Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds Saturday April 12 at Founders Brewery

A working band spends weeks on end driving around in the van. Differences among the inhabitants occasionally pile up with the miles.

Arleigh Kincheloe (aka Sister Sparrow) lead singer of Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds says she was the smallest and youngest in her brood on the Catskill mountainside in Delaware County, New York. There were only 38 students in Kincheloe’s graduating class from Roxbury Central High School. The very same 38 who were there since kindergarten.

“You can’t just hide or go make another friend in a small town like that,” Kincheloe said. “You couldn’t just avoid someone who annoys you. That taught me you have to work out your problems immediately. You can’t become an introvert and go inside yourself.”

Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds bring their own brand of extroverted rhythm & blues dance music to Founders on Saturday.

With such spunky vocal talent at her disposal, Kincheloe could have started any kind of horn-based band she wanted but went with funk in the end.

“I like this type of music because it best fits my voice,” Kincheloe said. “Plus it’s a lot of fun to get out there and do it.”

Kincheloe grew up in a musical family (her brother Jason is a Dirty Bird). She was nine when she started singing in her Dad’s cover band. Having lived the cover band existence already, so to speak, it wasn’t hard for Kincheloe realize she was going to have to do her own thing to make her way.

“If you’re doing covers you’re not going to stand out, period, and I wanted to stand out,” she said. “I play my own material because if you don’t you’re not going to make it.” 

Kincheloe says the Sister Sparrow band defies categorization by traversing vital musical terrain. Genre-free by choice if you will. 

“I think it’s easier to stick to a single genre in the bluegrass or folk realm,” Kincheloe said “But if you’re performing with a touring band you better know a variety of styles.”

Coming from a family where the kids were born in close order Kincheloe learned early how to get along, a helpful tact when on the road with the guys—and some fellow male musicians and club owners.

“It can be tough out here,” Kinchloe said. “We all sacrifice a lot to do this. And occasionally I’m reminded that, yes, I am a girl. But you learn how to get through it and keep going.”

Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds (from NY) wsg Tokyo Morose, 9:30, April 12, Founders Brewing 235 Grandville Ave SW, 49503

Sister Sparrow on the webosphere: Sister Sparrow www