The Puppini Sisters preview

The Puppini Sisters
Schubas, Chicago
Friday, August 24, 2007

The last time many of the songs performed by The Puppini Sisters were popular, World War II was raging, radios were powered by vacuum tubes, and tunes such as “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “In The Mood” were Top 10 hits.

Over the past half-century the wars, technology, and music may have changed, but the vintage sound recreated by The Puppinis remains timeless. Modeling themselves after such famed “girl groups” as the Andrews, Boswell, and McGuire Sisters, The Puppini Sisters — Marcella Puppini, Kate Mullins, and Stephanie O’Brien — are sure to transform Schubas’ storied performance space into a fun, 1940s-era concert hall.

Touring on behalf of their debut album, Betcha Bottom Dollar (Verve Forecast), the Puppinis showcase polished three-part harmony on both standards like “Jeepers Creepers” and “Bei Mir Bist Du Schön” and swing-style reinterpretations of such comparatively contemporary cuts as “I Will Survive” and Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights.” Their spirited renditions of nostalgic numbers is reverent yet slightly revisionist, intermingling spot-on singing with folksy (as opposed to brassy) instrumentation. The remakes of modern melodies are a bit more hit or miss: The girls’ longing voices in “Heart Of Glass” offer fresh insight into Blondie’s poignant paean, whereas the trio’s take on The Smiths’ “Panic” is simply annoying.

While The Puppini Sisters cite influences ranging from Carole King to Marilyn Manson, their unique arrangements were primarily inspired by Benoit Charest, the musician best known for his Oscar-nominated work on the animated film The Triplets Of Belleville. That French burlesque sound, coupled with the the group’s sophisticated vocal harmonies, swing sensibilities, and exuberant sense of humor, promises a sure-to-be enchanting, evocative, and entertaining evening.

— Jeff Berkwits

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly