The Living Sisters In-store Performance at Amoeba Music! April 11, 2010

LA-based singer-songwriters Inara George (The Bird And The Bee), Becky Stark (Lavender Diamond) and Eleni Mandell celebrate their new album, Love to Live (out March 30th on Vanguard Records) live at Amoeba!

The Living Sisters may be the most experienced "new" group you've ever heard. Los Angeles-based singer/songwriters Inara George (The Bird and the Bee), Becky Stark (Lavender Diamond) and Eleni Mandell have cumulatively spent decades writing, recording and singing around the world with their respective groups. Now, after years of seed-planting, the accomplished trio has finally recorded their Vanguard debut album, Love to Live as The Living Sisters.

"I met Becky at a bar somewhere in L.A. in 2005 and I told her I wanted to have a harmony group," recalls Mandell. "We talked about it and she said, 'Okay, it'll be called the Living Sisters' and we immediately started performing right away."

With George on board the following year, the vocalists discovered their mutual love of country, soul and other traditional styles of music and began showcasing their vocal talents in the L.A. area while still pursuing their individual artistic visions. "When we were recording the record, we were all super busy, so it was like stolen moments," says George. "It was basically whenever we could all get together."

It was worth the wait. Produced by the songwriters themselves with co-production by Sheldon Gomberg, the self-titled debut nods to classic country harmony groups like The Louvin Brothers and The Delmore Brothers, but also showcases the singers' roots in gospel ("How Glad I Am"), soul ("Good Old Wagon") and doo-wop ("Double Knots.") Connecting and anchoring these disparate styles are the trio's harmonies themselves, which, depending on the track, can be subtly suggestive, childishly playful, or earnestly heartfelt.

Love to Live is just the latest in a string of accomplishments for the vocalists. Eleni Mandell's sultry voice has been a L.A. staple since her 1999 debut album Wishbone, with her latest, Artificial Fire, receiving widespread critical acclaim. As the frontwoman of Lavender Diamond, Becky Stark's mix of pop and chamber music has been described by Allmusic as "effortless, timeless-sounding songs." And as one-half of The Bird and The Bee, Inara George has built up a cult following with the group's love of jazz, pop and tropicalia.

Official Website: http://www.amoeba.com/live-shows/performances/hollywood/2010-april-11/the-living-sisters/artist.html