Friday, Sept. 16 at Club Cafe
This Friday at Club Cafe:
Early ShowSLAID CLEAVES plus ADAM CARROLL
$14 Advance / $16 Day of ShowDoors 6PM Show 7PMWith Wishbones, Slaid Cleaves turns up the volume. His third album for Philo/Rounder features all the strengths that have drawn him a loyal following as one of America's most acclaimed singer-songwriters. The songs remain literate, emotionally vivid, and concisely colorful. Only this time, they make you move. "When I started writing songs for Wishbones, I was concerned with living up to Broke Down," says Cleaves, referring to the ground-breaking album that elevated the singer-songwriter from critics darling to fan favorite. "I felt like I'd finally achieved something with this dark, folk-tragedy thing I'd been attempting for several years. As soon as Broke Down was finished, I knew the next record would have to go in a different direction."When the time came to start working on a new record, Cleaves discussed possibilities with his long-time producer, Gurf Morlix, the former Lucinda Williams collaborator who, in recent years, has become one of Austin's hottest producers thanks to his work with Cleaves, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Mary Gauthier and many others. After three years of steady touring, Cleaves decided he wanted to make more of a band album, one that rocked harder than the acoustic-based songs he'd previously recorded. Morlix, a monster electric guitarist as well as a masterful producer, readily agreed. "Slaid wanted a more muscular sound," Morlix explains. "Broke Down was Slaid in a more acoustic phase, but with great, vibey songs. With Wishbones, he wanted to raise the bar. He wanted more groove, more muscle. He's a smart guy who thinks about what he wants, and he goes and gets it done." With both collaborators in agreement, Wishbones was on its way.Terser and punchier than past work, yet still packed with the same emotional weight and clever wordplay, Wishbones proves Cleaves is a versatile artist capable of swagger as well as sensitive insight. The strong narratives and character-driven stories are filled with moments of reckoning. "Some of these songs are about people facing something difficult, like we all do from time to time," Cleaves says. "There's a certain drama in those times of your life that are turning points."While the title song focuses on a desperate hope for another chance, "Sinner's Prayer," about a man hiding a dark side that's ruining him, hasn't a hint of optimism. Set to a gospelly, dark blues reminiscent of Bob Dylan's recent work, it's one of the songs that shows how much Cleaves has transformed himself on his new album."I'm so thrilled with the sound of this album," he says. "There's a moodiness to it, attitude. The instrumentation becomes more a part of the story instead of the background to the story." Meanwhile, "Horses and Divorces" and "New Year's Day" are vibrant character sketches inspired by unforgettable people Cleaves has met along the way. "Drinking Days" is the sequel to "Horseshoe Lounge" from Broke Down. This time the main character has sobered up, but he's still having trouble straightening up all the damage he's already done: "My drinkin' days are over / But I'm still troublebound."He wrote most of the songs while hiding out in a country cabin, away from his usual routine. "I've written each album in a different way," he says. "It seems I need to shake things up a bit to get the ideas flowing. I don't know what I'll do for my next record, but I'm sure I'll have to do something unexpected, something new, to make it work."For Cleaves, Wishbones continues the journey he embarked upon when he left his days as a counrty/rock bar singer in Maine, intent on focusing on his songwriting in the Americana capital of Austin, Texas. The city's focus on musical integrity fit Cleaves' ambition and personality, and he quickly proved himself as a worthy new resident. In 1992, Cleaves won the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival's New Folk competition - an award previously given to such striking talents as Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen and Steve Earle. By 1996, he had signed to Rounder Records and released his impressive debut, No Angel Knows, which attracted widespread critical acclaim and announced the former Maine resident as a major new singer-songwriter. Broke Down, which followed in 2000, reached beyond the cult audience Cleaves had attracted and gave him a national following. The Austin Chronicle dubbed it "the first great Texas album of the 21st Century," while the Chicago Sun-Times noted that Cleaves "has fashioned a timeless yet fresh sound rooted in the best storytelling tradition of the great singer-songwriters." Wishbones will bring more of the same: Cleaves' audience will continue to grow while critics will rush to pile on the praise. The singer-songwriter, though, takes a more modest view. "I'm real proud of this album," he says. "Normally I hear every little flaw in my own records. But this one - I put it on and I just smile."
Late ShowFREE MUSIC ENSEMBLE
$10 Advance and Day of Show Doors 10PM Show 10:30PM
Since June of 2001, Ken Vandermark (reeds), Nate McBride (bass) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums) have literally, been dropping the jaws of audiences here and abroad.FME is likely one of the most adventurous projects of all Ken Vandermark's work. This group works in a modular system of composition, allowing each element to be utilized by any member of the group. Sets are constructed by re-sequencing material, and the components remain variable during each performance, rather than being standardized. This forces the members to constantly reinvent and re-interpret the music from moment to moment. The end result: anything that functions as an inspiring platform for improvisation can and will be used.This September, the trio will embark on their second North American tour with a new Okka Disk release in tow, entitled Cuts. Cuts documents sessions that took place in Oslo after an extensive tour in North America and Europe last year.What is heard on their new release, particularly on "Broken" and "Slip" is the influence of Shellac and This Heat-rock music that deconstructs standard genre models. Another source of impact came from the indeterminate construction ideas of John Cage, where set components are put into motion without the control of a single individual.FME will be recording a new album while on this tour; creating a storehouse of material for the band to select the best work for a new release on Okka Disk in 2006.FME Discography:Cuts cd (Okka Disk, 2005)Underground cd (Okka Disk, 2004)FME cd - limited edition (Okka Disk, 2002)Related work:Spaceways, Inc. (Ken Vandermark, Nate McBride and Hamid Drake). Visit www.atavistic.com.Dual-Pleasure Duo (Ken Vandermark and Paal Nilssen-Love) Visit www.Okkadisk.com.School Days (Ken Vandermark, Paal Nilssen-Love and a rotation of international improvising musicians). Visit www.okkadisk.com.Triple Play (Ken Vandermark, Nate McBride and Curt Newton). Visit www.okkadisk.com.Vandermark 5 (Ken Vandermark, Kent Kessler, Tim Daisy, Dave Rempis and Fred Lonberg-Holm). Visit www.atavistic.com for discography and more information.Bridge 61 (Ken Vandermark, Nate McBride, Jason Stein and Tim Daisy). debut full-length coming early 2006.
Early ShowSLAID CLEAVES plus ADAM CARROLL
$14 Advance / $16 Day of ShowDoors 6PM Show 7PMWith Wishbones, Slaid Cleaves turns up the volume. His third album for Philo/Rounder features all the strengths that have drawn him a loyal following as one of America's most acclaimed singer-songwriters. The songs remain literate, emotionally vivid, and concisely colorful. Only this time, they make you move. "When I started writing songs for Wishbones, I was concerned with living up to Broke Down," says Cleaves, referring to the ground-breaking album that elevated the singer-songwriter from critics darling to fan favorite. "I felt like I'd finally achieved something with this dark, folk-tragedy thing I'd been attempting for several years. As soon as Broke Down was finished, I knew the next record would have to go in a different direction."When the time came to start working on a new record, Cleaves discussed possibilities with his long-time producer, Gurf Morlix, the former Lucinda Williams collaborator who, in recent years, has become one of Austin's hottest producers thanks to his work with Cleaves, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Mary Gauthier and many others. After three years of steady touring, Cleaves decided he wanted to make more of a band album, one that rocked harder than the acoustic-based songs he'd previously recorded. Morlix, a monster electric guitarist as well as a masterful producer, readily agreed. "Slaid wanted a more muscular sound," Morlix explains. "Broke Down was Slaid in a more acoustic phase, but with great, vibey songs. With Wishbones, he wanted to raise the bar. He wanted more groove, more muscle. He's a smart guy who thinks about what he wants, and he goes and gets it done." With both collaborators in agreement, Wishbones was on its way.Terser and punchier than past work, yet still packed with the same emotional weight and clever wordplay, Wishbones proves Cleaves is a versatile artist capable of swagger as well as sensitive insight. The strong narratives and character-driven stories are filled with moments of reckoning. "Some of these songs are about people facing something difficult, like we all do from time to time," Cleaves says. "There's a certain drama in those times of your life that are turning points."While the title song focuses on a desperate hope for another chance, "Sinner's Prayer," about a man hiding a dark side that's ruining him, hasn't a hint of optimism. Set to a gospelly, dark blues reminiscent of Bob Dylan's recent work, it's one of the songs that shows how much Cleaves has transformed himself on his new album."I'm so thrilled with the sound of this album," he says. "There's a moodiness to it, attitude. The instrumentation becomes more a part of the story instead of the background to the story." Meanwhile, "Horses and Divorces" and "New Year's Day" are vibrant character sketches inspired by unforgettable people Cleaves has met along the way. "Drinking Days" is the sequel to "Horseshoe Lounge" from Broke Down. This time the main character has sobered up, but he's still having trouble straightening up all the damage he's already done: "My drinkin' days are over / But I'm still troublebound."He wrote most of the songs while hiding out in a country cabin, away from his usual routine. "I've written each album in a different way," he says. "It seems I need to shake things up a bit to get the ideas flowing. I don't know what I'll do for my next record, but I'm sure I'll have to do something unexpected, something new, to make it work."For Cleaves, Wishbones continues the journey he embarked upon when he left his days as a counrty/rock bar singer in Maine, intent on focusing on his songwriting in the Americana capital of Austin, Texas. The city's focus on musical integrity fit Cleaves' ambition and personality, and he quickly proved himself as a worthy new resident. In 1992, Cleaves won the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival's New Folk competition - an award previously given to such striking talents as Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen and Steve Earle. By 1996, he had signed to Rounder Records and released his impressive debut, No Angel Knows, which attracted widespread critical acclaim and announced the former Maine resident as a major new singer-songwriter. Broke Down, which followed in 2000, reached beyond the cult audience Cleaves had attracted and gave him a national following. The Austin Chronicle dubbed it "the first great Texas album of the 21st Century," while the Chicago Sun-Times noted that Cleaves "has fashioned a timeless yet fresh sound rooted in the best storytelling tradition of the great singer-songwriters." Wishbones will bring more of the same: Cleaves' audience will continue to grow while critics will rush to pile on the praise. The singer-songwriter, though, takes a more modest view. "I'm real proud of this album," he says. "Normally I hear every little flaw in my own records. But this one - I put it on and I just smile."
Late ShowFREE MUSIC ENSEMBLE
$10 Advance and Day of Show Doors 10PM Show 10:30PM
Since June of 2001, Ken Vandermark (reeds), Nate McBride (bass) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums) have literally, been dropping the jaws of audiences here and abroad.FME is likely one of the most adventurous projects of all Ken Vandermark's work. This group works in a modular system of composition, allowing each element to be utilized by any member of the group. Sets are constructed by re-sequencing material, and the components remain variable during each performance, rather than being standardized. This forces the members to constantly reinvent and re-interpret the music from moment to moment. The end result: anything that functions as an inspiring platform for improvisation can and will be used.This September, the trio will embark on their second North American tour with a new Okka Disk release in tow, entitled Cuts. Cuts documents sessions that took place in Oslo after an extensive tour in North America and Europe last year.What is heard on their new release, particularly on "Broken" and "Slip" is the influence of Shellac and This Heat-rock music that deconstructs standard genre models. Another source of impact came from the indeterminate construction ideas of John Cage, where set components are put into motion without the control of a single individual.FME will be recording a new album while on this tour; creating a storehouse of material for the band to select the best work for a new release on Okka Disk in 2006.FME Discography:Cuts cd (Okka Disk, 2005)Underground cd (Okka Disk, 2004)FME cd - limited edition (Okka Disk, 2002)Related work:Spaceways, Inc. (Ken Vandermark, Nate McBride and Hamid Drake). Visit www.atavistic.com.Dual-Pleasure Duo (Ken Vandermark and Paal Nilssen-Love) Visit www.Okkadisk.com.School Days (Ken Vandermark, Paal Nilssen-Love and a rotation of international improvising musicians). Visit www.okkadisk.com.Triple Play (Ken Vandermark, Nate McBride and Curt Newton). Visit www.okkadisk.com.Vandermark 5 (Ken Vandermark, Kent Kessler, Tim Daisy, Dave Rempis and Fred Lonberg-Holm). Visit www.atavistic.com for discography and more information.Bridge 61 (Ken Vandermark, Nate McBride, Jason Stein and Tim Daisy). debut full-length coming early 2006.
posted by PG at 12:47 PM
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