Conor Oberst: Ruminations and Salutations via cincymusic.com

https://cincymusic.com/blog/2017/09/conor-oberst-ruminations-and-salutations

Arlo Mckinley & The Loneseome Sound

Arlo McKinley & The Lonesome Sound

Review by: Moose

      In the fall of 2011 Tim Carr put together a band with some friends and throughout the past three years members have often changed, but lucky for us he has found what works. Arlo McKinley is there name, and it was more or less taken from Tim's two grandfather's Arlo and McKinley. Enlisting the help of Tyler Lockard on upright bass, and Brian Pumphrey on drums they have found themselves at a most inopportune time to record an album. After a tribute show in December for Hank Williams Tim Carr and Kelly Thomas had a conversation about recording an album, and on a snowy day in February upstairs at the new Southgate House the recording was beginning. With Tyler on upright, Brian on drums, and some help from Sarah Davis on keys and vocals, Sylvia Mitchell on viola, harmonica, and a truly lonesome violin, last but certainly not least Zach Rowe who plays adds an electric guitar that is swampy but keeps within the country style at the core of this band. Over six hours they hammered these songs out and while that may sound fast, the album by no means does not have that feeling.

      The record from start to finish is good old country blues. Tim's vocals and songwriting shine through the melodies and arrangements of these good old fashioned country songs. The opening track "I've Got Her" opens with a harmonica that brings a chill, then the electric guitar brings it flavor, and with Tim's vocal rounding it all out brings the opening of this album to a start. Sit back and listen and let the songs swim around through your mind because the album has only just begun. The melodies and arrangements blend eloquently into a melodic sea of some heart break and just some good old fashioned country. Tim told me recently that "the main reason I write music is to tell my story to whoever wants to listen, and I honestly believe it is what I was put here to do." Through those next nine tracks his reasoning becomes more clear.

     This album is merely a starting point for these folks who have a brought a breath of fresh air to country music, and just music in general. "Time in Bars" is a song on the album and in that song Tim sings a lyric "I've got a story to tell," and its all there. It is all laid out in for the listener to simply, if anything, appreciate some damn good songwriting. Arlo McKinley and The Lonesome Sound are bringing to us an album that breathes something new into the music world. That new is songwriting and the music in general is the catalyst to tell this story.

      Arlo McKinley and The Lonesome Sound will be releasing their album "Arlo McKinley & The Lonesome Sound" in the very place they recorded the album just a few months ago. They will be at The Southgate House Revival upstairs in the Revival Room where over six hours they struck that humble chord that lives inside all of us, and especially them and that chord has been unleashed and now its time to watch these folks shine. If you find yourself in Newport on Saturday head on over to the Southgate House: Revival and go upstairs to simply listen to a man tell a story through some songs.



Lazarus: Rock n Roll Heart

Lazarus: Rock n Roll Heart

A review by: Moose

            Lazarus Nichols has a new record out called “Rock n Roll Heart” which is a title that pretty much sums him up. The traditions he grew up around, and with, were anything but rock n roll but he came to age in the prime of rock n roll, but with a family steeped in the traditions of folk music. Lazarus has put together forty minutes worth of ten songs that combine storytelling and the traditional sound from his youth.

            His grandparents moved the family from West Virginia to Ohio in the early sixties, and the family carried the musical tradition with them. According to Lazarus “Every time the family would get together there would be a meal and, eventually my Granny would get the banjo out and she and my Mom and her sisters would sing.” Lazarus went on to say “And if you’ve heard it, the way shaped note harmonies sound when everyone singing is Kin, you know it….there’s an authenticity to it that can’t be faked.” Nope it truly cannot be faked, and he, Lazarus may not have carried along those traditions on this record, well maybe not outright, but subliminally he has. On the song “Promise Not to Tell” there is a sound mimicking, or not, the sound of bones clicking. Bones now are made of wood, well some of them at least, and are sort of played like spoons. The violin as well is a nice nod to those days way back when.

            However, this record is not about yesteryear, it is more or less a reflection on where Lazarus has come, and where he is gone, but most importantly where he is heading towards. Four years ago he was pushing 40 and suddenly had this urge to create music, again. I say again because life had come about and many years before this. When his wife and him decided to get married and have children Lazarus decided and in his own words “I gave it up (music). My choice. Right or wrong. I didn’t want to be the aging punk rocking, bartending dad. So, we did the suburban thing, I did the W-2 thing.”  His wife whom he says “I’ve been deliriously happily married for nearly 17 years” has been his biggest supporter, and even pushing 40 with a mortgage and two daughters in their teens she was standing beside him. This record, with me taking some artistic liberty here, would be me saying that is sort of his tip of the cap or homage to his muse. Because with their love, and him lying in wait the art that he was able to create on these ten tracks is the “worthwhile art (being brought) into this world” that we now have the pleasure of listening to. It’s sort of like a good wine. You don’t just mash the grapes and drink, no you have to let it age and breathe a little. Lazarus was under no pressure to put out this record. If there was any it was on him. With the simple idea of wanting to become a full time musician in hand the ten songs were created.

            Without my artistic liberty I would recommend this record to anyone willing to give a guy with gravel in his voice, and a story to tell a listen.  It truly is as simple as that. Lazarus and the band are booked pretty heavily which he is excited about. To simply bring these songs in front of new faces and new listeners, and one of those is this guy. I typically like pretty much anything I listen to, but this record had that something else to it. That something else isn’t for me to decide I’d just say listen to it, go and see him, or both. My last question to Lazarus was why music? Of all things to do why this? And I will let him close this out. Go see him, and or give him a listen, and hopefully you have the same reaction I did, or better, and now Lazarus:

            Good question. A hard question... I grew up believing in the magic of music. From those earliest memories of 4 part harmonies, to the time I spent following the Grateful Dead, to my days as a bar rat during the 90s post punk explosion of indie rock... I believed. I believed that music was transformative. And it was, and still is. We live in a golden age of music! Technology has allowed the independent musician to record and distribute music affordably, just as much as it has allowed listeners to seek out the music that they want to listen to. And, I feel that the true “voices” are found and heard.

            As for me? Well, I feel like I’ve stumbled upon something. Love... and magic. And, since all musicians are at least minor magicians, it is incumbent upon me to cast my spells. We live in a transformative age and music, if anything can, will be what moves us forward.

The Mountain Goats: I Have High Unicorn Tolerance

Please visit the following address https://cincymusic.com/blog/2017/06/the-mountain-goats-i-have-high-unicorn-tolerance   for this article. As I am proud to call CincyMusic my home for a good majority of my musical musings. Thank you for the read and hopefully you won't miss this show.

The Grass is Green: Honeywise (their debut album and review)

The Grass is Green: Honeywise (debut album review)

By: Moose

            Honeywise are comprised of duo Sophia Landis (vocals piano, mandolin, Native      American Flute, and percussion), Jason Suratt (guitar), and for this album they enlisted the help of Trevor Troupe on bass. The Grass is Green is their latest album and with it brings twelve songs of Americana / folk music. With their roots, and home base set in Iowa they have put together an album derived from a life on the road. Honeywise are a young band having only been around since February of 2016, and with this album they have found a way to make their introduction.

            Sophia and Jason met at an open mic in Waterloo, Iowa and from that meeting has come Honeywise. Sophia was mainly working on her solo project which in her words is “more down tempo piano ballads,” and she enlisted Jason to help manage the production of her first solo album. With Sophia finding it difficult to find gigs for her “Sunday afternoon music” they decided to join forces. Jason’s outlaw country guitar playing background and Sophia’s blend of Native American flute and storytelling lyrics they have found their sound, folk music. The album spins like that as well. A simple reflex of folk music is what they have achieved with this album.

            The Grass is Green weaves through the highways and bi-ways of a touring band. A band according to Sophia in regard to where they live “we consider ourselves residents of the road,” and that element is littered throughout the twelve tracks of this album. Sophia pens most of the songs both musically and lyrically, and it was evident through my first listen that the poetry of the road had some influence on the shaping of this album. Sophia obliged by saying “I have written music simply about people I’ve met and things I’ve seen on tour, “ and I could almost hear the rubber on the road, or the wind whipping through the windows of a van, or in their case a recreational vehicle.

            Throughout the album there is the blend of Jason’s heavy guitar balanced with Sophia’s voice or, at times, her Native American Flute. This particular instrument isn’t featured in many songs that come my way so when I heard it I was intrigued, to say the least. Through playing in a group called Big Blue Sky Sophia was introduced to this instrument, and it adds an element sort of like the basil in a pesto. You know it is there and hanging out, but at times comes to the forefront. Again showcasing their brand of folk music with a traditional folk music instrument, all blends nicely through twelve songs about having a good time and or with the people you meet.

            With the album completed they are taking it out on the road with them to a city near you. They are continuing to put together material for their next release. Honeywise brings a merging of sounds to create something unique to them while keeping it within a folk music vein. I will let Sophia and Jason close this out, but first I would recommend going to see them wherever they may be. You can check out the link at the end of this for all things Honeywise. Here are Honeywise in regard to Why Music, of all things to pursue or want to do why this?

Jason: Music has been a part of my life since early childhood. When my parents got divorced my dad got me a guitar and that is how we used to spend time together, him teaching me to play basic chords. When I moved to Iowa with my mom at the age of 8 all of the friends she made were musicians so I was surrounded by music. She would bring the bar home after closing time and they would jam all night (keeping my sister and I up late despite having school the next day). She eventually married a musician and we moved to Austin, TX to pursue his career. This was when I was in high school and I decided then that I wanted to be a professional musician. I just loved playing and performing. Years later my mom talked me into going to college and I wasted 10 years pursuing higher education, receiving a master's degree, and spending a few years working on a PhD. However, music was always part of my life and I kept playing in bands. Eventually I started making enough connections that I could keep my band on the road full time so I dropped out of the PhD. program and pursued my music career. It's what makes me happy; simple as that.

Sophia: I have loved music and performing since I was young. I started piano lessons when I was three and have been singing throughout my entire working memory. I have tried other jobs and received a degree in communication studies, but the things I hate the most about being a musician are less stressful than the feelings I would get when I wasn't doing anything with my music. There's just something really special about seeing someone smile, jump up off their chair, and start dancing while I play. Few things are as rewarding.

https://www.honeywise.us/

The Anchor: by Whitherward (a review of their latest album)

The Anchor: Whitherward

A review by: Moose

            Whitherward are comprised of Ashley Norton (guitar and vocals), and Ed Williams (guitar and vocals). Their current album called “The Anchor” is thirteen songs about forty five minutes to an hour in length. Ashley and Ed have put these songs together after many years writing and touring together. Plugging away and grinding through all the mileage put on as traveling troubadours. From their time spent in Nashville and now their time fully devoted to being on the road and trying to make this work.

            The name of the duo is taken from the old English word “whitherward” meaning “in which direction?” The name’s metaphor shines through on this album as the only constant Whitherward strives and accomplishes is the exploration of sound and within the band. The duo started writing together after a few failed relationships with other bands. They had met at Hotel Indigo, in Nashville, Ashley had been hosting a writers night there, and much like open mic nights you are introduced to many musician’s and those relationships stay true, even till today. Ed eventually started showing up every week to either perform or hangout, and eventually Ed and Ashley became friends “especially when we realized we were living around the corner from each other, Ed was over at my apartment almost every day” according to Ashley whom I had a great conversation with about the band. The seeds were planted, and over time grew into Whitherward, which the name came from the dictionary.com app, and just so happened to be the word of the day. “We thought this was perfect for a touring indie-folk band,” from Ashley.

            They recorded the album at Gold Gap studios but on their own, as Ed had gone to Nashville via St Louis to attend audio engineering school this was a few years ago. For the album they enlisted a bass player (Patrick Hershey) violinist (Stephanie Groot), drummer (Tony King), a guest appearance by rapper Jhan Doe (Meiko Elijah Gilliam, Ed’s childhood friend), and Erik Olsen Jarvis whom arranged the strings on “The Night I Fell For You.” Max Massano is the studio owner and assistant engineer who was there to enlist any help, if needed. All of this talent lends to an album’s worth of songs that took two months to record and hone in on, and the hard work pays off in making a true album.

            Whitherward with the album explore sounds that blend nicely with lyrics that get dark at times. Tom Waits said it best, and this quote ran through my head like a thought bubble as I was nearing the end of my first listen to the album, and that is “I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things.” Lyrically they explore love and lost, and all the in between of that, or the questions of love as well. Most notably on the song “Haunted By Me” which I noted as I listened to the album. The album comes ashore and then goes back to sea with sound, meaning, within one song you can hear multiple influences and at times I heard the sound of whale, which either is coming from the guitar or violin, or maybe even both. Most of all their sound reigns true along with exploring the idea of personifying an anchor and with this it can lead to symbolism most notably the sea. When I say this album is a true album I mean four sings into it there is an interlude. Which in today’s music doesn’t happen, and is rare as well, and with that put in I was locked in much in the same effect as a play would have with an intermission. If this were an actual vinyl record I could see myself flipping said vinyl over to side b after this.

            “The Anchor,” is referenced throughout the album. The inspiration for Ashley coming from listening to the folkie songwriter Lori McKenna’s new album “The Bird and The Rifle” where Lori personifies a rifle, Ashely felt inspired and a friend of hers had challenged her to do the same with an anchor. For them while the title track and first track is “The Anchor” titling the album and making this album revolve around the anchor was done on purpose. “We wanted to make an album that made sense, and make sense of titling this ‘The Anchor.” As I had previously mentioned there are references sprinkled throughout the album, and I encourage you the reader to take a listen to it. Make it a drinking game or fun driving game every time there is a reference to an anchor, if drinking please do so responsibly of course. Whitherward achieved something with this album that made me scratch my head to the first track, as I jotted down in my notes “this reminds me of one of those great Disney movie songs. A love song? A theatrical song showing off the voices, and setting the tone and theme for the album,” and as the album went along I was pleasantly surprised. When the last song came to an end I wasn’t scratching my head, I was smiling. As I haven’t heard bands make an album like this in a while, and do it in a way such as this. Taking an idea of an anchor and using that in so many different ways. Whitherward musically and lyrically achieved exactly what they were setting out to do. Within the writing, I would venture the guess that this maybe semi-autobiographical for each of them. Not fully, but much like the anchor it is casually put in there.

            I will let Ashley close it out as I always like to do but I would like to mention what they have coming up. They are trying out a monthly songwriting series called “Songbird Sessions” that they will be releasing on Patreon. This will be their third one that they have done, and it is basically challenging themselves to write a song within an hour. You can check it out at http://patreon.whtiherward.com . They will be launching a Youtube series called “Simon & Garfunkel In A Subaru.” Where they will sing one Simon & Garfunkel song from every city they tour through this summer. According to Ashley “It will document our tour, but also, we LOVE S&G! We’re always pushing ourselves to try new things. They aren’t always successful, but they’re always a lot of fun!”

            Check out the new album “The Anchor” on Spotify or through their website as well. The links will be provided at the end of this. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one of my favorite parts of the album, and after which I will let Ashley give her answer to why music, of all things to do or go to school for, or decide on a profession why this (in general not necessarily as a profession)? That part of the album for me was: the sound of someone gurgling water. Here’s Ashley:

“Because it’s all we can do without wanting to kill ourselves. And I’m only mostly kidding about that. We’ve both tried other things. This is it. And we are both 100% committed to Whitherward, which feels amazing to focus on one project. Other things just get in the way. We make this the first and only priority and have seen more success with it than anything else we’ve ever done…ever. Music.”

https://open.spotify.com/album/5jjvDDLEvBmLK7bthcI1i2

https://youtu.be/9PDj6ASISXM

whitherward.com

Grandmothers

I was 31 when we threw a party for my Grandma Mary. She was turning 85 and i was enlisted by my mother to perform some songs. I had never done this before. This being playing in front of my family.  I remember thinking "what the hell am I going to play?" The anxiety was pretty lively as well.  I asked my mom what kind of songs should I play and she asked me to play a  version of Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land" however she changed it to "This Grandma is Your Grandma." Along with that to play "Goodnight Irene" as unbeknownst to me that was one of my grandmother's favourite songs.
I knew how to play these fairly well. I just dusted off some rust and was good to go. What I remeber the most wasn't my playing or singing it was my grandmother. Her sitting next to me and singing. It floored me. I was in awe. That same night my Uncle Dave joined my grandmother and I on stage and he sang "Goodnight Irene" with us. If you want to call what he was doing singing. I was told that was one of his favourite karaoke songs. I'm realizing as I type this out that Uncle Dave passed away two weeks ago. From complications of varying things. He had a New Englander's accent and a great smile. I'm glad I saw him over the summer in Massachusetts before he became ill. This show will always remain as a fond memory. One i will never forget. He was truly a great man, and this night was equally great.
The second best show I ever played was for my Grandma Jean. For a long while grandma was battling alzheimers. I remember being a teenager and counting how many times she asked my dad what we were watching, it was 7 times. Each time my dad saying "the Bulls game." She loved Johnny Red Kerr, and who could blame her he was awesome. That 7 times was within an hour, also.
Grandma progressively got worse, as alzheimers likes to do. Soon, her house in Oak Lawn was sold and she went off to live with my Aunt Jane in Shirley, Massachusetts. She was doing well for a time there, but it was in 2006 or 2007 when she moved to Darlington, Wisconsin and it was here that I played my second best, or favorite show.
She was living in a nurisng home not too far from my Aunt Linda, her eldest daughter, and only about two hours away from my Dad. I remember going up there a lot during this time. Almost every weekend. Going with my Dad as support. It was one weekend though that has always stuck with me. My Aunt Jane was going to visit grandma from Shirley, and she told me to come up and bring my guitar. I obliged and Dad and i drove up that weekend. I sat in Grandma's hospital room with my dad and aunt,  holding my guitar. I remember Jane showed me an old folk song called "Today." We played the song and Jane sang because she has a voice of an angel. I remember looking at my grandma laying in bed, bascially catatonic, and a smile came across her face. From ear to ear she smiled. I started crying a little as a feeling came over me that felt like we were playing her off. This was really heavy and I got up and drank some water, and went to the bathroom. Then went outside to have a smoke. I knew grandma was on her last days and nobody needed to tell me that. I knew this might be the last time I ever see her. I played her that song and my "I love you" and "see you later" were all in that song, and she smiled in acknowledgement, or that is what I like to think at least. Being a little selfish.
I remember packing up my guitar and saying I love you and bye to grandma barely keeping it together. I remember getting into Jane's car and driving back to the farm and Jane playing the song she wrote for her dad through my father's cd player in his car,  and most likely the three of us crying, because through all of this my Dad was there.
The timeline escapes me. Hell, even the year this happened escapes me. I remember after this in grandma's room she passed away probably within the upcoming week, or over the next few days. It was truly one of the hardest things I have ever been through. Watching a person's inevitable demise. From when I was teenager to being in my mid to late twenties. What was not hard though was playing a song for someone I loved and seeing a light return to her eyes and face that I hadn't seen in a long time. A feeling washed over me that, it was okay to let go. A simple thank you written above her in letters that I could only see.
I have played many shows before and since both of these events. i would be remiss if I didn't mention the ones with my brother. Those remain as some truly special ones, even just us creating songs. But, these two moments described all in the previous are forever stamped on my heart. They carry an emotion and a heartbeat of their own. They walk alongside all those played with my brother. They were formidable in my sense of self and playing whether I knew that or not. My Grandma Mary is still alive and well at 91 years young. With the recent passing of my Uncle Dave this was especially something I wanted to write. As he was such a great man, husband, step-father, and Uncle. Always a fun time, and that New England accent.
The take away from all of this for me is: life is equal parts short and long. To make the best of it. Whether you know it or not you can make a difference or brighten up someone's day with the simplest of gestures. I found that out through a series of events that I will forever cherish.