Sons of Sylvia morph from their musical roots

March 29, 2010
By: ED CONDRAN
Burlington County Times

If Sons of Sylvia look and sound familiar + well, there's a good reason.

The country act of three brothers - vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ashley and guitarists Adam and Austin - each possess the Clark surname.

The siblings performed as The Clark Brothers during the 2007 Fox talent competition "The Next Great American Band," winning the top prize.

However, the group changed its name to the Sons of Sylvia in 2009.

"The music changed over that period and we wanted our name to reflect that change," Ashley Clark says while calling from Worcester, Mass. "We're not the same band as we were then."

Sons of Sylvia's debut disc is scheduled for an April release.

"Our material is a little bit country and a little bit rock 'n roll," Clark says. "It all comes right from our hearts. Good country and good rock 'n' roll comes from honesty. You'll have to hear the new songs to get it. I'm just so glad that so many people are going to be able to hear it."

That's so because the Sons of Sylvia have a friend who is helping expose their music.

Country-pop superstar Carrie Underwood tabbed the trio to open shows for her tour, which stops tonight at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton.

Underwood also has a deep connection with Sons of Sylvia. She also won a talent competition when she took the "American Idol" crown in 2005.

"Carrie understands how surreal that whole experience is," says Clark. "There's nothing else like it."

Advertisement Sons of Sylvia played on "What Can I Say," a catchy cut from Underwood's "Play On" disc.

"It was awesome to be part of that song," Clark says.

Clark started playing fiddle for Underwood back in 2005.

"I didn't know much about 'American Idol' at the time, but all of a sudden, we were out playing Jay Leno and David Letterman. It was awesome."

But Clark is even happier with his latest run with Underwood: He and his brothers are on a big tour previewing songs from their album.

"I told Carrie that this is so great that I'm going to have to take her to Shoney's," Clark cracks. "I told her she can eat whatever she wants. Just have as much fun as you can with that menu. We haven't gotten to Shoney's yet but when we go, watch out because Carrie is going to have a great time."

Everyone in the Clark family is pleased with the band's path to success except perhaps their father.

"You can't please everybody," Clark says. "My mother is proud that we chose to be called Sons of Sylvia. My dad's feelings are a little bruised that we didn't call our band 'the Sons of Frederick.' His ego will be all right. He'll be happy as long as things continue to go well for us."

Worcester MA March 21

Great show. Craig Morgan was a nice surprise and the instumentals by 'Sons of Sylvia' were amazing. Overall a solid performance by all the performers.

Mashantucket, CT March 20

Mashantucket, Conn. — A tearful Carrie Underwood dedicated “Temporary Home” to one of her truck drivers who died in a wreck before the performer’s Saturday night concert at MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Midway through the show, Underwood informed the sold-out crowd of the accident, dedicating the song to the driver and his family. Remaining poised throughout most of the song, Underwood became shaky and tearful toward the end, receiving vocal support and a standing ovation from the thousands in attendance. She finished and the show continued without a hitch.

This is, after all, Underwood’s “Play On” tour.

The Season 4 “American Idol” winner brought along Sons of Sylvia and Craig Morgan as opening acts, proving her show is a true blend of rock and country. Sons of Sylvia also came out toward the end of the performance to join Underwood on stage for the duet “What Can I Say.”

Atlantic City NJ March 19

Sons of Sylvia, who used to be known as The Clark Brothers, opened the evening with their energetic mix of bluegrass, rock and country. They performed a blazingly fast and short bluegrass jam with Austin Clark on dobro, Adam Clark on mandolin and Ashley Clark on fiddle.

Albany, NY March 12

The crew was over two hours late arriving, and the crowd was locked out of the Times Union Centre until the elaborate stage was completely set up. Still, the show opened just 45 minutes late, with Sons of Sylvia delivering a burning bluegrass/psychedelic version of the Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter, clear evidence that country music ain’t pure country anymore. The band’s three brothers looked like they stepped out of the Twilight movies, which pleased the teenage segment of the largely female crowd.
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Sons of Sylvia opened the show, with the spotlight on a searing lap steel, which brought on a U2-ish take on the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter.” The band of brothers could certainly sing and play, but got a luke-warm reception, despite a burning bluegrass instrumental and the expansive “50 Ways.”
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I never watched Great American Band till the finale, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from the amazing Clark brothers. I knew I would like them as I loved Ashley when he toured with Carrie, but I honestly had no idea what type of music they would play last night. Lol However, from the opening notes it is clear they are a blend of Alt Rock meets bluegrass meets Christian rock. The overall effect was outstanding, and I think the crowd was in awe of them. Despite what the newspaper said, the crowd seemed very impressed with them and clapped loudly. They were just sitting quietly taking it in because no one knew who they were, but when they did the bluegrass number, especially, the crowd was very loud in support. I think everyone, including me, was glued to their seats because we were all so surprised and impressed by them. Maybe the newspaper critic was in a different section then me, or didn’t get that the crowd was actually mesmerized by them…. Overall, they were brilliant and I can see big things for them in their future. I really loved Ashley’s song “Revelation”. That was my favorite of their set.
Note: Poor Ashley seemed very tired after his performance, and I wondered if he was sick? Maybe he just needs to work out. Lol But he was brilliant. Great vocals last night.

Reading, PA March 11

Openers Sons of Sylvia, who won the "Next Great American Band" reality show in 2007 as The Clark Brothers, started off with a snippet of "Gimme Shelter," and most of their short set continued in a rocking vein.
While Adam Clark plinked a mandolin, Austin Clark squealed on a Dobro and slide guitar and Ashley Clark stuck mostly to an acoustic guitar, and the highlight came when the three brothers took to center stage for a bona fide bluegrass breakdown (Ashley Clark on fiddle), most of the songwriting owed at least as much to Bon Jovi ("Revelation") and U2 ("Fifty Ways") as to country music. That said, it was catchy and energetic.
They came back on stage to accompany Underwood on the sleek ballad "What Can I Say," as they did on the record.
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'What Can I Say': (with Sons of Sylvia) This is a soooo amazing live. Ashley and Carrie rocked the house with their performance; it went a little longer with Ashley doing his own little solo at the end; that was just superb. She had on a gold sparkly top and the boys looked super handsome to. Carrie and Ashley’s vocals are amazing together they have such chemistry on stage but I guess that’s what happens when you’ve worked with someone before. Ashley had a solo part at the end of the song that blew me away it was fantastic! 'Change': Sons of Sylvia stuck around to help with the 'Change' intro which was super pretty.
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Opening the show was Sons of Sylvia, a trio of brothers whose style of music was more alternative rock than country. The group, whose brief set went over quite well with the ladies, also joined Underwood during her new song "What Can I Say."
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Sons Of Sylvia were so amazing! I wish I could remember their set list but lemme say that I cannot wait for their CD. I had my What Can I Say I Luv SOS sign with me and held it up for a few. I noticed that Austin looked at it, smiled shook his head and smiled again. There live vocals are fantastic and they did an amazing bluegrass song in the middle of the set. I really would love to see them do a headlining tour in the future it would be so amazing.

After they were over I went out with Lynsi, Alyson, Jill and my friends Sarah and Nicki as well as a few other FC Members and fans to go and wait in line to meet the guys. I had brought my sign and photo with Ashley from 2007 to get them to sign. I got up to Ashley and put the photo of us from 2007 in front of him and he had a great reaction to it “No way, would you look at that?” he said after we talked for a second I asked him for a photo and he said “Yeah Sure” we got out photo and he asked me to Tweet him the photo later on. I put my sign down in front of Austin who smiled and said “I still can’t believe you did this, I love this!’ and signed it we chatted for a second and I got my photo with him to I moved to Adam and got him to sign it as well and I dunno if he was being rushed but he said something like ‘If I could write my name faster’ it was pretty cute and we got our photo. There such sweet guys I was so pleased to get to meet them!
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The Clark Brothers, Sons Of Sylvia - whatever they want to call themselves this year (maybe even Pioneers Of The Next Decade) - did not disappoint! The problem is they're a band without a genre home...they're part bluegrass, part country, part alternative rock, part however else you want to label them. There's really no home for that type of music so hopefully they're turn into Pioneers Of The Next Decade.

Poor Ashley did seem like he was a nervous reck. He seemed quite nervous while singing and even more nervous while talking. After overextending himself a lil' too much on one performance, Jeff & I could've sworn he whispered "God help me" or something to that effect before his next song But damn, these guys can play instruments like nobody else can -- and they were rockin' hard. You get 110% from them every time out. I don't even know if their album has been released yet (shows how much I've been paying attention) but I definitely will get a copy as soon as time permits.

The Next Great American Band played for about 23 minutes or so on their own. After a very quick stage change (only about 10 minutes or so), Craig Morgan took the stage.
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sons of sylvia - WERE INCREDIBLE. omg. i looooved them! i can't wait to hear an entire cd! ashley clark is amazing <3
after SOS, alyson, lynsi, erin and the others who i do not know their names hahah, went to wait in line to meet sons of sylvia! we could hear craig morgan, he sounded pretty good. once the boys came out everybody screamed and the line went pretty quick. they were really rushing because it was a long line and they wanted to get everyone before carrie came on. so i went up to ashley and he shook my hand and asked me my name and then we took a picture and that was pretty much it haha. i didn't really talk to the other guys, i just said thank you. all 3 signed my ticket! love them (: