Po' Girl w/JT Nero at The Carleton Music Bar & Grill - Sunday, March 21st & Monday, March 22nd - 9 PM - $20
Without doubt, one of my favourite shows last year - hands down - was Po' Girl; partly because it was such a surprise. I don't often find myself booking an act I've never heard of but that's what happened with them. One listen to their new (at the time) album, Deer In The Night, and I was hooked. I figured that even if no one else had heard of them either, at least I might introduce some folks to the band...
Duh, of course other people had heard of them! Enough of them to sell the place out in advance at least. And once the band started playing! Wow, such beautiful, soulful sounds. I am so stoked to have them back again. They are almost the perfect band for The Carleton, if there's any such thing as true perfection.
As if Po' Girl wasn't enough, they are touring the U.S. and Canada with Chicago's JT Nero as an opening act. Holy smokes! It turns out that guy is also extraordinary! This is stacking up to be the show of the year, mark my words.
They'll hit our stage on Sunday, March 21st and Monday, March 22nd. Tickets are only $20. My advice is get them soon, very soon...
Check out this YouTube video of JT Nero and Po' Girl performing JT's song, Sam Cooke. Brilliant...
Here's the press release for some more information on the "No Shame" tour.
It's a new decade and Canadian Urban Roots band Po'Girl is getting proactive! Alli Russell, Awna Teixeira, Benny Sidelinger, and Mikey "Lightning" August are taking the new show on the road in the USA and Canada throughout February and March for the "No Shame Tour".
Po' Girl will be raising money to benefit the National Children's Alliance http://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org in the USA and Little Warriors http://www.littlewarriors.ca in Canada. Partial proceeds of all Po'Girl merchandise sales from their shows will be donated to these groups. Allison Russell of Po'Girl will also be fund raising by collecting donations in support of her running the Athens, Ohio marathon on April 11, 2010 at the conclusion of the "No Shame Tour". One hundred percent of these donations will go to benefit the two child abuse prevention organizations. It's all a part of following their bliss....
Russell is the survivor of ten years of sexual abuse at the hands of her adopted father. She wrote the song "No Shame" in 2006 when she found out that he had been released from prison. Po'Girl recorded "No Shame" on their critically acclaimed album Deer in the Night in 2009. "No Shame" was featured on the radio program The Vinyl Cafe in May 2009. Host Stuart Mclean wrote a beautiful piece about the song and Alli's history; the reception from listeners was overwhelming.
Says Russell, "Stuart's piece and the response to it, gave me the idea that perhaps I could be more actively using my past misfortune and our music to increase awareness and dialogue about the endemic issue of child abuse in North America. Whatever I can do to prevent what happened to me from happening to others, that's what I have to do. It's my responsibility as a survivor. Not everyone is so lucky."
Hailing originally from Canada, Po’Girl weave a blend of musical influences, sweetness, grit & soul into their fresh and original sound. Since the band's birth in Vancouver, BC in 2003 they've been winning devoted and growing numbers of fans across 4 continents and 13 countries with their powerful, passionate and spirited live show. The interplay between Alli, Awna, Benny,and Mikey "Lightning" is truly something to behold. They are distinct voices with incredible harmonies; multiple instrumentalists who bring the perfect sound to each song and songwriters who pen poetic tunes you'll find yourself humming. They'll be heading to Europe for a two month tour of the Netherlands, the UK, and Ireland after the "No Shame Tour". Catch them while you can!
Their latest release, "Deer in the Night" still includes many of the trappings of the trademark Po' Girl sound - the echoes of speakeasy jazz, the western lament, the accordion-strapped ghosts of European folk - but it's all delivered with a soulful clarity and depth only hinted at on previous records. They have also recently released a live album, Po' Girl Live that captures the energy and spirit of the live show, complete with special guests JT and the Clouds.
Po'Girl is spending January recording a new album, "Follow Your Bliss" in Chicago, IL. "Follow Your Bliss" will be released in Europe in May and in North America in June.
“Their uplifting take on American Folk music, combining it with Jazz, roots and a little bit of pretty much everything else, has the ability to put a smile on anyone’s face.” – Glasgow Americana Festival
"With enough sultry ambiance to be at home in either cocktail lounge or New Orleans street corner, Po' Girl's sentiment never feels forced, the lyricism never cliche or false. They manage to maintain that traditional and nostalgic sound while the breathing fresh life into an old-fashioned genre."- Rolling Stone Magazine
"Po' Girl is rough and smooth, sweet and tart, and would be huge stars in that super-cool alternate universe I've always wanted to live in." - John Schlotfelt, Little Village Magazine
