They're not yet fifteen, but The Church Sisters, Sarah (mandolin, harmony vocals) and Savannah (lead vocals), have already shared the stage with some of their musical heroes, including Rhonda Vincent and The Isaacs.
A glance at the track listing for Farther Along, their self-released debut CD, makes their musical influences obvious -- Vincent, The Isaacs, the O Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack. Beyond that, The Church Sisters never wear their influences on their sleeves. Their sound is unique and straight from the heart -- a sound that's impossible to mistake for anyone else's.
With crisp, capable backing that emphasizes guitar rather than banjo (not always true for The Church Sisters' live shows), the sister duo has crafted a CD that lets their voices shine, and mixes down-home mountain gospel with modern southern gospel licks and blues.
Classic Hymns, Mountain Gospel, and Contemporary Bluegrass Gospel Songs
Despite their youth, The Church Sisters have learned the secret to making old favorites new again -- soul. Their technique and their still-maturing voices may occasionally falter, but their performances radiate authenticity; They mean every word they sing.
Heartfelt delivery and understated arrangements are crucial to making old chestnuts like "Farther Along," "Amazing Grace," "I'll Fly Away," and The Stanley Brothers' "Angel Band" come alive. The unadorned style almost begs an audience to sing along.
They're just as skilled at giving exciting, driving performances, as their versions of "I Am Weary (Let Me Rest)" and "Keep on the Sunnyside" attest. The standout performance on a CD full of standouts is Andrae Crouch's "Through It All," a luminous duet and a confession of faith that brims with the pain of trials and the vulnerability that comes with trusting Jesus through the pain.
The sisters' musical integrity is particularly evident on two numbers from the Isaacs' catalog. Both "I'm Gonna Move" and "If That Don't Make You Wanna Go" are given a down-home feel that's more little mountain church house than uptown southern gospel, although these arrangements contain elements of both.
Farther Along With a Talented Sister Duo
Farther Along is bookended by two old hymns that are nonetheless neglected in the bluegrass canon. Claude Ely's "Ain't No Grave" mixes bluesy guitar with a contemporary bluegrass vocal. "Nothing But the Blood," a stark, a capella version of the Robert Lowry hymn, fuses old-time style and contemporary licks, proclaiming The Church Sisters' flair for brave musical choices and an exciting future for both the band and its fans.
The Church Sisters. 2011. The Church Sisters. June 21, 2011.
Americana Rhythm Music Magazine. January/February 2009. Issue #21. Bridgewater, Virginia.
Diane Amov - Bluegrass singer/songwriter and classically-trained flautist who has written on bluegrass and American roots music since 2005.
