Originally formed in March 2004, The Lovely Sparrows had a scant 8 months of practice before their first gig. Things were a bit shaky in the beginning. Everyone in the band put down one instrument to play another to find the right sound. The bassist switched to guitar. The guitarist picked up the drums. It was creative chaos, but songwriter and vocalist Shawn Jones admits it took some exploration of what not to do before discovering the understated melodies that clicked. The Lovely Sparrows released a 7-inch on Saint Oliver’s Head Records last year and are currently working on an EP that will be released on Abandoned Love Records.

The Lovely Sparrows includes Shawn Jones, Lauryn Steinberg, Earl Vallery, Steven Garcia, Michael Landon, Sweney Tidball, and Jason Cooper. Performance dates can be found on the band’s MySpace profile.

DID YOU KNOW?:  Singing is a group effort, not just for the lead vocalist. Each member of The Lovely Sparrows contributes vocals to recordings and live performances. “ “I think there’s no ego at all,” says Jason Cooper. “Everybody really seems to add to one another’s ideas.”

“I think we’re getting to a point that I’m excited about, where it’s not just harmony parts,” adds Shawn Jones. “Actual counter melodies are starting to come out.”

Another bit of Lovely Sparrows trivia: Their first 7-inch vinyl, released on the Saint Oliver’s Head Records label, was produced by Michael Landon. No, not the actor of “Bonanza,” “Little House On the Prairie” or “Highway To Heaven” fame; the producer just happens to have the same name as the celebrity. “He’s very good,” Jason says of their producer. “He’s great because he’s all for leaving the sound a little bit rough. His style is partially shaping the sound.”

“You can’t go wrong with an engineer like Michael Landon,” says Shawn. “Maybe he has to record as his good deed to get into heaven,” quips Earl Vallery.

— Laurie Gallardo