Music
Press
The Tall Boys have a quiet, rootsy sound that's reminiscent of the Cowboy Junkies. Several of the ballads on their newest album, the self-released Shiny & New, all start with a sustaining chord—like the Junkies in their prime. As for Sarah Potenza herself, she's got a bad case of the Janis Joplins—recommended if you like Susan Tedeschi's more pop-oriented material. - Time Out Chicago Magazine
Sarah Potenza brought the house down with her bigger-than-life blues, the epitome of the phrase "man, does she have PIPES!" - static Multimedia
"She's got the goods"-Richard Milne 93WXRT - 93WXRT
There is no questioning the dedication of Sarah Potenza.
The bluesy voice of Sarah & The Tall Boys is so eager to hit the road with her band that rather than spending money on a honeymoon, she decided to buy a touring van instead.
"I thought that for all of the money we would spend on a one-time trip, we could put it to better use," Potenza said.
It helps that she is marrying her bassist and childhood friend Ian Crossman, who fully supported the idea. The band, which formed in 2007, also includes Dan Allen on guitar and David Sims on drums.
Sarah Potenza moved to Chicago from Rhode Island in 2003 to pursue her career as a musician. She thought she would only be here a year, but those plans have changed.
She has found Chicago to be a mixed-bag of blessings and hurdles. While there has been ample opportunities for her and the band to play, her band does not exactly fit into the popular indie-rock scene that the city champions.
"We are not considered cool or on the cutting edge," Potenza said. "We are really just about making good music."
Potenza grew up listening to a diverse group of artists ranging from Lucinda Williams and Dwight Yoakam to B.B. King and Bonnie Raitt. The music still influences her today, as her songs have hints of blues, country and folk.
"I just describe our music as Americana," she said. "Maybe someday I will do just a blues album or just a country album, but for now I think we have found a niche." - Chicago Tribune~ Red Eye
"Sensational blues infused vocal delivery. Soulful vocals take center stage. I'm a fan, and I'm very picky."~Taxi A&R company - TAXI A&R company
Sarah Potenza started out in Providence and headed to Chicago to start Sarah and the Tall Boys, where they hit the good old country-rock, with an emphasis on country and on Potenza’s outsized, pin-you-to-the-wall vocal chops. ~richard massimo - Providence Journal
Discography
"Eastside" single, Acoustic Chicago, stone cutter records 2007
Shiny & New, full album, self released, 2008
Photos
Bio
Sarah Potenza, born in 1980 in Providence, Rhode Island, spent much of her youth fascinated with the voices of Blues & Country musicians like Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, and Greg Allman.
In the late 90's Sarah attended Rhode Island College for a BA in Music. There, she studied Musical Theatre, Violin and Vocal Performance. It was not until 2002 that Potenza began to perform her own music. As a solo act she began honing her skills at a local bar called "The Custom House Tavern"
In 2003, Sarah moved to Chicago to persue her love of blues music. Potenza performed as a solo artist at some of Chicago's premiere venues such as House of Blues, The Metro, and the Double Door. In 2005 she met fellow musician Dan Orduff and together they began to form "The Sarah Potenza Band". In 2006 Sarah's original song The Eastside, was accepted on to Acoustic Chicago, a compilation of the cities top artists.
Since the release of Acoustic Chicago in 2007, Potenza has been putting together a new band, Sarah & the Tall Boys. The band includes her long time guitar player, Dan Orduff, her husband, Ian Crossman, and world-class blues drummer, David Sims.
In 2008 Sarah & the Tall Boys recorded their first album, Shiny & New. It is a self-released collection of original Americana. Since its release "Shiny & New" has received rave reviews from Time Out Chicago, The Reader, Red Eye, and Chicago Tribune. Sarah & the Tall Boys have been featured on internationally broadcast TV station WGN9, and Chicago radio stations 93WXRT, & WDCB 90.9. Playing shows such as The Taste of Chicago, Old Town School's Folk & Roots festival, Glenwood Arts Fest, Estrojam, House of Blues, Morse Theatre and many more, including a few shows on the east coast with great reviews from the Providence Journal. They have been honored by airplay on radio stations all across Europe in countries such as Poland, Italy, England, France, & Croatia. Most Saturday nights you can catch Sarah & the Tall Boys at The Underground Wonder Bar in downtown Chicago.
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