Sons of the Never Wrong

Dirty Linen

This is an excerpt from the print edition of Dirty Linen #131 (August/September 2007).
The full article is in the magazine, available on newsstands, by subscription, and at the Dirty Linen webstore.

Harmonies and Smiles

by Tom Nelligan

The Sons of the Never Wrong is an oddly named and proudly quirky acoustic trio from Chicago. Only one of the members is, biologically speaking, a son. However, if you see the group in concert, any confusion over that fact will probably soon be replaced by a sense of delight and wonder at its sound. The three-part harmonies are unique, sometimes smooth and traditional but more often based on eccentric but perfect little vocal snatches that come from unexpected directions and seem to float around the stage until they link into a happy whole. The songs alternate between poignant and lighthearted, but are always highly literate and cleverly phrased, musing on subjects from middle-aged relationships and hopeful spirituality to little details of life like magnetic poetry, puppies, and toast. There's a lot of humor and smiling and a generous helping of good vibes. Oh, and there's some dancing, too.

The group came together in 1992 and celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. Singer/guitarist Bruce Roper and singer/percussionist Sue Demel are founding members, and singer/multi-instrumentalist Deborah Lader has been with them since 1999. Roper is a tall, scholarly looking, soft-spoken man from downstate Illinois who's a little vague on biographical details but lists his inspirations and influences as "the Beatles, the Beatles, the Beatles and/or the Beatles." He was running a Chicago instrument shop and performing as a solo singer/songwriter when Demel and original member Nancy Walker, who sang together in a rock band, caught a show and loved his music. The three were soon experimenting with harmonies and quickly became a trio when they found that they all liked their collective sound. The group's name comes from a punning combination of the old Western group Sons of the Pioneers and the movie The Guns of Navarone.

[cover #131]