots of space in it that gives it a meloncholic feel. My favourite is Fallen Days - cool song. Well done people.
The new True Margrit CD - The Juggler's Progress - is now available for pre-order, along with t-shirts and artwork, photo and drumheads, as we get ready for our monthlong tour of the Great Northwest! Check it out here: http://bit.ly/7Cu8J
Look for us in Washington, Oregon and California between October 15 and November 15, when our tour wraps up with the big show at San Francisco's best rock club, Bottom of the Hill! For the complete show schedule, check here: http://bit.ly/1UgGqQ
This month we mostly have Catie Curtis (with a Richard Thompson cover), Lindsay Fuller and The Cheap Dates (and who amongst us isn't?), Josh Fix with a track from the well-titled album This Town Is Starting To Make Me Angry and the rather lovely Red Rooster.
Four more little sonic gems for your August pleasure are now available on the site. Blitzen Trapper, Boulder Acoustic Society, Jay Brannan and The Wiyos. Yet another fine quartet even though we say so ourselves as picked them out.
My debut single ROLLIN' IN THE HEY just broke into the top 75 on the Music Row Breakout Chart WITH A BULLET!!!. Also I was just featured in the "Listen Up" section of COUNTRY WEEKLY!!! Visit my page and click on the Country Weekly free download button to get your copy of the debut single.
ALSO CLICK ON THE ALBUM COVER BELOW TO BUY THE CD!!!
....OR CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO DOWNLOAD EACH SONG OR THE ENTIRE CD DIGITALLY!!!!
My debut single ROLLIN' IN THE HEY just broke into the top 75 on the Music Row Breakout Chart WITH A BULLET!!!. Also I was just featured in the "Listen Up" section of COUNTRY WEEKLY!!! Visit my page and click on the Country Weekly free download button to get your copy of the debut single.
ALSO CLICK ON THE ALBUM COVER BELOW TO BUY THE CD!!!
The College Tour is coming together for the end of Aug and Sept. Please keep an ear out for a show near you.
www.Loopapperal.com is nice enough to keep the shirt sales going through the end of the college tour on Sept 19th, please swing by and order your shirt before the www.loopapparel.com deal is gone for the summer.
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