Birds of Chicago

Birds of Chicago, the collective centered around Allison Russell and JT Nero, reassert the simple notion that beautiful words and music can still tap deep veins of emotion. Stark, elemental imagery that feels like scripture, or a lost folk song recovered; the Birds draw heavily on the gospel tradition and the music feels like a new, secular gospel of sorts. For Birds of Chicago, every word counts. Every note counts. No gold-dusting, no filler. Birds of Chicago was born in 2012 when Nero began writing for his vocal star-muse, Russell. Both were accomplished singer/songwriters with projects of their own, Nero with JT and the Clouds and Russell with the acclaimed Canadian roots outfit Po'Girl, but together there was an unmistakable chemistry. Nero had found the perfect voice for his rock and roll psalms. Russell moved from being a primary songwriter to an interpreter, and her simmering restraint is deeply refreshing to a landscape scorched by post "The Voice"/"American Idol" vocal gymnastics and over-emoting. Their sprawling rock and roll circus of an album, Love in Wartime, co-produced by Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi All Stars), will be released in April 2018. The raw, spontaneous, and warm EP American Flowers, released in November 2017, is Love in Wartime's cousin from the country, and it rounds out Birds of Chicago's offering of healing, communion and celebration of life in a dark and troubled time.