Jesse Smith grew up with sisters who could all sing the daylights out of an Irish ballad. Yet despite an adulthood spent jamming with just about every musician in town, he never thought to invite one of them to join him on stage or on record.
“We grew up singing Irish songs. My sisters were great singers, and I didn’t know that I could sing at all until high school,” says Smith. “I would accompany them on instruments, but it didn’t dawn on me to collaborate with them. Then I asked my sister Anna [Greene-Smith] to sing with King Falcon, and she said, ‘great’—and it sounded great. We now have the brother-sister thing working really well.”
Jesse Smith is a guitarist and singer who writes music that seeks to defy classification, incorporating elements of Americana, blues, folk, indie rock and more. “My influences are constantly changing,” Smith says. “But I’m continually drawn to bands of the ’60s and ’70s. Bands like the Beatles were doing all kinds of stuff. Back then there were all sorts of bands doing all different kinds of music—there weren’t all these subgenres of punk, subgenres of rock, everything—I try and avoid all of the sub-genrification.”
King Falcon is the moniker for Smith’s Valley-based musical project. “It was basically a revolving door of musicians, and I was constantly having people come in and out, playing bass, drums, whatever,” he says. “I was the primary songwriter, and we’d go on a show-to-show thing. Every time I’d play my songs, there’d be a different lineup, which was interesting, but it could get frustrating.”
Jesse and Anna recently relocated to Providence—home to another sister and to like-minded bands they’ve met, like Brown Bird and The Low Anthem—in an attempt to find a more solid, if not permanent, lineup. “Before it was all about testing out the songs and getting experience on stage,” Smith explains. “Now I’m really just focused on getting music together that’s really audience-focused. We were working on how we fit in musically with the world, and now I want to figure out how best to mesh with the audience, and that’s easier with a steady band.”
Despite the move, Smith says local fans who want to check out the siblings’ stylings won’t have to wait long. Their mother still resides in the area, where Jesse attended high school and college. “We get back to Western Mass often, and every time we’re back I try and put together a show.”
Has he ruled out resettling back here in the Valley? “Not at all. Just checking out Providence. I love the Happy Valley. It’s weird and I don’t fit in there, just like everybody else—and that’s awesome.”
For songs and show listings, visit www.myspace.com/drjesseandmrsmith.Elizabeth Newcombe photo
