Radio interview

Hey, we just did an interview on BFN Networks, and several songs in the studio. Here's the link

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Chicago Tribune RedEye article

There’s a story about The Spares in today’s Chicago Tribune RedEye. Here’s the link.

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’Chicago Rox’ band of the week

The Spares are the ’Chicago Rox’ Band of the week at thelocaltourist.com. Here’s the link.

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Radio interview

Hey there -- check out the archived version of our radio interview with BFN Networks that originally aired on WUIC in Chicago.

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The latest press

Five stars from HarderBeat.com
Four stars from ReadJunk.com
And three from Music-Critic.ca.

Also, "Waiting for the Smoke to Clear" is the Track of the Week at GarageBand.com for the week of February 26.

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Another blog

Another cool review, this time from the blog Herohill: "I've fallen in love with the finger picking style and Jodee's lovely voice. I've been playing the MP3s on repeat while I enjoy my coffee this morning. . . . I sense it's going to be one that gets a lot of play here at herohill HQ."

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Latest press

A couple of new reviews/mentions have rolled in:

1) The All Ages Zine, which says "The Chicago duo known as the Spares have found a way to combine a whole lot of influences and wrap them up into a modern pop sound and pull this off. You can call them Americana, roots rock, bluegrass, etc… but all in all they bring it on home and created a great sound. The music is simple enough and makes you listen while it holds a pop edge, but the vocals are the shining portion of this album. The female leads will suck you into this record and keep you listening to their sophomore effort. I call this great pop rock with an influence stamped in America's past. Good job. A unique sound on an older influence and well worth a spin if you are looking for something a little different than you get from the mainstream."

2) At the music blog "Can You See the Sunset From the Southside?" Eric said nice things about us. Specifically, "Do you like female-fronted alt-country/roots rock that (to me at least) recalls Emmylou Harris, Allison Krauss, and Mindy Smith? If yay, then check out The Spares. This Chicago duo has a new record called Beautiful And Treacherous Thing full of twangy guitars, melodious songs, and the lovable vocals of Jodee Lewis. Even my wife likes this."

3) And from the blog Mrs. Dude: "Jodee Lewis has the most amazing voice. Her vocals are tough and tender. Vulnerable and fierce. I don't normally like female singers, but I love her voice. I feel like I could listen to their discs, Beautiful and Treacherous Thing and Hand Me Down, a hundred times and never fully understand their rich complexity. If indie, acoustic, alt-country, roots, Americana rock is your thing...check them out. Even if it's not, give them a chance."

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Hickory Wind podcast

We're featured on a podcast at hickorywind.org. Here's the link.

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The latest press

The Columbia (MO) Daily Tribune did a nice write up in advance of our show at the Blue Note on Saturday. Mary Nguyen says, "it might be their Midwest heritage that allows them to write the character-driven songs they do. The combination of Hendershot's guitar rhythms and twangs, Lewis' gliding vocals, and the harmonies of voices and instruments creates a musical landscape evocative of simpler days in the Great Plains. . . . Beautiful? Yes. Treacherous? You be the judge." Here's the link.

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Concert preview from NewCity Chicago

Tom Lynch of Newcity Chicago wrote a nice preview blurb for the CD Release show:

Alt-country duo The Spares roll through town this week, an injection of folk and roots rock, based in acoustic guitar and Jodee Lewis' pure vocals (a former chemical engineer, she and partner Steve Hendershot can sure engineer a harmony. That was lame.) "Beautiful and Treacherous Thing," the group's second record after debut "Hand Me Down," is filled with fun, energy-filled and smart folk, twangy and positive, sunshiny and often gorgeous. "Chapel of the Winding Road," anchored by Hendershot's fine finger-picking and the two's gentle voices and harmonies, is the album's best—sad, nostalgic and smooth. The duo plays with additional musicians while on tour, and while that might add some depth to the material, I almost wish it was just Lewis and Hendershot, just the voices and a guitar, simple and aching and hearty.

Here's the link.

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