Local Band on the Rise

Chattering groups of people filled the tables of  on Saturday, Nov. 6, squished shoulder to shoulder at the bar. The noise converged into one loud din. But late in the evening a low, slow drumbeat began and a hush came over the room.

All eyes turned to the two-person band where a bearded gentleman used a foot pedal to bang an overturned drum while simultaneously strumming a banjo. Next to him, an attractive woman with an eclectic array of tattoos joined in on cello. As they began to harmonize, the audience was rapt.

The band, Brown Bird, is comprised of two Warren residents, David Lamb and Morgan Eve Swain. Their sound, falling under the general banner of Americana, has hints of bluegrass, gypsy, folk, outlaw country and blues, and oscillates in mood from mellow to all out foot-stomping.

Brown Bird started with Lamb in 2005, became a trio for a few years, turned back into a solo outfit and finally, after Lamb met Swain a couple years ago, settled into the current incarnation. Brown Bird's popularity is on the rise after opening this year for The Low Anthem, Providence's internationally recognized indie folk band, on the European leg of their tour. Next month they will embark on their own mini-tour, playing a week of gigs between western Massachusetts and Richmond, VA.

"We're working on new songs to record in January and wanted to book a short tour to play them live, tighten them up, try out new ideas," said Lamb.

To date, Brown Bird has four albums and expects to release the next in the spring. "The Devil Dancing," which came out in 2009, can be purchased locally at and , where owner Katie Dickson is a huge fan of the band.

"It's as if June and Johnny Cash live right next door," Dickson said. "That is, if June had worn skinny jeans and sported a Brown Bird tattoo and Johnny played percussion with his feet while rocking one of the top five beards around. So, maybe they're cooler than the Cashes?" 

Brown Bird is scheduled to play in Providence on Nov. 28 at a yet to be determined venue. Lamb said he and Swain quite enjoyed playing the Stella Blues show and hope to play more local venues soon.