The Puppini Sisters at Birchmere

When my wife informed me that The Puppini Sisters will be performing at Birchmere, I was ecstatic. I don’t have to go all the way to Europe to see them; they come to Alexandria. I dig The Puppini Sisters. Who doesn’t like chicks with lovely British accent and a sense of swing? Yes, they can really swing. From Gloria Gaynor’s disco-fever “I Will Survive” to Beyonce’s R&B mega “Crazy In Love,” The Sisters proved it last night that they could make any tune swing. Even Duke Ellington’s classic “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got No Swing)” got hard swing with various tempos and close-harmonic scatting.

Dressed in red, The Sisters entertained the audience not only with their vocal skills, but also with their fresh reinterpretation of old songs and sense of humor. Even their own tunes, including “Jilted” and “I Can’t Believe I am Not a Millionaire,” are a novelty. In addition to the trio accompaniment with Blake Wilner on guitar, Pat Levett on drums and Henrik Jensen on bass, the Sisters played their own instruments on a few performances. With Marcella Puppini on accordion, Stephanie O’Brien on violin and Kate Mullins on melodica, they formed a very playful orchestra.

The Sisters are fantastic, but if I have to pick one, I have to go with the Italian sister who is the smallest in physic but the loudest in voice. Good thing does come in small package. Her solo performance of “You’ve Got The Right Key, But The Wrong Keyhole” is an unforgettable one. With the encore, the Sisters returned with their goofy but great version of “Walk Like an Egyptian.” Not a bad way to end a Monday night.