Sparrow

by Tim SendraVancouver indie pop group Sparrow began as a solo vehicle for former Zumpano drummer Jason Zumpano. After the breakup of Zumpano and after spending some time playing keyboards for Destroyer, Zumpano decided to go it alone, recruiting a violinist and a cellist to play with him in the Sparrow. After ditching the "The" and adding another refugee from Zumpano, Michael Ledwidge on guitar, as well as Pete Mills on bass and Scott Morgan on drums, Sparrow began playing gigs, most notably the 2002 SXSW conference, where their show so impressed the folks at Overcoat Records that the label decided to put out the group's already recorded album. Sparrow was released in 2003 and garnered mixed reviews. The band went on to tour and record a second album, this time for Absolutely Kosher. 2005's Early Years featured a whole new band backing Zumpano, including vocalist Lucy Brain of Vancouver's Young and Sexy as well as Rob Calder (guitar), Shane Nelken (bass), Kim Koch (violin), Josh Lindstrom (drums), and Megan Bradfield (cello). The record was a huge improvement over the band's first and showed Zumpano growing as a vocalist and a songwriter.