Dead Sara Performance Reviews

Dead Sara, News, Performance, Reviews No Responses »

Sep 282011

Dead Sara delivers at the Neptune in Seattle

Dead Sara’s Emily Armstrong live at the Neptune Theater in Seattle.

It’s a rare and wonderful thing when you get to see a band live that is so obviously destined for big things in the near future. Dead Sara is one of those bands.

Now we’re not much for gushing here at the American Rock Scene usually, but this past Thursday we got the chance to get our mind’s blown by Los Angeles-based Dead Sara, who opened for Bush at the Neptune in Seattle.

Coming into the show we were familiar with the band’s single “Weatherman”, 4-minutes, 24-seconds of music that hearkens back to the frenetic energy of early Jane’s Addiction.

Live, the band parlayed that energy into a electrifying set, amplified even further by lead singer Emily Armstrong’s aggressive, but versatile vocals and stage-as-a-jungle-gym-presence, as she used amps, road cases and the drum kit as launching pads during the set.

Musically the band finds balance with guitarist Siouxsie Medley driving the band with straight-ahead riffage, augmented with mood-enhancing flourishes. The bottom is ably held down by bassist Chris Null and drummer Sean Friday.

We think you’ll definitely be hearing more from this band, so if you get a chance to catch them live, don’t miss it!!!

AmericanRockScene.com

Photos: Dead Sara @ the Neptune

Dead Sara opened for Bush last Thursday night in Seattle with a performance at the Neptune Theater. The quartet from Los Angeles played a passionate set that got me totally into them immediately. My favorite song was “Lemon Scent,” with its awesome guitar riff. Actually all their songs had such great guitar work, and the vocals by Emily Armstrong knock you off your feet. I am waiting patiently for this band to return to Seattle. I also have to get pix of drummer Sean Friday, who was just out of view. This band is just so cool.

BlackBeatSeattle.com (See lots of photos here!)

DEAD SARA LIVE AT THE SLIDEBAR 9/4/11

I had the pleasure of seeing Dead Sara once again at the Slidebar in Fullerton last Sunday night!

There are a few bands that I can actually watch live more than 2-3 times before they just bore the f**k out of me! Dead Sara never bores me…. In fact it seems like they just keep sounding better and better! They are my favorite live act for sure and their album comes out October 11th. Trust me when I tell you to go buy it and you WILL like it! I have been lucky to hear most of it and have been blasting it at level 10 in my car as I drive around OC. It helps the drive but I get so pumped up I almost crash into people! This is how they were live on Sunday night. I know that might seem odd to understand but I do get pumped up when they play live. I need a chiropractor for my neck because I was head banging like a 14 year old seeing Metallica for the very first time! I think I spilled 3 beers all over myself and others in the crowd.

When you get a chance to hang with the Dead Sara they are extremely nice and very approachable. BUT…. when they get on stage and jump into songs like Test my Patience and Weather Man the band will kick your f**king ass into oblivion! That is how I can best describe them…. GO SEE THEM and BUY THEIR NEW CD when it comes out!

PunkRockers.com

Dead Sara Hemmingway’s Lounge in Hollywood

Los Angeles based rock group Dead Sara have created a strong following in the independent scene within the past year. After playing countless venues throughout southern California, the four-piece ensemble continuously delivers mesmerizing performances while gaining new fans at every show. The unpredictability and intense energy portrayed by the band instantly leave audiences desperately craving for more.

Dead Sara returned to Hemmingway’s Lounge in Hollywood where they filmed their latest music video “Sorry For It All.” The antique and history driven vibes from the venue proved to be too much to contain as they jumped back and forth on the small stage. Lead singer Emily Armstrong’s vocal range invoked passion and dedication with every note, delivering yet another breath taking performance. Her versatility continued while playing rhythm guitars and shrieking wildly into the microphone. Lead guitarist Siouxsie Medley’s calm demeanor provided the counter balance to Emily’s personality, fusing a solid on stage collaboration of force and power.

Although an official album has yet to be released, dedicated fans already had favorite songs to sing along to throughout the night. “Weatherman, We Are What You Say” and “Sorry For It All” had the audience shouting out the lyrics in unison with Emily. The wild and fast paced drumbeats Sean Friday released onto the crowd had Emily tossing and turning across the floor in desperation. Chris Null’s throbbing bass lines sent everyone in the front row into a head-banging trance accompanied by scattered fist pumps and loud cheers.

With radio waves oversaturated by repetitive music, Dead Sara comes across as a diamond in the rough. Their sound could easily be placed as a 90’s post grunge addition with a fast paced modern splash. They have the stage presence and live energy to explode at any moment. Their ambitious cravings and thirst more spotlights leaves them with one goal, “Tour the world and play your house party.” Dead Sara’s self-titled debut is scheduled for release this fall. The album is currently available for streaming off their website, with links to social medias sites. Dead Sara is a must see act, their contagious energy is destined for greener pastures. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to catch an up and coming act at a small venue.

LifeAbove11.com

Even More Rave Reviews For New Dead Sara Album

Album, Dead Sara, News, Reviews No Responses »

Sep 282011

“One thing becomes very clear upon listening to Dead Sara’s self-titled debut full length album: this band will not be flying under the radar for long. Fronted by lead singer/rhythm guitarist Emily Armstrong and lead guitarist Siouxsie Medley, the band has a distinct swagger and incendiary sound…Armstrong’s vocal range and quality are astonishing… One minute, she’s handling a soaring ballad with ease, and the next, she’s screaming with the white hot intensity of a thousand suns. Partner-in-crime Medley may not be the band’s frontwoman per se, but her guitar takes center stage alongside Armstrong’s riveting voice. She consistently brings the ruckus, laying down riff-after-memorable riff that form the basis for Dead Sara’s unmistakably heavy and haunting sound. …A rarity in today’s hard rock scene, Dead Sara exhibits a simultaneously polished yet raw and primal sound….Dead Sara is nothing short of a must listen for any hard rock fan.”
– Jason Shane, Antiquiet (Sep 28, 2011)

” Dead Sara brings to today’s rock what Heart and Joan Jett brought to yesterday’s rock. The female fronted duo of Emily Armstrong and Siouxsie Medley unleashes a gritty mix of rock, pop and soul. Their self-titled debut album, which drops October 11th, combines classic rock with a modern sound. Armstrong’s raspy vocals are a mix of Linda Perry and Janis Joplin, while the band behind her incorporates melodic riffs and seductive power chords. The rock anthem “I Said You Were Lucky” and the radio friendly “Weatherman” will catapult Dead Sara to the top of the music charts. If there is a lesson to be learned from what Heart and Joan Jett were able to accomplish, look for Dead Sara to do the same in today’s musical climate. ”
– Jason Tanamore, Zoiks! Online (Sep 10, 2011)

” Dead Sara’s one-two, estrogen packed punch of frontwoman Emily Armstrong and lead guitarist Siouxsie Medley is a force to be reckoned with, showcasing their wares time and time again on their self titled release…Dead Sara as a whole is a sight to behold, a record well deserved of a listen. Give it the chance; it will surprise you, plain and simple. ”
– Brian Campbell, Buffalo NY, Examiner (Sep 04, 2011)

“Armstrong’s vocals flawlessly blend an artful mixture of Melissa Etheridge and Joan Jett with, when tactically necessary, a potent dose of Janis Joplin thrown in for attention-commanding effect. Join those vocals with Siouxsie Medley’s solid guitar work, and you have the female juggernaut that makes up the heart and soul of Dead Sara.”
– Staff, BoomeroCity.com (May 01, 2011)

“Dead Sara IS Emily Armstrong (vocals/guitar), Siouxsie Medley (guitar/vocals), Chris Null (bass), Sean Friday (drums). Dead Sara IS not a pop band. Dead Sara IS all we want from a band and more. Dead Sara IS not “Chick Rock” They are a hard hitting, in-your-face, meat and potatoes rock and roll outfit from Southern California. Period! In a time of conformity and playing along with the mold makers who often times control what is entering the ears of the listening public, it is very refreshing to discover a band like this. They have shunned the advice of music executives who thought they needed a more “poppy” sound and stayed true to what they want to play and thank God! Here’s the message that Dead Sara proudly displays ” This is us, deal with it”! ”
– Glen Casebeer, American Rock Scene (Sep 13, 2011)

More Rave Reviews for Dead Sara Album

Album, Dead Sara, News, Reviews No Responses »

Sep 062011

“The quartet of Armstrong, guitarist Siouxsie Medley, Chris Null and Sean Friday announced their presence as one of L.A.’s prime hard-rock contenders earlier this year, and their forthcoming album (due Oct. 11) packs enough punch to knock a (Sunset) boulevard full of pretenders out of the ring.”
– Kevin, Buzz Bands (Sep 01, 2011)

“Dead Sara’s self-titled album comes across as a diamond in the rough. The passion and emotion embedded in every note is quickly detected in Emily Armstrong’s vocal range. The musical outbursts expelled by the band come across as an unpredicted ticking time bomb, releasing chaotic moments of energy and destruction into an unstable environment….Dead Sara’s grunge-rock-like sound with a modern splash is exactly what radio stations everywhere have been waiting for. ”
– Jacob Gaitan, Campus Circle (Aug 23, 2011)

“At one time or another, most of us have had the “desert island” conversation with our friends, where we make a list of the ten movies/books/music albums we would want if stranded on an island with sand and a coconut tree….Dead Sara’s ability to put out a pure, back-to-basics rock album that channels so much inner feeling and the superb work ethic required to write such powerful songs have endeared them to those who have been lucky enough to hear them. Their music is infectious and leaves you wanting more, but that is not what has endeared them to me. It is their ability to tap into all that is rock and extract out something new and profound and remind me of why I love music in the first place. That is why I am including them in my desert island library.”
– Clay, Nanobot Rock Reviews // Music Reviews – For Fans By Fans (Aug 16, 2011)

“The time has come to leave all you’ve known to be safe and secure behind. It is time to let go of the simplicities of mainstream rock and accept the revolution that is Dead Sara. With as much ferocity of even the most seasoned bands, Dead Sara stands atop those before them and plants their flag, confidently claiming their place in rock. This tight group of four, hailing from L.A., explodes out of the gates with their ground shaking self-titled album. In today’s music, it is rare to deliver something truly unique. Dead Sara raises the bar and has drawn my attention, if not much more.”
– Greg, Nanobot Rock Reviews // Music Reviews – For Fans By Fans (Aug 16, 2011)

“I consider myself lucky to have gotten my hands on Dead Sara’s debut album early enough so that I can say “I told you all so!!” The rest of you will have to wait until October 2011 to purchase the album and hear it in it’s entirety. Until then you can attempt to get by with the bands first EP “The Airport Sessions” and what has sneaked onto youtube. I promise you though, the debut album is a whole other entity….Coming in at 11 tracks with more balls and diversity than anything I have heard in a while, with musical shifts from sweet folk and sad blues to screeching metal howls, to rock and roll and back again – This music can’t be classified in any way -other than GOOD…. and it’s no joke, they are THAT good “-
The Dead Hub (Jul 14, 2011)“Two is always better than one, and with this dynamic duo nothing could be more true. These Los Angeles natives are a spectacle of roller coasting riffs and vocal passion. The contrast between Medley and Armstrong is what makes their music so great. Medley remains grounded, keeping the rhythm and sound majestic and strong throughout, while Armstrong’s ability to sing the Blues one second and skillfully unleash a guttural howl the next is something to behold. “

– B. Blumenthal, Rock.com (Jul 07, 2011)

““Whispers & Ashes” is unlike anything I have heard in a while. The music is almost ceremonial – very rhythmic. Within moments, Emily Armstrong throws her voice on top and you are taken back by her soulful raspy vocals. The musicianship is quality stuff on this track – a great way to introduce a listener to the band…. Now we are treated to some excellent rock on the next song, “Monumental Holiday.” Guitarist Siouxsie Medley tweaks and twists her guitar to deliver not only some killer riffs, but some feedback that makes any guitar enthusiast drool.””
– Todd Jolicouer , TheRockPit.net (Aug 26, 2011)