BIO:
SIRSY is a rock and soul duo with lots of pop sensibility and just the right amount of sass. The Boston Globe sums it up, “Little band. Big Sound.” No more needs to be said. Although the only thing “little” about Sirsy is that there's just two of them.
The rest is bigger than a T-Rex. Close your eyes and listen to the power and heart in their music and you'll swear there's more than two people on stage. It's crank up the volume, sing along at the top of your lungs music -- even when the ballads kick in. Plus, "Their clever, smart songs have more hooks than a tacklebox." (-Times Union).
SIRSY is fronted by powerhouse vocalist Melanie (Mel) Krahmer, who is described as “one of the most powerful & flexible voices you’ll ever hear.” (-Times Union). Aftertaste Magazine said, “Bursting and belting out emotion and substance,
she can be the queen of ‘in the groove’ rocking or be simple and delicate.” Still, there is more to Mel than her soul-inspired vocals: she also plays a full drum kit while standing up (she’s been featured in Modern Drummer Magazine
and is officially endorsed by Paiste Cymbals and Vater Percussion). At their live shows, Mel also plays bass parts with a drum stick (on a keyboard mounted on her drums). She even throws in an occasional flute solo, too.
Guitarist Rich Libutti plays a well-loved and road-worn Rickenbacker through a pedal board full of vintage effects. “The guitar player is flawless and raw. Clean enough to be enjoyed, and just edgy enough to make you grin.” (-SXSW Music Blog, Austin TX).
Live, Rich also plays bass on a keyboard with his feet.
Sirsy has played over 250 shows a year nationally for the last 10 years. They average about 60,000 miles per year in their little white van aptly named "Miles". They tour for a living. Although you'll normally find them in the headline slot, they've also opened for: Maroon 5, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Train, RaRaRiot, Third Eye Blind, Collective Soul, Lifehouse, Blues Traveler, Cheap Trick, and many more.
SIRSY has played official showcases at CMJ and SXSW as well as marquee venues like The Viper Room and Gramercy Theater. Both Mel and Rich have theatre backgrounds. So, their energetic live show often includes stories and laughter from the stage. Although the lyrics can be introspective and the power of Sirsy can get pretty intense, “there is no sadness there”,
Mel says. On stage they radiate joy. "It’s just us being free and playing music...”
SIRSY is currently hard at work writing new songs for a follow-up to their latest EP "Sketches and Ghosts" and their most recent full-length offering, "Coming into Frame". "Coming into Frame" was produced by Grammy-winners, Paul Kolderie & Sean Slade
(Radiohead, Hole, Dresden Dolls, Pixies). SIRSY’s song “Cannonball” was featured on the hit tv show "Shameless" (on Showtime). Their music video for “Lionheart” was in rotation on MTVu and their song "Revolution" was the theme song for a PBS
documentary "So Right, So Smart". (The music video for 'Revolution' was also in rotation on HBO).
“Pouring their souls out and rocking the shit outta the crowd, was SIRSY … just phenomenal! SIRSY is NOT simply a two piece, they are a head scratching, 'WOW!' This is the complete package in a fun sized, rock and roll, smiling, laughing, have a
good goddamn time with your friends, band!” (-SXSW Music Blog, Austin TX) "SIRSY is Highly talented, “edgy-feel-good” and fun to watch, you gotta go see them.” (-Houston Music Blog)
PRAISE FOR SIRSY:
“Sirsy is a hook-heavy duo that rocks with maximum hip-shake appeal. Melanie Krahmer beats the drums and sings while Rich Libutti lets fly with Big Star hooks as sleek as Krahmer’s getaway sticks. Inventive, irresistible, and fun.”
— Frank DeBlase, City Newspaper (Rochester NY)
“SIRSY is Melanie Krahmer on drums, bass pads, flute, and vocals – and Rich Libutti on guitar and pedal bass. Melanie hit every note perfectly as she sang. Rich’s skillful guitar playing created the full musical sound and didn’t leave
any empty spots in the tunes from only having two players, like Jack White of the White Stripes sometimes did. All of that created the perfect frame for us to be amazed by what Melanie was doing. You kind of have to see it to understand it.
It’s not a gimmick band. They’re seriously good, balanced and practiced. Highly talented, “edgy-feel-good” and fun to watch, you gotta go see them.”
— Wayne Brodd, Houston Music Blog (Houston, TX)
“Killer rock guitar riffs that are every schoolboy’s dream.”
— Instrumental Magazine (Scotland)
“This is EXACTLY what the heart and spirit of SXSW has always been about… Pouring their souls out and rocking the shit outta the crowd, was SIRSY…phenomenal! SIRSY is NOT simply a two piece, they are a head scratching, WOW!
The guitar player is flawless and raw. Clean enough to be enjoyed, and just edgy enough to make you grin. The lead singer/drummer/bass player was stunning. With a great voice and an even better smile, the drummer is the center of attention,
as she should be. Singing and playing drums has always been an impressive task. Now throw in the bass tracks and work that AT THE SAME TIME…DAMN! This is the complete package in a fun sized, rock and roll, smiling laughing, have a
good goddamn time with your friends, band!”
— William Tompkins, SXSW Music Blog (Austin TX)
“Easily one of the best bands featured on ReverbNation, Sirsy, from Albany, NY, which consists of Melanie Krammer (percussion, vocals) and guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Rich Libutti, is truly a powerhouse duo. Accomplished musicians with
some of the most interesting and polished rock/soul/alternative/indie pop songs, none of which are flawed in any perceptible way, Sirsy is a real one of a kind band. There are plenty of male/female duos recording this type (or slightly more edgy)
music currently, like the also great Whitehorse, but there is something that is above and beyond the norm where Sirsy’s music is concerned. Melanie Kramer’s powerful and soulful vocals are instantly recognizable within her genre, but are powerfully
individual enough to make you pay more attention than you would any other average singer in her genre. The only singer I can compare her to, in terms of genre reinvigorating not necessarily range and strength, is Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard.
That’s some spectacular company for Melanie. Sirsy’s standout single, which is also perhaps the most widely accessible, is “Killer.” It encapsulates everything great about Sirsy. Melanie’s vocals, tinged with a bit of soulful snark, are simply incredible.
Rich Libutti’s solid rock guitar work is impeccable. It’s simply astonishing the amount of sound these two produce on their own without a full band. “Brave and Kind” takes the listener in a totally opposite direction. This quietly powerful song sung and
performed with an equally quiet and powerful sincerity is simply nothing short of sublime. Sirsy is the kind of band that only comes along once in a decade or so. They’re one of the few bands out there that you simply MUST be listening to.”
— Andy Frisk, Shutter 16 Magazine