Fronted by femme fatale vocalist, Meredith DiMenna, Saint Bernadette perform super-heated, 70’s inspired, powerhouse rock and roll, employing catchy melodies, soaring harmonies and rhythms heavy enough to force the savage to the surface of any civilized soul.
With a broad palette and colorful appetite for absolutely every form of music, Meredith has been compared to an impossibly diverse list of power females like Shirley Bassey, Peggy Lee, Johnette Napolitano, Joni Mitchell, Joan Jett, Beth Gibbons, Grace Slick, Velma Kelly, PJ Harvey, and Billie Holiday, as well as the occasional man, like Robert Plant, Greg Dulli, Jim Morrison, and “that guy from the Scissor Sisters”.
Just as the real Saint Bernadette changed the future of her hometown of Lourdes forever with her unexplained visions, Saint Bernadette, the rock band, is poised to put their homebase of Bridgeport, in the ill-considered state of Connecticut, on the independent music map.
Their debut album 'In the Ballroom', recorded in three days in Bridgeport’s abandoned Bijou Ballroom, featured anthems for ethical sluts, Daddy's girls, and hookers with hearts of gold, while their sophomore EP “I Wanna Tell You Something” featured big hooks and twisted circus melodies, detailing a journey of longing through temptation, despair, whimsy, audacity, and vulnerability.
Their immediate follow-up EP “Word to the Lourdes” was an assault of rock-pop gems drawing comparisons to none other than AC/DC.
In early 2010 they did a limited release of their most ambitious album to date: “Cover Thy Neighbor” which features cover versions of songs written by other local artists and personal friends of the band as well as a re-imagining of the 10 Commandments. It also features an all-star line-up of guest appearances including Fuzz (Caravan of Thieves, Deep Banana Blackout), Carrie, Ben and Brian from Caravan of Thieves, Jesse Elliott of These United States, Jar-e, Joe Roberto (Poverty Hash, Gnu Fuz), and Tim Walsh of The Stepkids.
Reigning supreme among the Bridgeport rock scene, the band has earned a laundry list of dubious titles including “Best Indie Band” as voted by the readers of the Fairfield Weekly and top honors in the “Battle of the Bands” at Hamden’s The Space.
In 2011, they will release their fifth album, as yet untitled, produced by Danny Kadar (My Morning Jacket, Avett Brothers).
QUOTABLES:
Saint Bernadette's debut is a shimmering set of torchy, if not necessarily romantic jazz blues that reveals additional layers the more it's played. . . . Turn the lights down low, burn some incense, and lose yourself in Saint Bernadette's intense yet lithe charms.
-- ALL MUSIC GUIDE
The debut album from Connecticut's Saint Bernadette hits the sort of notes and touches that make me weak in the knees, by expertly melding things I'm a sucker for: ballsy broads, smoke-filled jazz clubs, and, of course, the element of surprise.
-- SENTIMENTALIST MAGAZINE
If you're a fan of femme fatales and below-the-belt rock (and really, who isn't?), Saint Bernadette is definitely worth your attention.
-- MY OLD KENTUCKY BLOG
. . . Meredith DiMenna is a monster of a front woman.
-- METROMIX
Grace Slick-meets-Edie Brickell vocals at their most haunting.
-- NEW YORK TIMES
Watch out Shirley Bassey. Meredith DiMenna of Saint Bernadette wields an old-school femme fatale voice that would be perfect for the next 20 years of James Bond themes. . . .
-- HARP MAGAZINE
Official Website
Find Tickets
