Local Darlings Put Utah on the Map, The Daily Chronicle
4/13/01

Utah is not supposed to be the home of a soon-to-be national act in the band department. Sure, the Provo area can boast Poe, but the last time she came to town, she played for free at a chain bookstore. We've had a few other minor ska heros and alternative-rock demigods, along with the usual catch of semi religious singer/songwriters, but nothing much to note.

This is not to say local musicians aren't great. They just don't get support or recognition.

Until now, that is. In 1999, Sunfall Festival was named one of Conan O'Brien's Top Ten College Bands. And this year, the group outdid even that honor. In January, Sunfall Festival won the $250,000 recording-contract grand prize in garageband.com's unsigned band contest. "I Walked Away," a sweet, musical pop song (available on the new album), beat out 20,000 others to take the top slot in the Internet contest. With the money, the foursome recorded its first CD in three yearsÑa well-produced, solid effort that blows much of the national mainstream tripe out of the water.

The band will release the album, Monday 23 on, shockingly, Monday, April 23. Monday 23, as with Absolutely Splendid, the band's first release, is a consistently good set of poppy, sincere ditties and simple ballads. Sunfall Festival sounds almost too much like Frente! or The Sundays sometimes. But the band admits it hasn't created anything new, experimental or artsyÑthat's not the goal. Rather, Sunfall Festival sets its sights on making good, cohesive songs that its audiences will appreciate and enjoy. Success!

The band was originally called Sleepy (the name was already taken), which describes the music aptlyÑin the good sense. The songs are relaxing, even when they rock.

The obvious selling point of Sunfall Festival is lead singer Amy Greetham. Greetham's voice is soothing and soft, for the most part. But this girl can sing, and we're not talking Jennifer Lopez, kinda-on-key, might-as-well-be computer-generated here. No, Greetham's voice is beautiful, her style unique, even (despite that it sounds like Harriet Wheeler's). It's a little-known fact that Greetham is an accomplished and extremely talented jazz singer. But after a listen, it all makes sense. She could look completely at home in a slinky red dress atop a black grand piano singing her innocently sultry ditties into one of those big, shiny, oval radio microphones. In fact, Greetham would be well served to focus her vocals more on the jazzy sounds if the band ever wants to drop its copycat brand. And the lyrics could use a little work.

The rest of the musicians are tight, sometimes bordering on soft rock, but not so much that it's irritating. One thing is for sureÑthey were lucky to get Greetham. She's the extra drop that pushes the bunch of them over the brim of local into national material.

Utah can thank Sunfall Festival for pushing our humble little music scene over the brim into the national spotlight.

Hear the new songs early and impress your friends with your knowledge of local musicians. Sunfall Festival plays Johnny B's Comedy Club in Provo Tuesday, April 17. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $6 at the door, $5 at the band's Web site, www.sunfallfestival.com.

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