Say hello to Emily Sparks. Actually, I mean to say, "Meet Bridget Mullen who
performs under the name Emily Sparks." But then, don't fuss about her too much.
She's leaving us real soon. Yeah, it's sad, and maybe a little confusing.
Bridget has been hanging in and around the Providence and White Electric
scenes for a while now, picking up a thing or two from the guys in Purple Ivy
Shadows, building confidence in her ability to write and perform. In fact, her
progress has been considerable -- her wings have grown strong enough for this
bird to fly. After a month-long tour to support her new album, What Could
Not Be Buried, Bridget will be heading down to Georgia -- Athens, to be
specific -- where she will make a follow-up album. From there, she heads to the
Left Coast. But she's not running from Downcity because she has suffered
miserably in its clutches. She's sad about leaving. "I just feel like
Providence has been so amazing," she says, genuinely. "It's a real community of
cool people that are supportive of each other. My friends in music have been
good friends to me, and they're always really excited about whatever I'm doing.
It was really good for my confidence."
Bridget compares Providence favorably to Boston, where she spent some time
before moving south. "In Boston everything was so competitive I felt like there
wasn't much support. But here I got further faster because of all the great
people."
Bridget started in Providence by playing open mikes at the Custom House. "I
was shy and nervous getting over that." Soon, though, Frank Mullen from PIS
took the upstart under his own wing. "He helped me record my demos and he gave
them to the Wishing Tree label," she says. "Every little effort you make goes a
long way in Providence."
Wishing Tree is releasing What Could Not Be Buried nationwide.
(Remember, her stage name is Emily Sparks!) It's a sparse, riveting disc of
spooky neo-folk, haunted by Bridget's penchant for random, unexpected noise and
Wheat's Dave Auchenbach's anything-goes experimentation. "I basically told Dave
that I'd never recorded, but I really wanted him to do the kind of work he did
with Wheat. He told me to trust him and not to freak out about stuff. So I
didn't!"
Started in the spring of 2001 and finished in December of the same year, the
record is a brazen, courageously realized work for someone just beginning her
artistic development. "I guess I wasn't afraid to go out there and see what
happened," she says. "Dave would try this wild stuff and I'm making all these
crazy noises and the songs really began to take shape. I learned from bands
like Wheat that you shouldn't be afraid to go where the music takes you."
Now, the music is taking her away from us. Still, Mullen feels like she's
ready to make her own way in the world. "After making the record, I feel like I
can do anything I put my mind to," she says. "I've been lucky, which is
important. Now all I need to do is work hard and believe in myself -- put my
mind to it and get there."
Bridget as Emily Sparks will be playing her CD release party on Tuesday at
Julian's (318 Broadway, Providence) at 10 p.m. Arrive early, as it essentially
serves as the girl's going-away party, too!
KARI TIEGER'S FLYING "COLORS." It's an unusual way to commemorate 9/11,
but hey, that's what we'll be getting over the next few weeks as people reach
for different ways of expressing grief. Local musician Kari Tieger, who
performs in a trio setting and plies a blend of pop, classical, New Age, and
various other styles, found an interesting one. She was chosen to be one of 50
representatives to interpret a single song, "Colors," written by a guy named
Christopher Moon. Moon coordinated a project that involved sending a songwriter
from each state the lyrics to the same song. They were asked to interpret those
lyrics any way they wished. Each artist had 30 days to complete their
production and submit it. It'll be compiled into a 3-CD set, available online
at www.pro5.com/ colors. Says Tieger, "I joined `The Colors Project' because I
wanted to be part of something larger than myself and to make a statement about
peace and solidarity . . . in the wake of September 11." Go to karitieger. com
for more information.
WANDERING EYE. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the Hot Club will
present its annual Waterfront Concert shindig, and the lineups are strong on
local flavor. On Friday (the 6th), Young Neal, Ricky Valente, and
Loose Change play beginning at 5 p.m. Max Creek headlines. On
Saturday, No Shamus, Jon Tierney, and the Complaints take
the stage, with Black 47 headlining. And on Sunday, Duke
Robillard and the Dino Club rock the house, setting the stage for
show closer Al Kooper and the Funky Faculty. Admission is $5; partial
proceeds will benefit the Fox Point Boys &Girls Club.
Carrion will be throwing their CD release party on Saturday (the 7th)
at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel. The bill also includes Downpore,
Blindsided, Hired Goons, and Pray 4 Nothing. I'll have
more info on the Carrion disc once I get my hands on it. You might know that
the heavies have been doing pretty well lately, grabbing some local radio play,
which should give the disc a nice boost once it's out.
There's another mighty cool in-store happening next Tuesday (the 10th) at 3
p.m. at In Your Ear on Thayer Street in Providence. It features indie rock
heroes the Microphones appearing with Wolf Colonel and the
legendary Calvin Johnson (Beat Happening, the great K Records label,
blah, blah). As with the other in-stores, it's a free show. Get there early
'cuz you might find yourself listening from down the stairwell or out on the
sidewalk. (Hey, it'd be just like TRL!)
This Saturday (the 7th), Black & White will be at the world-famous
Blue Parrot down on the water in East Greenwich. There's also some muscular
R&B at the Blackstone up in Cumberland with the lovely and talented
Steve Smith and the Nakeds.
Rattlehead Records is putting on a big-ass punk show at the Living Room on the
7th. There will be two stages and lots of bands, accompanied by equal amounts
of sweat and suds. Looks like M-80 closes, with Wedgie,
the Crime Brothers, the Roachenders, the Last
Mission, Zombie By Day, Sea Monkey Stew, and Katie Lee
Hooker all pitching in. Should be a brawl; should be a blast.
Also on Saturday, the Blackstone River Theatre presents Cathie Ryan and
her band. She's one of the premier Irish singers on today's scene, with the
ability to sing traditionally or with a more modern flair. Highly recommended.
Show starts at 8 p.m. and costs $15. Book early by calling 725-9272 for tix.
On Sunday (the 8th), Fall River will be throwing its own Blues and Jazz
Fest, a one-day affair that'll run from noon to 9 p.m. at Heritage State
Park. The free event will feature styles from Dixieland to contemporary jazz.
Some local favorites will be on hand to complement some bands of national
prominence. Notably, the Dukes of Dixie and Dan Moretti's fine Latin
Jazz project Brazilia will play as well as ex-Roomful guys Loaded
Dice, who will wrap the night up.
On the same night a wee bit closer to home, you can catch another jazz show.
Pianist Joe Parillo and cellist Christine Harrington will
celebrate the release of their duet disc, Sand Box. The show begins at 6
p.m. at LaMoia Restaurant & Tapas Bar (292 Pocasset Avenue, Providence).
Tickets are $10. Call for info: 942-2505.
E-mail me with all of your music news at big.daddy1@cox.net.
Issue Date: September 6 - 12, 2002
