DBT #393 Songa - From duo, to Trio, to String Band
Recently I got word a favorite duo is evolving to a string band, which brought me back to a wonderful 2021 release, and now I am excited to share both a review and the news. I met Sherry & Mario Friedel as Songa during the On-line only 2020 Great River Folk Fest songwriter contest; where they won "Fan Favorite."
After the pandemic, I met them at the fest as attendees, helped get them a spot in the lineup the next year, and enjoyed them playing at the local dance hall Leo & Leonas. They are in person what they sound like in their videos and music, loving & talented musicians. Yes they have a flair for happy and innovation since Sherry is a music educator and Mario while a retired principal these days has a pedigree of playing music with Jimmy Buffett and John Hiatt. Yes two legends in my mind.
While the album cover above shows a trio, Songa has really been a duo most of their recent touring. They did add a wonderful third voice and mandolin and put out this little sampler video. Yes they are covering Tom Petty and Linda Ronstadt songs, as well as an original penned by Mario.
Now they are about to play the Heyde Center on Tuesday Feb 17th as the Flambeau Jambo String Band and look who they have on FIDDLE!
None other than Kat who toured with Good Morning Bedlam. Touring with GMB is quite an adventure and she was found many a time jumping and dancing while playing fiddle. Pretty sure she's settled down with Sherry and Mario since she now goes by Katherine; but that uber talent is still there. Just enjoy her skills in this video I got at the Great River Folk Fest.
No matter what you call the five piece group, they will be an eclectic mix of country, bluegrass, blues and traditional covers reimagined and sprinkled with some originals. I've been told songs by U2, Prince, and Mike the Mechanics are in the set list.
Some of the sprinkling of originals may come from 2021 EP filled with songs Mario and Sherry penned while during the pandemic shutdown. So let's have a listen:
1) Sunshine in the Rain
I love what I wrote in my snippet in Bandcamp, "If they can't make you smile in a rain storm, you should have yourself checked for a new heart." The studio version has all the right textures and a nice harmonica lead. Yes, I'm believing that I can bring sunshine in the rain.
Here's their official video:
2) Louise Drive
Mario takes the lead on a nice bluegrass ride and has such a tasteful fiddle on the recording.
As I do for any review, if there's a video out there for a song; I'm sharing it. Here we are back again with just the duo. I love the contrast.
3) Love is on the Line
Sherry takes the lead on a foot stomper; I love the harmonies at the chorus. Minus the drums I would think this song really is the best example of what I expect from their five piece band. (Of course nothing against Jimmy Herman's fiddle playing, I just think Kat will step it up a notch.)
4) To The Good
A contemplative song of hope trying to cope in this world, and I need to remember to put this song in a future eyes playlist. I'm a sucker for brown eyes, and this was written for their brown eyed daughter when she graduated in 2020.
5) The Big Easy
YES a great cajun beat, as Mario takes lead while Sherry picks up the melodica. (Leave it to a music teacher to be a master of one of those.)
6) Olive Branch to Olive Green
As Mario notes, "Dedicated to the memory of Jim Brown and Tom Shaw, and all those who served in Vietnam."
This is a haunting song from haunted days. This song also is unique on the EP since it was recorded in a different session in Oshkosh.
Yes they have a very tasteful video for this song too.
Yes I know I need to do more of these reviews for me and the world because it slows me down and listen to each song over slowly with undivided attention.
Next steps besides getting out to see Songa String Band or Flambeau Jambo String Band would be too:
- Stop over to the Review page to my other most spinned and loved albums.
- Browse the rest of the blogs by stopping at this "Theme Page."
- Enjoy Tune Tuesday which brings you one song from a past blog post.
- See what other post have been most popular recently with our Stats Page.
- Find out who in the world thinks he has the authority to write this blog in the About.
- Let me answer why you won't find the playlists on Spotify here.
- Finally, the Mission page explains why there is no advertising cluttering the page.
If you use Facebook, we have a page "Like" us there and it will help you remember to read the next post
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