von Grey
von Grey
Unsigned
By Eileen Tilson
Besides the fact that it is unsanitary and unprovable, millions of people have kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland, hoping that some of the famed Irish luck will rub off on them. Even being near anything Irish, creates the sort of illusion that good things are coming. If this is true, Atlanta’s own von Grey must stuff their pockets with four leaf clovers. First the facts:
- von Grey is made up of four sisters, all under the age of 16, who each play at least three instruments, well.
- They competed against hundreds of established female musicians to play Lilith Fair, and won.
- When the Lilith Fair show got canceled, Sarah McLachlan’s people personally called to ask the girls to open up for her show tonight at Chastain Amphitheatre.
Not bad for not even being able to drive. The four sisters, Kathryn, Annika, Fiona and Petra, have been playing classic music since they were each five years old. Each trained in the Suzuki-method, the girls naturally migrated to Irish music, and in fact in 2008, Annika competed in the New York Fleadh (the largest Irish music competition in the U.S.) and took first place in both the Fiddling and Slow Air categories, earning her an invitation to visit and play in Tullamore, Ireland a few months later!
So how is the music? Well let’s just say what these four girls lack in life experience, they make up in soul. Their self-titled five song EP is a collection of self-written pop/country songs, poising the girls for joining the ranks with Ms. Swift. The music fits the mold, and the lyrics are expected, but there is no doubt that these girls have something special. Their rendition of Damien Rice’s “Volcano” has the depth and maturity seldom seen in a bunch so young.
Keep your eyes on these girls, they have all the passion of Nashville starlets.
Von Grey play with Sarah McLachlan at Chastain Park Amphitheatre tonight.
