Sparrows (band)

{{short description|2010s Canadian post hardcore band}}

{{about|the band formed in 2010|the 1960s band|The Sparrows (band)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Sparrows

| image = Sparrows - Toronto (2018).png

| caption = Sparrows performing in Toronto, Ontario in 2018. From left to right: Dan Thomson, Jon Busby, and Justin Sears

| image_size = 300px

| origin = Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

| genre = Punk (early), post hardcore, rock

| years_active = 2010-2020

| label = Sound Anxiety Records, New Damage Records,[http://newdamagerecords.com/bands/sparrows/ Sparrows - New Damage Records], Retrieved from [http://newdamagerecords.com newdamagerecords.com], 2018-04-13 Dine Alone Records

| associated_acts = Moneen

| website = [http://www.sparrows613.com sparrows613.com]

| current_members = Dan Thomson
Jon Busby
Alex Pley

| past_members = Justin Sears
Jack Panic
Jaret Maillet
Kevin Dennison
Matthew Sears
Rembrandt MacLeod
Devlin Morton
Brandon Desjardins
Krys Blaney
Marco Celucci
Richard Hill

}}

Sparrows was a three-piece post-hardcore band originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Formed in 2010 the band consists of vocalist/guitarist Dan Thomson, guitarist Alex Pley, and drummer Jon Busby. In March 2015 the group was named one of Alternative Press magazine's "100 Bands You Need to Know".{{cite magazine |last=Whitt |first=Cassie |date=March 2015 |title=100 Bands You Need to Know |url=https://www.altpress.com/features/entry/hear_all_our_2015_100_bands_you_need_to_know_in_one_playlist |magazine=Alternative Press |issue=320 |publisher=Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. |access-date=2018-05-17 }}

History

In 2010 lead vocalist and guitarist Dan Thomson recruited Marco Cellucci to form a band which would become the original Ottawa based iteration of Sparrows.[http://charlatan.ca/2012/12/sparrows-says-ottawa-is-the-perfect-size-for-aspiring-talent/ Sparrows says Ottawa is ‘the perfect size’ for aspiring talent], Griffin Elliot, Retrieved from [http://charlatan.ca Charlatan.ca], 2012-12-04 After releasing their first EP Goliath in May 2011 (with the addition of bassist Richard Hill and touring guitarist Krys Blaney) the group shifted into a complete lineup change the following January in which Devlin Morton, Brandon Dejardins, and Rembrandt MacLeod would replace Hill, Blaney, and Cellucci.[http://thefulcrum.ca/arts/our-big-fat-american-vacation/ Loud local rockers Sparrows bask in debut US tour, exciting new releases], Ryan Pepper, [http://thefulcrum.ca/ TheFulcrum.ca], 2012-09-18 The band released their LP Cold Ground in July 2013 through Broken Heart/Kat Kat Records{{cite magazine |last=Whitt |first=Cassie |date=May 2013 |title=Song Premiere: Sparrows, "Coffin Fever" |url=https://www.altpress.com/features/song_premiere_sparrows_coffin_fever/ |magazine=Alternative Press |publisher=Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. |access-date=2018-07-11 }}{{cite magazine |last=Adams |first=Gregory |date=May 2013 |title=Sparrows Announce Debut Album |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/sparrows_announce_debut_album |magazine=Exclaim! |publisher=Ian Danzig |access-date=2018-07-11 }}{{cite magazine |date=July 2013 |title=Exclusive: Sparrows Premiere New Album, Cold Ground |url=http://www.revolvermag.com/news/exclusive-sparrows-premiere-new-album-cold-ground.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130803142210/http://www.revolvermag.com/news/exclusive-sparrows-premiere-new-album-cold-ground.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-08-03|magazine=Revolver Magazine |issue=72013 |publisher=New Bay Media |access-date=2018-02-25 }} before moving to Toronto and continuing to tour extensively performing across Canada and the United States including festivals; SXSW, NXNE, Canadian Music Week, and the Ottawa Bluesfest.

In April 2014 Jon Busby, and Justin Sears would replace Morton, and MacLeod with Matthew Sears taking over from Brandon Dejardins during the fall of that same year. In 2015 the group was signed to Toronto-based aggressive rock label New Damage Records{{cite magazine |last=Adams |first=Gregory |date=June 2015 |title=Sparrows Sign to New Damage Records for New EP |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/sparrows_sign_to_new_damage_records_for_new_ep |magazine=Exclaim! |publisher=Ian Danzig |access-date=2015-06-04 }} and shortly after released their second EP Dragging Hell in August of that year.[https://newnoisemagazine.com/exclusive-stream-sparrows-references-to-the-dead/ Exclusive Stream: Sparrows – “References To The Dead”], Retrieved from [https://newnoisemagazine.com NewNoiseMagazine.com], 2018-05-17[http://bravewords.com/news/torontos-sparrows-sign-with-new-damage-records-new-ep-due-this-summer Toronto's SPARROWS Sign With New Damage Records; New EP Due This Summer], Retrieved from Bravewords.ca, 2015-06-04 Following the release of their EP bassist Matthew left the band (citing personal reasons) and was replaced by Kevin Dennison and after another series of North American tours the band released their debut LP Let the Silence Stay Where It Was in October 2016 on New Damage Records.[http://canadianbeats.ca/2016/12/22/new-damage-records-announces-fiends-of-winter-tour/ New Damage Records announces Fiends of Winter tour], Cassandra Popescu, Retrieved from [http://canadianbeats.ca CanadianBeats.ca], 2016-12-22 In March of the following year bassist Kevin Dennison ended his tenure with the group with replacement Jaret Maillet stepping in until October 2017. Prior to the departure of Maillet the band supported Grammy Award winning American metalcore group Norma Jean during their "Polar Summer Tour".[https://www.facebook.com/normajean/posts/10155134358911041 Norma Jean - Polar Summer Toronto], Retrieved from Norma Jean Facebook, 2017-05-23

In May 2019 the group announced their third studio album Failed Gods via Sound Anxiety Records with the addition of bassist Jack Panic.[https://metalinjection.net/video/sparrows-goes-quiet-and-then-explodes-on-new-song-a-little-crowded-death Sparrows Goes Quiet And Then Explodes On New Song "A Little Crowded Death"], Greg Kennelty, Metal Injection, Retrieved from [https://metalinjection.net MetalInjection.net], 2019-05-29 The following month the group debuted the video for their single "Fifth Helena Drive" featuring local Toronto venue Sneaky Dee's, the same day the restaurant announced their collaborative dish "Fifth Helena Homefries".[http://exclaim.ca/music/article/watch_toronto_post-hardcore_unit_sparrows_new_video_for_fifth_helena_drive Watch Toronto Post-Hardcore Unit Sparrows' New Video for "Fifth Helena Drive"], Joe Smith-Engelhardt, Exclaim.ca, 2019-06-27

In November 2019 the band announced via Facebook a new lineup featuring Thomson, Busby, and the addition of guitarist Alex Pley.[https://www.facebook.com/sparrows613/photos/a.251285481577146/2666665206705816/ Hello Everyone], Sparrows Facebook, Retrieved from [https://facebook.com Facebook.com], 2019-11-16

In September of 2020, Sparrows released the two song EP Death Crown digitally. These two tracks were recorded earlier in 2020 with Mario Quintero of Spotlights.

Sparrows played their final show on Friday the 13th of March, 2020 in Oakville, Ontario. Initial Covid-19 lockdowns began around this date. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Sparrows' Daniel Thomson and Alex Pley began writing songs for what would become their next and current project, Toronto band lowheaven. lowheaven has already toured the United States supporting headliners Holy Fawn.

Musical style

Sparrows is considered post-hardcore utilizing melodic elements of punk and rock throughout their music.[https://orangeamps.com/articles/opinion/from-the-road-sparrows/ From the Road: Sparrows], Alex Auxier, Retrieved from [https://orangeamps.com OrangeAmps.com], 2013-10-22 In 2013 Alternative Press described their sound as "If Moneen sounded evil" as Moneen guitarist/vocalist Kenny Bridges{{cite magazine |last=Heisel |first=Scott |date=August 2013 |title=If Moneen Sounded Evil |url=https://www.altpress.com/magazine/issue/301_vans_warped_tour_2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621041413/https://www.altpress.com/magazine/issue/301_vans_warped_tour_2013 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-06-21 |magazine=Alternative Press |issue=301 |publisher=Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. |access-date=2018-07-11 }}{{cite magazine |last=Slingerland |first=Calum |date=September 2016 |title=Sparrows Take Flight with 'Let the Silence Stay Where It Was' LP |url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/sparrows_take_flight_with_let_the_silence_stay_where_it_was_lp |magazine=Exclaim! |publisher=Ian Danzig |access-date=2016-09-24 }} had produced three records for the group. A 2019 article from Metal Injection compared the group's blasts of distortion and use of dynamics to the American alternative metal group Deftones

Band members

=Final Line-Up=

=Former members=

Discography

Sparrows have released three EP's and three albums

=EPs=

  • 2011: Goliath
  • 2015: Dragging Hell
  • 2020: Death Crown

=Albums=

  • 2013: Cold Ground
  • 2016: Let the Silence Stay Where It Was
  • 2019: Failed Gods

Music videos

  • "Cave Eater" (2016)[http://exclaim.ca/music/article/sparrows-cave_eater_video Sparrows Cave Eater (Video)], Gregory Adams, Exclaim.ca, 2016-08-16
  • "References To The Dead" (2016)[http://exclaim.ca/music/article/sparrows-references_to_the_dead_video Sparrows "References to the Dead" (video)], Sarah Murphy, Exclaim.ca, 2016-01-27
  • "The Written Rules Of Choking" (2017)[https://newnoisemagazine.com/sparrows-written-rules-choking-video/ Video Premiere: Sparrows – “The Written Rules Of Choking”], Retrieved from [https://newnoisemagazine.com NewNoiseMagazine.com], 2017-07-10
  • "A Little Crowded Death" (2019)
  • "Fifth Helena Drive" (2019)
  • "Worship Song" (2019)[https://outburn.com/news/exclusive-premiere-of-sparrows-new-video-for-worship-song/ Exclusive Premiere of Sparrows New Video for “Worship Song”], Outburn Magazine, [https://outburn.com/ Outburn.com], 2019-07-30

References

{{Reflist}}