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THIRTEEN - REVIEW
Austin Chronicle
"The local all-girl trio Tribella shimmers with Thirteen, 10 songs so deliciously sweet and deftly crafted with divine innocence that they're as fresh as the April mornings of late, employing Bananarama vocals with Breeders guts to deliver a solid three-star debut."
FEMALE POP TRIO MAKES HEADWAY
The Daily Texan
"With its promising EP 'My Guest List' and a powerful onstage presence, power-pop trio Tribella dispels the stereotype that female groups in music are nothing more than pretty faces."
Sarah Glynn, the lead vocalist and guitarist, described the band’s formation as a matter of timing. Though raised in an academically oriented family, Glynn always felt a strong inclination toward music. After making the decision to follow her passion instead of going to medical school, Glynn, already well-versed in the piano, violin and guitar, picked up the drums and bass to expand her musical repertoire. She also experimented with various equipment to “explore the realms of a typical rock band.” Glynn began to pursue her own solo career while touring as a lead and fill-in guitarist with various bands such as Erin Condo and Echoset. Through her circle of musician friends, she met drummer Dena Gerbrecht and Echoset bassist Rae Goldring in Austin.
“I was reinvigorated and excited to start doing something new. The timing just worked out,” said Glynn, who immediately began rehearsing with Goldring and Gerbrecht. They recorded My Guest List sporadically from March 2008 through July of the same year and self-released it in January of 2009. The trio has since built a steady fan base and shared the stage with Amy Cook, Girl in a Coma and Paige Lewis, to name a few.
Glynn described Tribella’s sound as “edgier, rockier, dirtier and also just a little more spontaneous and raw” when compared to her previous bands. There’s no better way to sum up its sound. “Recently Departed,” one of the most beautiful tracks on the EP, was conceived on Glynn’s mother’s porch in Indiana. She developed the melody and chord progression first and then, after being moved by images of war and dying soldiers, wrote the lyrics.
“Sometimes things that are happening in the world will inspire me to write. Lyrically, the songs don’t necessarily take full meaning until they’re out there, and then I’ll step back and realize what they’re about,” Glynn said.
Being an all-female group in an arguably male-dominated music scene has its challenges, but Glynn thinks it works to their advantage most of the time.
“We’re not what people expect. We hopefully break a lot of stereotypes because we can actually play our instruments,” she said. “But it’s sometimes a little frustrating because you have to prove [yourself] before anyone will give you respect.”
Respect has been earned, however, and the women in Tribella have already recorded six new songs for their next EP. Though they’re beginning to take off, they remain happily stationed in Austin.
“As long as this band is doing well and moving forward, I don’t think we have plans to move,” Glynn said. “I’ve entertained the idea of moving to New York or LA, but I’ve stayed put in Austin because I think it’s the best place to be if you’re a musician.” |
TEXAS POWER-TRIO GET INVITING
Americana UK
"‘My Guest List’ is a confident, melodic & strident opening salvo... sounding something like Interpol’s charming younger sisters."
All female Texan trio Tribella certainly harbour the kind of ambition that should see them circumvent the trappings of the indie-rock ghetto without too much bother. They may be aiming ridiculously high, but their sound takes in some delightfully dark corners on the way.
Lead by Sarah Glynn who possesses a soft intriguing voice that lends itself to the double-tracking and texturing it is treated to here, this 6-track EP shows Tribella in a number of moods already. The dynamic indie-rock shapes of the title track are an early highlight with clattering drums and insistent guitars sounding something like Interpol’s charming younger sisters.
The lighter acoustic feel of ‘When It Comes To You’ feels like the most crafted of the tracks and overall actually comes off like Catatonia at their most winsome. There’s a Spiky new wave sensibility to the circles of frustration in ‘Feel Feel’, that is then countered by the breezy melodic pop of ‘Saucer Eyes’.
‘My Guest List’ is a confident, melodic & strident opening salvo. Just about rough and ready enough, and with some definite potential. |
THIRTEEN - REVIEW
EasyMusicForDifficultEars
"'Deal Breaker' is up there as one of the finest songs I have heard so far this year... [Tribella] invoke memories of early '90's stalwarts the Breeders and latterly Blonde Redhead, while also rubbing against the pop grain of the Cardigans."
SONG OF THE DAY
KUT 90.5FM
"Tribella is a brand new, all girl trio from right here in Austin, Texas. The band has crafted a sound that’s a perfect blend of pop-rock and new wave, but their attention to song craft is what sets this band apart from others in the local music scene."
THIRTEEN - REVIEW
babysue
"With cool atmospheric guitars and vocals that are sometimes slightly reminiscent of Bjork, these girls have come up with an album that is both satisfying and unique."
THIRTEEN - REVIEW
Austin Eavesdropper
"Tribella has touches of '90s indie pop rocker and fellow Austinite Abra Moore, particularly in Sarah Glynn's vocals, both breathy and powerful at once... the result is an album [Thirteen] that you'll swallow happily, but not guiltily - this is well-crafted pop. Pop you can feel good about."
THESE 3 BELLES MEAN BUSINESS
Columbia Daily Tribune
"Their latest album, ‘My Guest List’ was hammered out last year in an Austin studio, and it’s terrific stuff."
| Their latest album, ‘My Guest List’ was hammered out last year in an Austin studio, and it’s terrific stuff. The new CD only has six cuts, but you’ll be hard-pressed to dislike any of them. ‘Saucer Eyes’ spits out some saucy lyrics, and it’s probably my favorite and not just because it has what feels like a little Texas twist at the end. ‘How Long’ roars and rolls as if you were a jackrabbit squatting on the center stripe and they were the semi-truck with the pedal to the metal. You might have to restrain yourself from breaking chairs. It’s all good stuff, and it should sound even better bouncing off the walls of The Blue Fugue (Columbia, MO). Show up, little men, and enjoy. |
WASHINGTON D.C. -LIVE REVIEW
2bloxdc.com
"This Austin, TX all-woman trio admirably channel several indie pop progenitors (I won’t use Liz Phair, even though it is fair {ha!}). Guitarist/singer Sarah Glynn’s slick fretwork fleshing out the rhythym section’s Interpol-esque drive quickly puts to rest any notion that you’re in for a night of some cute girls playing simple bar chord songs about how stupid boys are. These ladies are power poppers goddamnit!"
CONFIDENT AUSTIN TRIO HEADS TO TWO STICK (Cover Story)
Oxford Daily
"The Daily Texan reported that Tribella ‘dispels the stereotype that female groups in music are nothing more than pretty faces.’ Get your full dose of new wave, indie, power pop at Two Stick (Oxford, MS) on Saturday, June 27."
THIS WEEK IN AUSTIN
Austin Sound Check
"Tribella is reminiscent of Liz Phair with a touch of new wave sensability... there really is no excuse to miss this show."
MY GUEST LIST - REVIEW
Hybrid Magazine
"Lead vocalist/guitarist Sarah Glynn has a warm register with both earthy and ethereal tints... The album [My Guest List] is an offering that you can pop into your CD player and leave on repeat without worrying about your tastes straying away."
AUSTIN MUSIC MINUTE
Texas Music Matters
"Equal parts indie and power pop, with just the right amount of new wave put in for good measure."
TOP SONG PICK
Lucid Culture (NYC)
Week 6/8/09 - 5. Tribella - “Saucer Eyes” -Girl power, fun jangly stuff from Austin,TX.
Tribella will be performing at Austin’s Mohawk this Thursday with The Summer Wardrobe and then they’ll head off on a tour of the Midwest.
Today’s song of the day is the title track from their EP, “My Guest List.” |
WEEKEND MUSIC PREVIEW
austinist
"They harbor a witty sense of humor and a penchant for clever notes."
| As the beloved 4th of July weekend approaches, so does a mass quantity of live music to pick and choose from. Head to The Peacock on Thursday and check out local power-pop act Tribella. Comprised of former members of the Sarah Glynn Band and Echoset, the trio is working on their debut EP, due in August of this year. Although they currently only have two songs for our listening pleasure on their MySpace page, they do seem to harbor a witty sense of humor and a penchant for clever notes. “Within the decade, Tribella hopes to sell more singles than Elton John's "Candle in the Wind," and more albums than The Eagles' Their Greatest Hits (Vol. 1). They will concentrate their efforts on producing a video more disturbing than NIN's "Closer," with better dancing than Michael Jackson's "Thriller," and with more cleverly choreographed treadmill routines than OK Go's "Here It Goes Again."” Sweetness! |
MY GUEST LIST -REVIEW
L Style G Style
"Imagine if the rest of the country took a closer look at this unconventional trio? ... Then again, it's kind of nice having this gem rocking out in our own personal backyard."
ST.PAUL,MN -LIVE REVIEW
perfectporridge.com
"The lead singer sounded like Margo from Cowboy junkies. Major Clash nostalgia in ‘Feel Feel’."
MY GUEST LIST -REVIEW
Crappy Indie Music - The Blog!
"They're talented, they have good instrumental skills, good voices, and good production. The title track, 'My Guest List,' and #4 'Saucer Eyes' are notable for their girl-power, I don't need some man to treat me wrong, I'm-in-a-rock-band attitude."
A SLEEPY COMPANY
"Tribella did not disappoint...Glynn and company rocked the stage with a reckless abandon." -A Sleepy Company
| On a lighter note, I was there to see Tribella perform at Fitzgerald's, opening up for Houston buzz band Girl in a Coma. I had reluctantly given up a day of the ACL festival to come to Houston to see these ladies rock out. I thought to myself 'This had better be good!'
According to their website, Fitzgerald's is one of the oldest and widely recognized music venues in the greater Houston area. From the outside it looks like an old two story house that has maybe seen better days. The inside is cozy and dark, featuring both an upstairs and a downstairs venue. Tonight's event was in the downstairs venue, which featured a large stage and plenty of indoor seating with an spacious outdoor patio if you felt like experiencing some of the post-Hurricane mosquitoes. Our waitress at the restaurant across the street said she loves the place but is always afraid the floor might cave in, especially in the packed upstairs area. Seeing that the show was happening in the downstairs area with a wrestling (yes, I said wrestling) event being held upstairs, I hoped that tonight would not be the night for that to happen. Luckily it didn't.
Tribella didn't disappoint. In their short but sweet 45 minute set, they managed to bring an innovative and professional vibe to the stage, with the colorful lights providing a fitting backdrop for their multi-faceted sound. Singer and guitarist Sarah Glynn managed to crank out solid, catchy guitar licks while belting out intricate and layered vocals, reminiscent of Tanya Donnelly of Belly. Drummer Dena Gerbrecht kicked out the beat, peppering the songs with exciting drum rolls and fills, looking like she was having a blast the whole time. Bassist Rae Goldring, looking stoic on her side of the stage, rounded things out with smooth bass lines that complimented Gerbrecht's excitable drumming.
Glynn and company rocked the stage with a reckless abandon, especially on "WTKN," an upbeat number with echoing guitar crescendos and a catchy vocal line. "Saucer Eyes," with its infectious chorus and two-part harmonies, was a definite crowd pleaser. They closed the set with the riveting "Feel Feel," where Glynn sings "I take it all back/I take it all back" like she really means it.
The two bands in between didn't seem to fit the bill, with their thrash metal sounds and sometimes unintelligible vocals. My guess is that they were chosen because they were female-fronted and local. Girl in a Coma was great, but sounded kind of muddled and fuzzy compared to the clear, concise rhythms of Tribella. |
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