The Wainwright Sisters, Lucy And Martha, Record An Album, Playing City Winery, November 2015

Iman Lababedi|September 15, 2015

Lucy Wainwright Roche, Martha Wainwright

Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez

I swear I didn’t realize Lucy and Martha were sisters. I mean I knew they were but it didn’t quite click. Martha is such a dirty mouthed diva, such an histrionic and brittle ill-tempered and temperament folk rocker, and Lucy a well tempered smart and delicate folkie. But apparently, the duo are at least half sisters, Martha’s Mom was the late extremely great Kate McGarrigle, and Lucy’s Mom is a member of one of the greatest sister acts ever and of all time, The Roches.

I’ve seen both sisters numerous times, with nothing but pleasure. Martha at Highline Ballroom on the I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too was so great even her brother Rufus’ appearance couldn’t improve it (plus she is the namesake for one of his greatest songs, the superb and heartbreaking “Martha”).

Speaking of Rufus, this is what I wrote about Lucy’s opening set for Rufus at Town Hall last year: “Lucy’s set itself was an excellent mix of stand up and sit down; she has a lovely voice, a way with a song (last year’s album with her mother Suzzy Roche, Fairytale And Myth is a beauty) and great taste, covering Robyn’s “Call Your Girlfriend” and forcing the issue on a singalong to “Hungry Heart”. In retrospect, she blew Rufus, who was having an off night, off stage.

What the half sisters share is Loudon Wainwright III as a father, and at her best Martha battled and bested him, Martha’s “Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole” versus LW3’s “Daughter” -a no contest win

Now we hear the sisters are performing as a duo and while it might be cheese and chalk, it might very well work, plus performing at City Winery…

Here is the press release:

The Wainwright Sisters will be releasing their anticipated new album ‘Songs In The Dark‘ on November 13 via [PIAS].

Although they’re sisters, Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright Roche didn’t grow up together. Aside from genetic, their true bond was a musical one, both growing up in families steeped in songwriting. Both their mothers would sing them lullabies – Kate McGarrigle to Martha and Suzzy Roche to Lucy. Now, 30 years later, Martha and Lucy are singing many of these same songs, penned by their mothers and father (Loudon Wainwright III) on Songs In The Dark.

The record features songs that shaped their childhoods, made famous by the likes of Woody Guthrie and Jimmie Rogers. When Martha and Lucy grew up and become songwriters of their own, they discovered their physical separation was trumped by their shared musical DNA. On Songs In The Dark, this is captured in its elemental essence: dark, mysterious, and beautiful.

To celebrate the release of Songs In The Dark, The Wainwright Sisters will be playing three special showcase performances that are listed below.

November 7: City Winery, New York, NY

November 10: St. Stephens Church, London, England

December 1: Phi Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada

Songs In The Dark Track Listing