by William Wayland
It’s heartbreaking that The Starling Six‘s debut EP, Five by The Starling Six, will most likely be their last. The band’s co-founders, husband and wife Taylor Cutcomb and Amy Gervais-Cutcomb, are moving to Hawaii at the end of August.
The Starling Six is one of the many great Bay Area bands that not enough people have had the chance to hear, but for three years, this talented group rocked North Bay music venues with ear-bleeding honky tonk.
The band might never have formed had the short-lived Honeysuckle Rogues not broken up in 2017 after about five gigs. In addition to Amy Gervais-Cutcomb, the band included Danny Uzilevsky, Michael Pinkham, Dan Duffin, and the legendary six-string and pedal steel guitarist Barry Sless.
A few years after the breakup, Barry suggested to Amy that they form a new band. It quickly came together with a lineup that included Amy as lead vocalist, Taylor on bass guitar, Josh Zee on electric guitar, JT John on drums, Sam Barry on harmonica and keyboard, and Barry Sless on pedal steel.
Barry wasn’t able to make the band’s practices, though, and recommended Dave Zirbel to fill in as their first show at The Pint Size Lounge in San Rafael got closer.
With an impressive lineup of musicians that quickly gelled as a band, The Starling Six developed a distinctive sound that blended traditional honky-tonk with hard-driving rock and roll. As the frontwoman, Amy drew inspiration from heartache, anxiety, and emotional turmoil, especially with classics like “Jolene,” “She’s Got You,” and “Bobby McGee.” They often closed with this one and Amy gave everything she had as audience members protected their ears. As Taylor said, it turned into a song with a “balls-to-the-wall arrangement where everyone was on 12, culminating in a big finale” and Amy often blowing her voice out.
From the beginning, the band intended to write and perform original music. Amy took a deeply personal approach to songwriting, which wasn’t always quick. Songs could come at unexpected moments and Amy wondered whether the tune she was singing into her phone was something she heard before or if it was actually her own. With arrangements by Josh Zee, these became a repertoire of heartwrenching songs that felt like instant classics.
Inside the band, there was pressure to record. Josh Zee was particularly eager to document the band’s original material and pushed Amy to continue writing. Phil Milner of Okey Doke Records in San Rafael was generous with his time and expertise and helped to make it happen. The result is, Five by The Starling Six, an EP that captures the essence of the band’s sound and serves as a testament to their brief but impactful journey.
The Starling Six played their final gig at The Marin Rod and Gun Club on July 27th, marking the end of an era for the band. While Taylor and Amy hope to return to the Bay Area and get the band together for shows, the Hawaii move means the end of The Starling Six as an active band.
Despite their short time together, The Starling Six left a big impression on the Marin County music scene, and their EP will serve as a lasting reminder of their unique contribution to country music.
The Starling Six – Five by The Starling Six Tracklist:
- Never
- Whiskey Song
- Heartache
- Please
- Ain’t No Home
Additional photos of The Starling Six in performance and recording at Okey Doke Records:
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