Biography
The Spares make twangy, bluesy, roots music -- call it alt-country or Americana.
The Chicago duo writes and sings about characters in hard places whose stories hint at love and truth in ways that the characters themselves don't always recognize. Their lyrics are thoughtful and honest, just as their acoustic music is raw, beautiful, and compelling.
Jodee Lewis and Steve Hendershot formed The Spares in 2004. On the duo's second CD, 2007's Beautiful and Treacherous Thing, the pair shares songwriting duties on a collection of songs about the volatility, longing and worth of the heart. Smother Magazine made Beautiful & Treacherous Thing an Editor's Pick, saying "The band mixes alt-country twang with gritty roots rock and urbanized Americana for a sound somewhere in heaven between Gram Parsons and Alison Krauss." Country and roots magazine Maverick (UK) calls it "hauntingly gorgeous," and New City (Chicago) calls it "simple, aching, and hearty." It was a finalist for 2009 Americana Album of the Year in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards.
The Spares released their first CD, Hand Me Down, in 2005. Roots Music Report called the CD "one of the finest Roots Rock/Americana albums to be released" that year, and the lead song, "Mexico," was named "Best Song -- Country" for 2006 by the International Academy of Independent Artists.
Jodee and Steve are frequently joined in the studio and on the road by Troy Bartholomew on drums, Jason Reed on mandolin, and Doug Zylstra on bass.
Instrumentation
Jodee Lewis and Steve Hendershot: vocals and guitars.
The Spares also play as a trio, with Jason Reed joining us on mandolin and vocals. We also often use a full band with bass, drums and an electric guitar.
Discography
Now That It's Burning (2009) —A download-only album of live performances.
Beautiful and Treacherous Thing (2007)—A finalist for Americana Album of the Year in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards.
Glory and Grace (2007)—A collection of original sacred music
Hand Me Down (2005)—The song "Mexico" won "Song of the Year -- Country" at the Independent Artists Company's awards program.
Links
| http://www.thespares.net |
| The Spares on Facebook |
| The Spares on MySpace |