By Kevin Cox
On a heavenly Buffalo summer evening the Quebe sisters floated onto the stage of the Sportsmen’s Tavern with their sturdy sidemen Simon Stipp on guitar and Daniel Parr on bass.
The Dallas based sisters (Sophia, Hulda and Grace) are all Texas state fiddle champions, and they showed why on Tuesday, July 23.
In their first visit to the legendary Sportsmen’s, the band thrilled the large crowd with fiddle harmony, vocal harmony, a smart set of historic swing songs, some beautiful originals and a sweet tight set of seasoned pros belying their enthusiastic youth.
The sisters played fiddle in unison for the first couple of tunes, then changed it up in alternating rhythms. Their singing in harmony was perfectly entrancing.
Parr provided a constant crisp, funky bass, and Stipp was wonderful with sweet melodic chords and an interesting crisp drum-swishing move.
There was that cool, great joy of musicians loving and digging playing together. It swung and cooked then turned soft and sweet with some Willie Nelson from Sophia.
The set was so smart with nods to Americana history: Bob Wills, Willie, Ricky Skaggs and Asleep At the Wheel’s Ray Benson, who gave them entrance to the Opry and the Ryman Auditorium.
The whole set was beautiful, so well thought out. It built slowly, mixing each sister’s individual voices, but always returning to pitch perfect three-part harmony.
Quebe Sisters Performing Band
It was another treasure trove of Americana music at the Sportsmen’s. The surprisingly large crowd was thrilled. They are a crafty, cunning crew! The applause grew to standing ovation.
I met with the business manager Isaac Stipp after the show. We went through the song list and discussed Quebe history. He was sharp, polite as was the whole team.
After a couple of dozen reviews here and well over 200 shows at the Sportsmen’s Tavern, I have learned that the sweetest most lovely Americana bands always, yep, always, have a great team because the music is real, authentic and heart lifting.
The Quebe Band is coming back in November. Get your tickets now. This band is going to be one of those many favorites charming Buffalo for years to come at the Sportsmen’s Tavern. Do not miss them!
