Alli Sunshine & the Blue Sparrows: Biography
Sunshine is certainly an aptly chosen stage name for 23-year-old Alli Devenish. Based in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, the talented singer-songwriter/keyboardist possesses not only a sunny outlook and fixed bright smile, but also the ability to craft warm, personal songs of love, life and everything. In every way, it’s a name that suits her to a tee.
After much preparation, Alli and her gifted Blue Sparrows unveiled their debut release, The Muse EP, in December 2010. Containing five classy pop tunes performed with confidence and subtlety, it marks the arrival of a fine new Canadian songwriter, and a sweet sound Alli herself describes as “Carole King meets Wilco meets Jenny Lewis.”
Alli Sunshine & the Blue Sparrows met and bonded as students in Vancouver Island University’s jazz programme. While this is of course Alli’s main project, she and her band-mates continue to work at honing their skills as musicians by performing in a range of local outfits as sonically diverse as their dizzying array of collective influences.
The powerful work of guitarist/backing vocalist, Tristan Armstrong, comes to the Blue Sparrows as a result of playing with bands including the punchy rock/jam band, The Mother Tongue and local ska-punk legends, The Kiltlifters. Tristan’s main influences include Phish, Joel Plaskett, Sam Roberts and master guitarists Nels Cline, Kevin Breit and John Scofield.
Marisha Devoin brings backing vocals and her jazz and funk-informed bass to the band. Currently involved with the acclaimed tribute show, A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline, Marisha’s extensive resume includes Bard to Broadway productions; bluegrass outfit, Skagway; rock band, The Andrea Smith Band, and even a cruise ship jazz showband.
Hailing from Kingston, Ontario, drummer, Ian Montgomery, moved to Nanaimo in 2008 to study music at VIU. Ex-Gertrude member, Ian performs solo as well as with various jazz ensembles, and his influences include Ahmir Thompson, Russell Simins and John McEntire.
And as for Alli Sunshine, her talents as a musician of all trades echo those of her fellow Blue Sparrows, but it is only this band that performs her unique, affecting material. She has earned her stripes to date in performing styles ranging from reggae to bluegrass and jazz to indie rock, as well as funk in Marisha’s main musical outlet, The Mo’.
Born in Parry Sound, Ontario, Alli arrived in Nanaimo from Vancouver in 2005, having started to play the piano and compose songs at just seven-years-old. It was when she first heard Carole King’s masterpiece, Tapestry, that Alli realized her destiny was to become a songwriter. True to following that dream, she has worked her socks off at her chosen craft to make it happen.
As Alli’s appreciation of Carole King would indicate, her influences include many of the greatest songwriters. The canons of the ilk of Lennon & McCartney, Neil Young and Van Morrison all help colour Alli’s sound, as well as soul greats such as Otis Redding, legendary vocalists like Aretha Franklin, and such disparate touchstones as Buddy Holly and Fleetwood Mac.
As a band, Alli Sunshine & the Blue Sparrows draws on a vast pool of inspiration, most notably Chicago’s mighty Wilco, whose leader (Jeff) Tweedy is immortalized in the title of The Muse EP’s third cut. Add the likes of The Band, My Morning Jacket, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Feist and so much more to the mix, and it becomes obvious that here is band to keep a very close eye on.