The Springtails - Rain or Shine (2016)

The Springtails are led by the charming Michigan-based husband-and-wife duo, Andy & Julianna Wilson, performing a variety of songs from vaudeville and swing-era standards to more recent pop, folk, and originals with voices, ukuleles, harmonicas, and cornet. Bob Bryan on percussion and Louis Rudner on double bass frequently join the duo for the quartet version of the band and are featured here on what is their sophomore record.

Heavily inspired by recordings of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra among others, Julianna's lilting voice pairs naturally with Andy's soulful harmonica and retro sounding horn. It will feel like you are sitting in a small cafe listening to a vocal jazz ensemble. Songs range from haunting ballads to playful swing, unified by the vocals and instrumentation. The only original on this record, Enjoy the Show, was written by Julianna and is a reminder to be present in the moment. Standards such as I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Come Rain or Come Shine, Swing Brother Swing, I Wish You Love, and It's A Pity To Say Goodnight remind us why the ukulele was so well suited for this music and why it became popular in the first half of the 20th century. The versatility of the ukulele also shines on the more recent pop and folk tunes, Say You Will, Dance Me To The End Of Love, and Mean Old Way. The upbeat and comical, That's My Weakness Now, written in 1928 by Bud Green & Sam H. Stept with some modified lyrics by Julianna, is based on the Helen Kane version, who was the voice of Betty Boop. The Springtails hope you too will Enjoy the Show!