I saw Artist of the Week Yellow Red Sparks perform last winter at the Silverlake Lounge, and I have been anxious to see the modern chamber folk trio ever since. Something about the blend of wistful lyricism, constantly changing instrumentation, and three part vocal harmony really stuck with me, and they stood out in my mind as a group whose evolution demands careful attention. They played The New L.A. Folk Festival earlier this month, and this Saturday they’ll be playing the Hotel Cafe stage at Sunset Junction (as long as the festival goes ahead as planned!). Last week they came to my house for an interview and performance, and they didn’t just disappoint: they gave me goosebumps.

Yellow Red Sparks – Performance and interview filmed by Jimmy Mehiel

The first song in the video above is the first track on their upcoming full-length album, and the song is called “Buy Me Honey”. It features lead singer and project mastermind Josh Hanson on acoustic guitar, Goldy on percussion and backup vocals, and SJ on upright bass. She switches from bass to banjo and harmonica on the second track “I’m Fine and That’s Fine” before moving to the piano in the third (pictured below) “If I Get It, Then You’ve Got It”. The three voices blend together beautifully, and it’s obvious in the interview portion of the video above that their harmonies reflect the natural bond between them.

Yellow Red Sparks – “If I Get It, Then You’ve Got It” filmed by Jimmy Mehiel

Artist of the Week Yellow Red Sparks recently finished their full-length debut, with details as to its public release coming soon. The trio was kind enough to give me an advance copy, and I’ve been playing it obsessively ever since. Both the lyrics and arrangements are wisely crafted, and lead singer Josh’s raw vocal delivery is balanced by the other two voices and lush string sections. This weekend you can catch them this Saturday at the Sunset Junction festival at the Hotel Cafe Stage (Hyperion Stage) at 1:45pm. Please visit the Sunset Junction website for further details on the festival and advance tickets. For more information on Yellow Red Sparks‘ upcoming tour dates, please stay tuned to their Myspace or Facebook pages.