{"id":126,"date":"2014-02-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-02-07T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2014\/2014\/02\/07\/dirty-birds-at-the-bowl\/"},"modified":"2014-02-07T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2014-02-07T00:00:00","slug":"dirty-birds-at-the-bowl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2014\/2014\/02\/07\/dirty-birds-at-the-bowl\/","title":{"rendered":"Dirty Birds at The Bowl"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last Friday, one of the most iconic music venues in Brooklyn played host to a musical homecoming of sorts. Hometown heroes Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds<\/a> put their unique blend of soul, funk and rock on full display to a sold out Brooklyn Bowl. As an added bonus for their loyal and local fans, the group announced they would cover one of ten legendary rock albums in its entirety for this special show and would allow the final selection to be voted on by the public. With Led Zeppelin IV<\/em> <\/a>emerging as the winner after all votes were tabulated, this was guaranteed to be a noteworthy affair.<\/p>\n

Another local product of the thriving Brooklyn music scene started things off shortly after 8 p.m. Zongo Junction, an up and coming eight-piece Afrobeat band, delivered several smooth flowing instrumental songs highlighted by some impressive percussion work and a mustachioed bassist who resembled a young and spry Frank Zappa. The opening act later brought on a female vocalist to add another element to their steady groove based music.<\/p>\n

Then it was time for the main course in the form of Arleigh Kincheloe (Sister Sparrow) and her seven Dirty Birds which includes her brother Jackson on harmonica who complemented the group\u2019s blaring brass section all night with a string of rousing harmonica solos. Amidst the sounds of nearby 7-10 splits and a hungry Brooklyn Bowl crowd, the group first went through a number of originals that served as a showcase for Kincheloe\u2019s powerful singing voice that rested on top of a bed of aggressive and cohesive funk rock.<\/p>\n

Once the originals were out of the way, a certain distinctive \u201cHey, Hey Momma\u201d followed and The Birds were off and running with their \u2018dirty\u2019 take on Led Zeppelin IV. The rest of \u2018Black Dog\u2019 was played to perfection and \u2018Rock and Roll\u2019, which followed, gave the three piece horn section another chance to shine in this uptempo rocker. One of the true highlights of the show was the justice that the band did to perhaps the most well known song on the album, \u2018Stairway to Heaven\u2019. The group moved deftly though the slow, emotional beginning sections and seamlessly progressed to the frenetic finish that\u2019s the signature of this classic number. In doing so, the group managed to mold the song into something different by spinning it with their version of soulful and heartfelt rock.<\/p>\n

Sister Sparrow and her Dirty Birds continued to go through each track on the album and give the increasingly rabid Brooklyn Bowl crowd a new taste on some old classics. The group continued to show off their musical chops with a fun take on the ending of Paul Simon\u2019s \u2018Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes’ that was placed right in the middle of a memorable \u2018Misty Mountain Hop\u2019. With a legendary full album cover now in the books, the Zeppelin tribute carried on with \u2018D\u2019yer Mak\u2019er\u2019 serving as an encore of sorts before the group left the stage to a hearty standing room only ovation.<\/p>\n