Sister 7, formerly known as Little Sister, has released their first full-length CD on Arista Austin Records, This the Trip. Sister 7 is all about live rockin' grooves that usually extend past the 3-hour mark on stage. Since 1991, the band has strived to become a tight, yet creative, band both live and in the studio. Sister 7 is usually on the road about 11 months out of the year, which doesn't leave much time for cutting a CD, though they managed to do so earlier this year. Hailing from central Texas, they have a loyal and dedicated fan base that feeds the energy of their groove-filled live shows.
This the Trip is the latest musical collaboration of four talented musicians headed by singer/songwriter/guitarist Patrice Pike. Since Sister 7 derives their creativity from the stage, in front of hundreds of fans, it's only natural that they would attempt to emulate that spirit on their CDs. This the Trip isn't live, but has a strong, raw feel to it that both satisfies studio quality and maintains a live vibe. Sister 7 is one hard-core funk/groove/metal/hip-hoppin' blues band; if it sounds like they're hard to categorize you're right. Members of the band draw from influences ranging from gospel to Led Zeppelin. Patrice Pike lends a hearty vocal range that captures a definite edge right from the first song, the title track "This the Trip", while lead guitarist Wayne Sutton crunches, wah-wahs, grinds, and grooves to the rhythm of their metal trip-hop.
Sister 7 has jammed to crowds at such venues as the 1994 H.O.R.D.E. festivals and ESPN's X Games Xperience Tour. This the Trip does Sister 7 fair justice, but from the sounds of it this band is best experienced in their natural habitat, on stage in front of a crowd.
