LIVE REVIEW: The Secret Sisters @ The Hotel Cafe 2/10

February 14. 2011 | By Sharon Payne

Secret Sisters @ The Hotel Cafe 2/10/11

A good classic country show is somewhat hard to come by in L.A. This is why it was with great excitement and curiosity this owelette ventured into Hollywood to check out a performance by The Secret Sisters. The duo is made up of Laura and Lydia Rogers, real-life sisters from Muscle Shoals, AL. They’re full of country values and vintage charm made complete by their outfits and their playful sisterly teasing.

Laura introduced each song nervously, repeatedly commenting on the size of the crowd and how appreciative they were for the opportunity to be there. With affection and admiration she talked about their love of country music and the large role that spirituality and family play in their budding career.

Secret Sisters @ The Hotel Cafe 2/10/11

Effortless and near-perfect two-part harmonies were featured throughout every song; it was as though their voices were made to go together. Several songs in the set included a nearly full band, with an upright bass and mandolin. The only thing missing in the show was the pedal steel featured on their self-titled debut album (Beladroit Records), which was produced by T Bone Burnett and recorded using classic analog equipment for their signature traditional sound.

Perhaps the real genius of this duo is in the selection of the songs, themselves, which showcased the girls’ voices. The performance was split between original songs and covers of classic country standards by greats like Hank Williams (Sr.), Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline. They opened the set with the Everly Brothers’ classic “Devoted to You,” before which Laura mentioned that they are often referred to as, “The Everly Sisters.”

Although classic country doesn’t really have a following in the mainstream nor even the indie scene, it’s likely that The Secret Sisters will become something of a cross-over sensation. Unique talent like theirs isn’t likely to remain a secret for much longer…

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