*SIRSY PRESS PHOTO & EPK AVAILABLE HERE
"LITTLE BAND... BIG SOUND!" 
                          -The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)
"Krahmer has one of most powerful and flexible voices 
you'll ever hear, and their clever, smart songs have 
more hooks than a tackle box." 
                          -The Times Union (Albany, NY)
“Inventive rock and roll.” 
                         -The Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT)

The Boston Globe sums it up, “Little band. Big Sound.” No more needs to be said. Although the only thing “little” about Sirsy is there are just two of them. The rest is bigger than balls on a buffalo.

Listen to the power in their latest recording “Coming Into Frame”. You can feel it. It’s crank-up the volume music, even when the heartfelt ballads kick in. And why so much power? Melanie Krahmer on drums and vocals, Rich Libutti on guitar. That’s why.

And, according to Sirsy a lot of credit goes to Grammy-winning producers, Paul Kolderie and Sean Slade (Hole, Radiohead, Dresden Dolls, Pixies). According to Melanie, known as Mel to fans and friends alike, “Our fans have said that the energy of our live show hasn't translated onto our previous recordings. They are going to notice a different energy level on this record and it's because of how Paul and Sean worked with us." 

Do you know what a click track is? It's like a metronome and is used in recording to keep things perfect. Some believe it can take away from the spontaneity of a recording artist. According to Mel, "On some tracks, Paul and Sean didn't use a click track on purpose. The result is a few of the songs vary in tempo to suit the mood and energy of the song." In other words the recording is real. Rich, the highly talented guitarist for Sirsy says, “It seems ridiculous to remove tempo changes. Listen to ‘The Cost Of You’. It speeds up at the end. That gives it the intensity there.”

So “power” and “real” are the key words to describe the new recording and Sirsy itself. As Aftertaste Magazine said regarding Mel, “Bursting and belting out emotion and substance, she can be the queen of ‘in the groove’ rocking or be simple and delicate.” And get this, she also plays a full drum kit while standing up (she’s been featured in Modern Drummer Magazine), handles bass (played on a keyboard with her drumstick), and even throws in an occasional flute solo. Rich Libutti plays everything else, including seething guitar; bass (on a keyboard at his feet); and he is the anchor to Melanie's on stage tornado. Just the two of them because, “We never found other musicians who understood”, according to Rich.

And they write. They write clever, smart songs that have more hooks than a tackle box. They both write the music. Mel takes care of the lyrics and they might set you back a few feet. They could even be called “dark” which is weird because when you talk with this duo the conversation is usually littered with laughs. But Mel says, "Calling the lyrics dark is appropriate, or maybe introspective says it better." She is a student of the English language and lyrics are a natural art to her. But she studies before the work begins. “I do love to listen to other artists to get inspired lyrically.” Like Coldplay, or a somewhat obscure Irish band called The Frames. And, at times when a "more down home feel is needed", Bruce Springsteen.

“I listened to a Jackson Browne tune 'Shape of A Heart'," Mel said, “and immediately wrote the words to our song, ‘Gold’.” “I didn't take anything directly from his song, but it set a mood for me." In "The Cost of You", there is a poetic line which says, "But I spent the cost of you". It calls to mind, the Joni Mitchell song, “Case Of You”. But Joni’s drinking a case of him and still standing on her feet. Mel’s had it up to here. She’s done.

Sirsy plays over 200 shows a year, bringing their indie rock sound to the masses and are about to expand nationally. “Coming Into Frame” will bring them beyond their east coast/mid-west comfort zone and into new territory including the south, and west coast. You will normally find them in the headline slot but they have also been special guests of such musical stalwarts as Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Maroon5, Train, RaRaRiot, Boys Like Girls, Third Eye Blind, Lifehouse, Blues Traveler, Cheap Trick, and many more.

Although the lyrics can be a little dark or introspective and the power of Sirsy can get pretty intense, “there is no sadness there”, Mel says. “On stage we radiate joy. It’s just us being free and playing music." 

”Coming Into Frame” is on Funzalo Records.

 



 *SIRSY PRESS PHOTO & EPK AVAILABLE HERE

What's your sign? Cancer
Favorite color(s): Black
Favorite Food(s): I'm vegetarian (ovo-lacto and I only eat cheese made without animal rennet).  I  LOVE  FOOD!  Pizza, Pasta, Vegan Reubens, Thai, Indian, & my mom's Italian are my favorites... I also LOVE pancakes a little too much so that it's weird... and DESSERT (especially warm chocolate chip cookies & anything chocolate!)... but I try not to eat dessert and that sucks. 
Favorite drink(s):  Diet Mt Dew is my drug of choice. 
Weird habits?  Too many... I  check the alarm about 10 times after I set it and I also set another alarm and I check that 10 times and sometimes I can't really sleep because I am afraid neither one will go off...  I freak out over any sort of buzzing noise near my head fearing it may be some sort of flying bug. I think bugs sense my fear and so they taunt me. That's all I will share for now.
Hobbies and/or favorite thing(s) to do in your leisure time: I have no life, really.  I spend about 90% of my time doing the "behind the scenes" band stuff and practicing (I'm rather pathetic that way, really).  When I do allow myself to relax, I like to hang out with friends and family, watch movies, play Scrabble, walk outside (when it's warm- I HATE the cold), and work out.
Collect anything? No.  I'm allergic to dust and clutter makes me nervous... 
All-time favorite artist/band(s), albums, songs: The Beatles (my favorite album of all time is "Abbey Road"), David Bowie, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Eva Cassidy, Muse, Mutemath, The Crash Kings, The Black Keys, The Raconteurs, Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Patti Rothberg, Aimee Mann, Shawn Colvin, Sheryl Crow (except that god awful song she did with Kid Rock), The Philosopher Kings, Maroon 5, Portishead, Coldplay, BB King, Bill Withers, Lenny Kravitz, Hem, Sam Phillips, The Frames, Lourds... so many more...
Favorite artist/band(s) to see live: Paul McCartney (cried through a bunch of it- that's a good thing), Tori Amos (yep- cried again!), Muse, Ani DiFranco, B.B. King, & Nikka Costa.
First concert ever attended: Van Halen & Alice in Chains.
Most embarrassing CD ever purchased: I own a Proclaimers CD (ouch!) 
Favorite Movie(s): Breakfast at Tiffany's (Audrey Hepburn rocks), Clue (reminds me of eating soup, rain, and my sister), Moulin Rouge, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 
Favorite TV Show: The Mary Tyler Moore show, The Muppet Show, Law and Order, Parks & Rec, 30 Rock., Psych
Favorite Book: Catcher in the Rye
Any other Favorite things/things you love: My amazing friends, Andy Panda (my stuffed animal given to me by my dad when I was little), animals, and foot rubs.
Favorite Muppet: Gonzo the Great
Favorite Star Wars Character: R2D2 and Chewbacca
Favorite Superhero: Wonder Woman and Superman
Favorite Villan: Cat Woman
Favorite Cartoon Charactor: Scooby Doo (the old classic cartoon - Pre Scrappy)
Your favorite sirsy song and why:  This changes and it's impossible to pick your favorite kid... but... I think that "Brave and Kind" and "Still" are my all time favorites.
What, for you, is a good show and/or what is your favorite thing about playing? Playing music is the only time I feel completely free. I am really grateful that I get to do it so often.  So, even a bad show for me is still better than the alternative (not playing music).   I'm often blown away by the positive energy that comes from the audience and so touched when I see people singing along to our songs and sincerely "feeling"  the music in the crowd... that's the best...  



 *SIRSY PRESS PHOTO & EPK AVAILABLE HERE

What's your sign? Gemini
Favorite color(s): Maroon
Favorite Food(s): Damn Good Jerky, Homemade Pizza, Bottle Caps, Soy Peanut Butter, Nachos, and the Peanut Butter Cup Dessert thing at Pizzeria Uno
Favorite drink(s): Carrot Juice, SOBE Yummy Pommegranate
Hobbies and/or favorite thing(s) to do in your leisure time: I collect Star Wars stuff... non-stop.. got 2 of everything! Geeks unite!. Lost... John Locke rules! I love keeping an eye on space exploration.. I wanted to be an Astronaut when I was growing up.
Collect anything? Star Wars and more Star Wars
All-time favorite artist/band(s), albums, songs: Beatles... especially Paul, Prince's "Around the World in a Day", Nikka Costa, Lenny Kravitz, all The Police Records, David Bowie's "Life On Mars" and Ziggy Stardust, Muse, Cold Play, The Philosopher Kings, Fiona Apple.
Favorite artist/band(s) to see live: Paul McCartney! I've seen Tori Amos twice.. both times it was great! Nikka Costa show in NYC rocked!
First concert ever attended: Frankie Vallie & the 4 Seasons
Most embarrassing concert ever attended or most embarrassing album ever purchased: Tom Jones Greatest Hits
Favorite Movies: Star Wars, 12 Monkees, Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Princess Bride
Favorite TV Shows: Lost, King of the Hill, Futurama, The Office, The Muppet Show
Favorite Book: "Rendezvous with Rama" by Arthur C. Clarke, and Steven R. Donaldson's "The Real Story" series
Any other Favorite things/things you love: I love playing Risk and Scrabble. I'm a big Muppet fan! Kermit rocks!!
Wish I didn't: Steal my sister's "#1 necklace" in the 3rd Grade to give to Dina Proux... who sat behind me in Mrs. Neidlinger's class.   
Favorite Muppet: Kermit The Frog
Favorite Star Wars Character: tie: Luke Skywalker & Mara Jade
Favorite Superhero: Aquaman..he can talk to the fish
Favorite Villan: The Emperor
Favorite Cartoon Charactor: Hank Hill, Stewie
Your favorite sirsy song and why: "Still". I think it's the best song we ever wrote!
What, for you, is a good show and/or what is your favorite thing about playing? I love when we can play loud, raucous songs like "Revolution" and quieter, down-tempo songs like "Again" in the same show. It's cool when you can get the audience to respond to both.