Melbourne up and comers TheSparrows spread their wings

Sun 10th Sep, 2006 in Features

Melbourne alt-rock four-piece The Sparrows have been generating a strong national groundswell as one of our most promising emerging young bands. They have recently confirmed a run of upcoming shows opening for the likes of INXS and Jimmy Barnes. These impressive support slots are an indication of the increasing hype that surrounds the band.

The origins of The Sparrows can be traced back to the high school friendship of singer/guitarist Michael Badger and bassist Tim Wheatley. Early attempts at taming the rock tiger proved unsuccessful until guitarist Dylan Boyd and drummer Brett Wolfenden were lured into the fold. Badger enthuses, “Probably just about any band in the country would like Brett on the drums.” The boys soon began to polish their live chops with a liberal dusting of gigs around the traps, and before long they had garnered a heaving throng of loyal followers who would chant the lyrics of their songs back at them. Badger mused at the time, “It was really a surprise when it first started happening and even more surprising that it keeps happening. Now we have people coming up to us in the street saying ‘I saw you play’ and it’s like ‘How’d you hear about our band? We’re not even on the radio yet!’ and it feels pretty good. That’s one of the things I’m looking forward to the most – to be driving in the car, turning on the radio, and we’re there.”

His wish came true. The combination of heavy gigging and the release of The Sparrows’ eponymous debut EP earned them airtime on stations such as Triple J and Nova. The EP has been widely praised by national press, in particular how the band maintains and extols the loose and irreverent ethos of rock ‘n’ roll while mastering a sound and delivery so tight and crisp. Unafraid to show their roots, they have been compared to blues influenced rock bands stemming from the 60s and 70s such as Humble Pie, The Rolling Stones, The Faces and Free. Badger enthuses, ‘Those comparisons are fine by me! The thing about bands like Humble Pie is that their songs are timeless. You can listen to them now and the songs still hit you. That’s all that any band can hope for.”

The EP was released over a year ago now, and Boyd has departed The Sparrows since then due to creative differences. “He just didn’t have the same drive that we did – he didn’t understand where we were going musically.” After much deliberation he was ultimately replaced by acclaimed six-stinger Vinny Daniele.

Badger, who penned all the songs on the EP, is eager to convey the extent to which The Sparrows have grown and developed musically in the past year. “We’re doing lots of different things now. We actually want to capture a sound and a feeling that is more free-flowing and anarchic. We’ve got some really intense jam sessions recorded that we’d love to bring out.”

The guys have a venerable live history. Since the release of the EP, The Sparrows have launched a potent assault up the east coast, snaring spots at premier events such as the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival and the Apollo Bay Festival. Playing live shows is what excites and gratifies Badger the most. “It’s the intent of the band that keeps everyone going, and it’s what turns the crowd on as well.”

The striking tracks on the EP are tasty and satisfying morsels of musical possibility. Spirited lead track ‘Where Do You Wanna Go’ headed The Sparrows’ radio coup, consolidated by the wistful country dirge of ‘About My Game’ and the thrust of closer ‘Heroin Boy’.

With plans to drop their debut long player in the not too distant future, The Sparrows are poised to flaunt their musical ingenuity to a greater audience, and demonstrate to their more seasoned followers the fluid and dynamic nature of their creative beast.

The Sparrows self-titled debut EP is out now via Sony BMG. Gig information can be located at www.myspace.com/thesparrowsband or www.thesparrows.com.au