A-Sides with Jon Chattman: Sibling Thrivalry with The Secret Sisters and Baby Bee

A-Sides with Jon Chattman: Sibling Thrivalry with The Secret Sisters and Baby Bee
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

Growing up, my older sister and I used to record videos of ourselves performing with our respective Cabbage Patch Kids (street cred be damned) to parodies of TV shows we used to watch including Dynasty. I did a mean Dex Dexter. Anyway, as we got older, we both came to our senses and realized we weren't destined to act on the big or small screen. Heck, our on-camera workm wasn't worthy to be shown on the black-and-white Watchmen we used to have. In any event, two pairs of siblings headline today's A-Sides session, and unlike my sister and I, they've merged their natural-born talent and put them out into the universe for everyone to marvel at.

The Secret Sisters (Laura and Lydia Roger) are a country music duo who pack quite a vocal punch and demand your attention . They've been building toward mega-success over the past few years, and when their forthcoming sophomore album Put the Needle Down drops this summer, they'll likely reach it. After all, the record is produced by music royalty T Bone Burnett, and everything that guy touches is gold. "That's gold, Jerry!" I spoke with the enchanting Alabama girls on May 19 at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, hours before they took the stage for the final time supporting indie darlings Iron & Wine. See the performance and interview below, and catch them on the road this summer as they open for She & Him. Watch. Listen. Love.

"Bad Habit"

Interview

Like The Secret Sisters, Baby Bee is made up of two siblings who are making exhilarating music with swagger and substance. And like those Alabama offspring, Joe and David Stark had a giant in the music biz produce their album. Brendan O'Brien, whose work with Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, and Neil Young (to name a few) helped define generations, produced the brothers' four-song EP entitled The Shaker, a wonderfully genre-bending work that's a little bit rock, and a lot a bit blues, with a touch of Southern soul. Their first single "High Heel Leather Boots" has already gotten traction - it's been an iTunes "Single of the Week," and is currently the theme music behind a Showtime ad campaign that promotes their original shows.

The Bees buzzed (see what I did there?) at an A-Sides session filmed at the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains, NY late last month. Witness them kick your ass below with a unique rendition of "Leather Boots," and watch a quirky interview afterwords. Yes. Oh yes.

"High Heel Leather Boots"

Interview

About asidesmusic.com
Jon Chattman's "A-Sides Music" series usually features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometimes humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, I'm hoping this is refreshing. Support A-Sides' Kickstarter campaign here!

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot