Dolly Varden With Anna Fermin's Trigger Gospel April 23, 2011

Dolly Varden is: Steve Dawson “ guitars, piano, vocals, Diane Christiansen guitars and vocals, Mark Balletto electric guitars, vocals, Mike Bradburn bass and vocals, Matt Thobe drums, vocals.

Within a couple tracks you know you're in the presence of a band at the height of their powers. This is what Gram Parsons called Cosmic American Music, an incongruous melting pot of country, r 'n' b, gospel, and good ol' rock. The best practitioners, like Dolly Varden, transcend their influences to make ingredients we know taste fresh again. Here, the 12-year old Chicago band carries on the legacies of Charlie Rich ("Sad Panda Clown's Lament") and the Grass Roots ("Everything") as much as dear Gram. Led by married songwriter-singers Diane Christiansen and Steve Dawson, their music has the inspired construction of The Raspberries, Bill Withers, The dBs and Nick Lowe. Irresistible melodies are bolstered by restrained pedal steel and constantly engaging studio twists.

Anna Fermin: singer, songwriter – a musical interpreter with the forthrightness and emotion in her songs that commands you to take notice and haunts you long after her melodies have left…

Inspired by a serenade from a young suitor, Anna Fermin had no choice: “I was so moved by this young man's serenade, intoxicated by the emotion of young love. I knew at that moment, I had to learn how to do exactly what was being done to me: move the soul with song.”

http://evanstonspace.com