Music
Press
Relaxed and shuffling, sugared and spirited, The Johnny Starlings have a vintage music sound that would be equally at home in an upscale urban venue, a vaudeville stage, a gazebo on a lazy humid day in Georgia, or a barn on the verge of collapse in Any-Old-Farm-Town, USA. While so many clamor to top the bandwagon of boutique chamber pop, these players take longer, slower strides and cross the street toward early jazz and popular music from the beginning of the 20th century, avoiding use of words and turns of phrase that haven't been worn through from years of overuse.
A distinctly American sound, there's at least one song on this record for residents of every corner of the country: slow bebop for folks from the glittering streets of New York, sunny pop for sun bathed Californians, cup of hot chocolate and blankets by the fire for snow-bound Minnesotans, and a teeny bit of twang for Texas. - CD Baby
Aiming Too High is a breezy, sometimes jangly, always engaging collection of popnuggets filled with jazz, roots and folk hooks--songs that get under your skin no matter how jaded you might be.
-Glen Starkey, The New Times - New Times
After listening to this CD, you’ll understand why ex-Beatle George Harrison was a huge ukulele fan. When used in contemporary rock and folk, the uke offers an uplifting, happy-go-lucky feel.
Singer/songwriter/ukulele player Jody Mulgrew is the front man of this eclectic band. But on this CD the multi-instrumentalist has plenty of help from talented band mates and session players. Clarinet and sax players offer an old-timey jazz sound (think Hearst Castle during its prime) to songs like “Aiming Too High” and “And So My Love (Reprise).”
Vocalist Inga Swearingen offers background help on two folk numbers. And Damon Castillo drummer Jennings Jacobsen provides the beat for “Break Up the Band,” a fun song that recalls the late Harry Nilsson.
-Patrick Pemberton - The Tribune, San Luis Obispo
as it appeared in the OC Weekly September 26th, 2008
Fly Away
The Johnny Starlings
It's hard to be a throwback to anything without sounding downright hokey. Hailing from the unlikely town of Morro Bay, the Johnny Starlings manage to avoid the potential cheese factor of their undeniably vintage, old-America sound. It's the genuine sweetness and charm prevalent in every note that gets this group going, keeping them well away from the "novelty act" label. With a slightly vaudeville nuance, front man Johnny croons with a silvery voice, taking listeners back to generations past and simpler times with his heart-warming lyrics. Highly recommended for fans of lemonade drinking, porch sitting, parasols and catching fireflies on a balmy summer night.
-Erin Dewitt - OC Weekly
Discography
Aiming too High--2006
Be My Baby Bright (EP)--2007
Photos
Bio
"Jody Mulgrew writes gentle, swaying, heart-on-your-sleeve love songs full of charm, character, and utterly devoid of guile. His is a delightful fusing of the 20s-era crooner with the earnest, cheerful good humor of the coffeehouse folkie. A contagion of smile-mania erupts whenever he
takes the stage...
He is flatout the best young singer songwriter in town at the moment."
-- SF Folk Music Club/SF Hootenanny (San Francisco, CA)
Jody was raised in (and currently resides in) a tiny town about 100 miles up the California coast from Santa Barbara. After studying Vocal Jazz and Classical Voice and touring the U.S. and Europe with award-winning vocal ensembles, he formed old-time-americana outfit The Johnny Starlings with friend and collaborator Yohei Shikano.
The group released "Aiming Too High" (2006) and "Be My Baby Bright" (2007), and Jody has since heard his songs performed on "A Prairie Home Companion" (by the talented Miss Inga Swearingen) and enjoyed the warm reception of his music in music halls, on make-shift stages in sunny fields, and in dark, cozy rooms up and down the coast of California. He performed more than a hundred dates in 2008 and is currently preparing an album of new solo material, with the help of his friends and band-mates, to be released later in 2009.
Praise for the Johnny Starlings:
"The Johnny Starlings were a true highlight of the Live Oak Music Festival. Jody Mulgrew's sweet and magnetic voice, supported by such able musicians, captured our audience -- evoking smiles, tears, and a long line at the CD booth."
-- Marisa Waddell, Entertainment Coordinator, Live Oak Music Festival
(Santa Barbara, CA).
"It's hard to be a throwback to anything without sounding downright hokey. Hailing from the unlikely town of Morro Bay. The Johnny Starlings manage to avoid the potential cheese factor of their undeniably vintage, old-American sound. It's the genuine sweetness and charm prevalent in every note that gets this group going, keeping them well away from the "novelty act" label.
"With a slightly vaudeville nuance, front man Jody Mulgrew croons with a silvery voice, taking listeners back to generations past and simpler times...Highly recommended for fans of lemonade drinking, porch sitting, parasols and catching fireflies on a balmy summer night."
-Erin DeWitt, OC Weekly
That sound continues to draw in music lovers of all ages and
--Earned the "Earth Day Unplugged" featured artist award at the 2008 South Coast Earth Day Festival (Santa Barbara's biggest Earth Day event)
--Established Jody and the Johnny Starlings as a crowd favorite at the 2007 Live Oak Music Festival
Jody was Selected as a finalist for the Austin Songwriters Contest 2008
--Chosen as a Showcase Artist for the 2009 Durango Songwriter's Expo
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