If You Haven’t Heard About The Sunday Sinners...
By Paul Brown
http://www.cjlo.com/magazine

There has been much talk about the current music scene in Montreal, but it is usually from people who don’t live here and who tend to catch onto bands after they have already built up a following outside the city. As for the bands that are still building a local following, they tend to be forgotten by say, oh I don’t know, large music industry magazines from America and big New York City newspapers. The truth is, there are way more bands in Montreal making incredible music than the ones Spin or the New York Times mention. One example of a great overlooked band is The Sunday Sinners. They still don’t get a lot of press when the Montreal scene is written about, but are slowly making many converts every time they set up their instruments and play.

Led by the golden voice of Jenna Roker, the Sunday Sinners are quickly becoming one of the best rock n’ soul bands anywhere, nevermind Montreal. Joining her in the band are Missy (guitar), Annie (farfisa), Chantale (drums) and the newest member, Dan (bass). The fact that you can see them right now for $5 - $10 a show in small bars around Montreal is a treat that should not be wasted.

Harking back to an era when the Stones were putting out a single every few weeks, or when Ike & Tina took other people’s songs and made them their own, the Sunday Sinners play like what you’d expect to hear at some juke joint in Mississippi: raw soul. With Annie making the farfisa swirl around the room while the rhythm section of Chantale and Dan keeping your feet stomping and butt shaking, the people filling the sardine can that is usually the front of the stage, can’t help but get taken away by the music. Add Missy and Annie’s harmonies and it becomes clear that they are destined for bigger rooms and a bigger part of the next article from any US paper or magazine.

The March 25th show at Barfly taught me a few new things about the band that I have been ranting about for the past six months. Having seen the band a few times previously, one thing that really stood out to me this time was their ability to overcome the adversity of a few technical problems that would destroy lesser bands. Having to stop the show a few times to figure out some problems with Jenna’s guitar, they were instantly able to get the crowd back as soon as they resumed playing. Truly rockin’ versions of Sugar Pie Desanto’s “Mama Didn’t Raise No Fool”, The Staple Singers “Are You Sure” and Muddy Waters “I Just Want To Make Love To You” mixed effortlessly with original songs, proof that this band is far from just another rock n’ roll cover band. The extended jam at the end of their final song was more than enough to make up for earlier technical mishaps.

Inevitably, there will be people who will want to compare them to other bands and try to look cool by name-dropping bands that may share the same influences as the Sunday Sinners. However, as anyone who sees this band play knows, they are playing from their souls with the power to convert all doubters. What more can you ask for?

 

Contact : thesundaysinners@gmail.com
Go : myspace/thesundaysinners