Music
Press
If Saddle Creek is ever looking to add an indie-punk outpost they ought to check out this Edmonton quartet, who already sound like Conor Oberst in a really pissy mood. But Oberst would do well to exchange self-absorbed emo for pissiness every now and again, and that's the point of the Sparrows: strangely wholesome rock that's properly angry.
- Editors Pick
Not exactly subtle in their delivery, Edmonton's Jay Sparrow and band play whiskey-soaked "Texas punk" odes to their own demons. On their new album recorded at Willie Nelson's own studio, the Sparrows mix the red-headed stranger's storytelling with plenty of fire and energy. - Evan Davies
This band just might be the biggest thing to come out of this town since our monstrosity of a mall. - University of Alberta
It is indeed a unique sound Jay has come up with. It’s emotional, dramatic rock, an extension of Jay’s folk background. - Thunder Bay Ontario
The six new songs are heavy hitting slabs of rock and roll. Really heavy. Hurt-like-hell-when-you-get-hit-by-them heavy. And these guys didn’t bother to pretty up their sound with a bunch of overdubs, either. They just blast through the tracks with a practically lethal energy - Edmonton
“Burn in Water” exists as a murderous groove, with stomping guitars and rattling drums.
“House of the Dawn” is where the Sparrows pull everything together in a song that lives up to their energy with another groove to kill for…
- Edmonton
Burn in water is one of the catchiest, coolest sounding songs on Sonic 102.9. - Jason Manning Music Director
(Murder City Sparrows) A professional hit-making band that could blow up huge given the opportunity. - Mike Ross
Sparrow has figured out how to write a hit song - a gift so powerful...it doesnt matter what you label it: Post Punk, Retro-rock, whatever. - Mike Ross, Entertainment Writer
The four Sparrows could make a bit of history of their own. Their single, Burn in Water, is now getting regular airplay on Sonic FM and has radio hit written all over it - perhaps making them the first locals with a legitimate shot at national airplay. It's catchy as the flu - with bouncy rhythms, raw, bluesy guitars and Sparrow's quivering warbles reminiscent of the Violent Femmes and Jack White. - Sandra Sperounes
Discography
Self Titled EP - 2005
New Record to be Released 08 Titled "Dead Horse Disco"
Photos
Bio
Not exactly subtle in their delivery, Edmonton's Jay Sparrow and band play whiskey-soaked "Texas punk" odes to their own demons. On their new album, produced by Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar fame and recorded at Willie Nelson's own studio in Austin Texas, the Sparrows mix the red-headed stranger's storytelling with plenty of fire and energy.
-Evan Davies NOW magazine/Toronto
Some Band History:
- The band formed in late 2004 and began some song development with Jeff Martin (Tea Party) at METALWORKS Recording Studio in Toronto.
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- The recordings generated a buzz in the Alberta music scene landing a headlining spot at the Winspear Centre for the music festival “The Verge”. This is where they caught the attention of 1700 fans and the show’s host Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar.
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- With Gordie on board as their producer, the band went into the studio to begin pre-production of their debut “Self Titled” E.P.
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- In spring of 2005 the band went to Austin, Texas to record the E.P. with Gordie at Willie Nelson’s famed Pedernales studio.
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- Before the first single was even released MCS did a Western Canadian tour supporting Gordie Johnson’s new band Grady. This tour included a showcase for the Western Canadian Music Awards. During this tour they also did a support set for 54-40 and had the Rolling Stones in their audience. This also created a large amount of press for the band.
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- The band released their first single “Burn in Water” while being featured as “Band of the Month” for Edmonton’s Modern Rock station SONIC 102.9FM. “Burn in Water” stayed on SONIC’s Top 10 list for over twelve weeks. This is the only single from a local band to achieve that status while holding their ground against Red Hot Chili Peppers and Gnarls Barkley.
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- The music video for “Burn in Water” was added to light rotation on MUCH Music, heavy rotation on MUCH LOUD, and ROGERS ON DEMAND. The video was also regularly featured on MUCH Music’s program “Going Coastal”. Radio stations across the country also began adding the single putting it in the top 40 for Canadian Modern Rock.
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- While on tour to support “Burn in Water” MCS played a showcase to a packed crowd at Vancouver’s Media Club for New Music West. There they won the “Future Superstars” award from the festival organizers.
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- Continuing on the success of “Burn in Water” MCS traveled to Toronto for the NXNE music conference. Playing at the Bovine Sex Club for a sold out crowd of rowdy fans and major label A&R, they were listed as a festival highlight in Toronto’s NOW magazine as well as national magazine DOSE.
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- In July MCS was added to the bill for Edmonton’s first 10 day music festival called EDfest. They shared the stage of the 8000 seat outdoor venue with Magneta Lane and Hedley.
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- After receiving a VideoFact grant, the band shot the video for their second single “Hammer Click” in Washington D.C. During the shoot they shut down 1000 Pennsylvania Ave to shoot performance footage in front of the J. Edgar Hoover F.B.I Headquarters.
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- From there MCS hurried back to Alberta to open the main stage at Canada’s largest Campus Music Festival, Ookfest (9000 people). They shared the main stage with bands Yellowcard, Thornley and Metric.
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- Prior to the radio release of “Hammer Click” the video was chosen as one of VideoFact’s Top 10 of the year along with the Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts and Bedouin Soundclash.
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- Shortly after that the video was added to MUCH music in Medium rotation and also to MUCH LOUD in Heavy rotation.
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- During promotion for the Hammer Click single, Jay was invited to do a “LIVE at XM radio” session in Toronto. This was broadcast numerous times to XM’s 6 million active users worldwide. XM has been a constant supporter of the band, even using the bands experiences as a platform to explain the possibilities of satellite radio to the CRTC.
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- MCS has shared the stage with other bands such as Danko Jones, Mobile, Stabilo, Idle Sons, Theory of a Deadman, Armchair Cynics.
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- The band was asked to record a Christmas song for an up-coming feature on Edmonton’s SONIC 102.9. They did a half hour live show with a studio audience featuring some new material.
- MCS was nominated for 2 AMPIA(Alberta Motion Picture Industry Association) awards in spring 07 for their videos: Hammer Click & Burn in Water.
-The band has finished their follow up, full length release and has recently been awarded a grant from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. They have used this grant to film a video for a new single to be released in conjunction with summer tour plans.
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