Since emerging on the Americana/folk scene in 2005, The Starlings have been releasing records and touring the nation in a short, yellow bus called Saunders. En route to a dusty venue in the southwest, a cozy listening-room in the Midwest, or a well-burnished club in Boston, they are spurred on by the guitar strum, the kick drum, and the music in the spinning wheels all around us.
Bright Light the Album (2010) was well into production before “Bright Light” the song appeared and jumped to the top of the list. Mills wrote the song in an apartment in the Ballard borough of Seattle, quietly strumming so as not to disturb the tenants above, who were known to bang on the floor. “Bright Light” was written in spite of it, and in homage to the perseverance of musical friends. Once introduced to the band, it became the name of the album and the title track. It also became a highlight of the recording process, as they rounded up local musicians to record the final chorus of the song, as well as film a video, in their local haunt, Conor Byrne Pub.
Known for their three-part harmonies and melodic hooks, The Starlings’ country-folk sound is influenced by the variety of their backgrounds. Original members Joy Mills, Tom Parker and Aimee Tubbs were reared with the juicy mixture of old country, rock ‘n’ roll, musicals, the 80’s, and a long list of songwriters. The Starlings’ previous albums and tours have garnered extensive reviews, chart-listings, spots on year-end lists and favor both here and abroad. Their debut album, Songbook (2006), put them on KEXP’s "Top Ten Northwest Bands" for eight weeks. The Starlings have performed with Todd Snider, The Avett Brothers, Fred Eaglesmith, The Wood Brothers, and Eilen Jewell. They will be touring nationally in the fall of 2010 in support of Bright Light.
“Call it lilt with an edge.” – Leicester Bangs (UK)
Notable venues and credits:
2008 - "MTW" named Notable Northwest release by KBCS Americana Music Director, Christine Linde. 2008- "Bluebird" (Marveling the While) on Best of 2008 from The Miller Tells Her Tale out of the UK. 2008 - Club Passim (Boston), Joshua Tree Roots Music Festival (Joshua Tree, CA), 6-month national tour in 31 states. 2005-2007 - Tractor Tavern, Sunset Tavern, Northwest Folklife Festival, Fremont Fair (WA); Mississippi Studios (OR) 2006 - Live appearance on KEXP's Audioasis show (WA) 2006 - Eight weeks on DJ John Richards' (KEXP) "Top Ten Northwest Bands"
Sweet Jams
Various and assorted awesome musicians we have the pleasure of playing with in town and on the road:
Moe Provencher (mandolin, bass)
Jack Quick (steel guitar, banjo, bass)
Julian Martlew (Dobro, guitar)
Mike McDermott (bass)
Chad Hinman (acoustic/electric gtr, clarinet, fiddle, etc.)
Joy Mills
Joy hails from the hinterlands of Iowa and moved to Seattle in 1999. She began performing live, joined forces with partner Tom Parker, and produced her first solo LP, Rabblerouser (out of print). Mills and Parker have been steadily gaining attention around Seattle for their harmonies and songwriting chops, which eventually led them to realize their next step up Mt. Fuji - bringing their work to a band format. Forming the Starlings in 2005 and working on their 4th release due out in summer 2010, she was last reported to confess that she loves it. She also pursues her other passion of writing, pen to paper, and is currently working on a neat-o project of a collection of writings about being a musician to be released with a companion CD.
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Tom Parker
Tom Parker is the One Who Can when it comes to blending and arranging harmonies, and blowing on that harp. Reared in the Pacific Northwest by various chorus backgrounds, he moved around among folk, classical, jazz and grunge incarnations. With chameleon-like perception, he sings real nice. He loves Roger Miller, and is arranging a tribute group called Miller's Ghost. His uncle used to love him, but she, you know...
Aimee Zoe Tubbs
Aimee is a drummer, musician and teacher. In search of good music, strong coffee and clean air, her personal journey has taken her from Iowa City to Seattle, via Boston. An accomplished percussionist, singer and pianist, she also dabbles in bass and saxophone. She draws on diverse influences that range from Julie Andrews to the Throwing Muses, and has played in a variety of alt-flavored bands, including Seattle Joan Jett tribute band, Jett City. Aimee's currently hitting the streets and festivals with the busking-acoustic-goodness MoZo, and offering drum styles to Moe Provencher and various other Seattle bands like My Favorite Girl, Pretty Pretty and Head Popped Off.