Sallie Ford and The Sound Outside

contributed by: Mike Apinyakul, Sept. 10th 2009

The first thing I noticed about the new Sallie Ford and The Sound Outside e.p., “Not An Animal” is that it makes me drive faster than normal. The opening track, “Danger” starts innocently enough. A playful song about attraction, with an unforgettable riff that launches into a chorus of “ohh’s” , and the next thing I know, I’m speeding in my girlfriend’s rickety station wagon through a construction zone. I was unprepared to listen to music that sounds so…..well….fun. Don’t think, however, that Sallie Ford doesn’t write songs with weight but you have to listen closely, past the sound of your own tapping feet and clapping hands.

“Not An Animal” moves quickly into the swinging second song, “This Town” where Sallie Ford’s influences really come into play. Listed are the big hitters of female jazz singers: Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Bessie Smith, and so on. Sallie Ford captures much of the delivery and tone of these singers and adds a welcome abundance of spunk and cursing and shouting. Her voice walks that lovely line of vintage AM radio tone and muscular punk. Not to mention the infectious way she sings the word, “E.E. Cummings”.

A talented voice, however, cannot stand alone. You need a hot ass band to back you up and the Sound Outside is such a band. With Tyler Tornfelt on upright bass, Ford Tennis on drums, and Jeff Munger on lead guitar, we have a a band that plays tight and tough, like a clenched fist. Although Sallie Ford and The Sound Outside doesn’t have a particularly southern sound, the simple, tight rock and roll combo reminds me a bit of “Green River” era Creedence Clearwater Revival. Especially Jeff Munger’s raunchy guitar tone.

Sallie Ford and The Sound Outside seem to be on the rise lately. After opening a number of shows for The Avett Brothers, they’re bound to capture some attention. I got caught up watching youtube videos of some of the band’s performances and caught what the e.p. doesn’t deliver. A wider range of swagger and delivery, the ability to play the blues to an intimate Laurelthirst crowd, while sufficiently rocking large audiences as well. Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside is a band you need to see live. For as good as “Not An Animal” is, it hints at something more. It’s a short and welcome tease. In fact, I retract my previous adjective describing them as “fun”. I think “bitchin’” is more like it.