THE SWEET DIVINES are doing soul music the only way they know how -- the old-school way. These four young ladies and their band have honed an authentic sound that evokes the greats of the southern soul pantheon -- Stax, Aretha, James Brown, funky New Orleans -- yet feels immediate, unique, and more relevant than ever. The result is heavenly manna for soul purists, beat addicts, harmony lovers, and just about anyone else with a pair of ears and/or feet.Last January, when they made their hometown debut in Brooklyn, they were known only as a new spinoff of short-lived but much-loved soul sensation The Dansettes. Since then the Sweet Divines have floored fans and gotten the music blogs buzzing with a streak of sold-out shows, including appearances with Sharon Jones, The Mighty Hannibal, The Budos Band, Eli "Paperboy" Reed, Maxine Brown, Baby Washington, and Tami Lynn.The format may be classic, but the material is new and the live show crackles with raw heat. The whole experience recalls a time when singers could sing, tunes were tuneful, records were on record, and soul music had soul. If you think your generation missed out on all of that, think again. The Sweet Divines are making damn sure you get your chance too.
