terraNOVA Collective
IRT Theater
154 Christopher St.
Friday, September 13, 20, 27, $20-$25, 9:30
917-639-3166
www.terranovacollective.org
From 2006 to 2009, Ming Dynasty built a large local following, playing such clubs as the Continental, Arlene’s Grocery, and CBGB and releasing such discs as Yellow Tiger and Spaghetti Eastern. Led by former Plums frontman Eric Miranda and Taipei-based Moo Shoo Sweet Potato singer and bassist Ming Chan, Ming Dynasty mixed ’70s glam rock with Beatles-esque melodies and propulsive power pop on such songs as “Kung Fu Girl,” “Spy People,” “Bring Me Down,” and “Tangerine.” Ming Dynasty parted ways in 2009, but four days after bumping into musical theater actress and singer-songwriter Diana Oh on the corner of Bleecker and Lafayette, Miranda and Oh decided to revive Ming Dynasty’s music in a fresh new way. This month, the Sister Rosettas, named after gospel crossover star Sister Rosetta Tharpe, will make their debut with a Friday-night residency at the IRT Theater in conjunction with terraNOVA. The band consists of Oh on lead vocals, Miranda (who does a mean Neil Diamond impression) on vocals and lead guitar, Kole Smith on guitar, Philippe Arman on bass, and Matt Harrington on percussion, with Jessi D. Hill serving as creative director. Yesterday, Oh posted on Facebook that “we just had the best band practice ever on the planet of band practices. Everything came together like butter on bread, like sushi on rice, like crackers on cheese. The boys sang me ‘you have our blessings’ in four part harmonies into their microphones. I sang it back. And with that, we marry theatre with rock and roll. And rock and roll with theatre tomorrow night. What you thought you’d never see, you are about to see. And hear. And feel. And love.” The Sister Rosettas will be at the IRT Theater on September 13 with Christopher Gabriel Núñez, September 20 with Jes Tom, and September 27 with Lauren Hennessy.