Dirty Birds late night at The Trap

(this piece was published by Planet JH Weekly)

Soul queen Arleigh Kincheloe, a.k.a Sister Sparrow, commands the stage with body language that is both sly and stirring, coupled with a boundless voice that draws you into her infectious smolder. Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds is a powerful ensemble, trimmed in the last couple of years from an eight-piece to a sextet featuring Arleigh’s brother, Jackson, on harmonica, backed by a tight conglomeration of guitar, bass, trumpet and baritone sax.

Jamming the Fight EP from fall of 2013, there’s a heavy sense of funky Memphis soul adorned by a raspy vocal style that can push the limits to an Aretha Franklin-inspired sound. Or, you can just layback and let this ultra-talented band turn the energy to eleven through epic song arrangements. In the live setting, the band can also dig into heavy blues-rock with the harp at the forefront of pushing the explosive energy to over-the-top, or kick-back into a comforting R&B smoothess.

If you saw the Dirty Birds at JacksonHoleLive or Targhee Fest in the last couple of years, you know exactly what this band is capable of. One thing you can expect is a full-on dance party. That’s the scene they have created at Bonnaroo, Mountain Jam, Austin City Limits Fest and Jazz Fest. Confine this energy into the confines of The Trap Bar and you have an intimate, high-altitude party for the ages. This is one of the few late shows at Grand Targhee this winter, so take some turns, après-ski, then nap, and then dance your ass off. Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, 9 p.m. Thursday in the Trap Bar at Grand Targhee Resort. $15/advance, $20/door. GrandTarghee.com.