July
23
2010
A couple weeks ago The Pines were one our acts that made their way up to the Winnipeg Folk Festival. This was their first time at the festival and their three performances turned more heads to their distinct sound. Below are a few of Benson Ramsey’s thoughts on their trek up north.
The Pines
It seems like a dream to me now….
For our first outing in Canada, I couldn’t drum up a better setting than the Winnipeg Folk Festival. We arrived on the Thursday night of the festival. After checking into the hotel and taking the shuttle over to the festival grounds, about a 45 min ride, we got there just in time for the Avett Brothers. We listened for awhile as we got our bearings and ran into our good friend Ruth Moody. Then we waddled around and found a spot off to the side to watch the great Levon Helm Band.
The sky to the northwest was still glowing at a 11pm when he took the stage. It was a memorable evening of music and festivities for sure.
We played three times in as many days. Everyshow had it’s own thang. The first was just us (me, David, Michael on banjo, J.T. on drums). The set was an hour or so and we pulled songs off of both our Red House releases. It was a clear warm summer day and it felt good to play and be apart of the whole shabang. One thing I did notice, not just with us but over all was that you could play a quiet pretty song, at most big outdoor things like that those softer ones seem to get buried alive. So that was nice and just goes to show how cool our friends to the north are.
Anyway- our second show was one i’ll never forget. It was a workshop with Pieta Brown and Bo Ramsey. Folks might think we get to play together all the time but sadly we don’t get to all that much. But it felt like home on that stage and the way everyone played on all the songs made one big sound. When we play together it feels like a mystery slang way of talking. Pieta’s “Other Way Around” was right on and Bo’s version of Jesse Mae Hemphill’s “Jump Baby Jump” was off-the-hook.
The third show was another workshop with a songwriter from Boulder, CO, Gregory Alan Isakov and the legendary (drum rolllllll) Hot Tuna. This was freaky cool. The workshop thing in wild. Everyone just took turns playing a song. It was fun and strange to sit and listen to these folks and get to play songs with them. Overall- Winnipeg feels a bit like the last stop on the train. Sort-of the end-of -the-line before the north pole and I dig it. And it’s gonna be tough not to compare every festival from now on to the Winnipeg Folk Fest- they got it goin’ on and I am thankful to have been there for sure.
-Benson Ramsey, July 2010
July
12
2010
Red Horse featuring Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka, and Lucy Kapalansky
What happens when three good friends who just happen to be three of the most prolific folk songwriters in music today get together? Red Horse. The new folk super-trio comprised of Lucy Kaplansky, Eliza Gilkyson, and John Gorka is their fantastic new album featuring stunning harmonies and simple acoustic production.
We sent them a few questions to get under the hood of Red Horse and learn about their collaborative process, the recording sessions and how much fun making this album was. Hope you enjoy and don’t forget to pick up a copy of the Red Horse the album today! www.redhouserecords.com
1. What is the significance of the name ‘Red Horse’? What inspired you all to come together to record as a group?
ELIZA:
No hidden meaning there, for me anyway, I just like horses, the name had a nice visual for me, simple, and then of course there is the word play on the “Red House” label connection for these 3 artists…hey, it was John’s idea…( I blame John!) Plus it was better than “White People with Problems” (my suggestion).
This whole idea was just a whim..based on a desire to have fun with two of my most favorite performers in the world. We thought it would be fun to do some shows and that evolved into a recording project. I think Lucy’s husband Rick had the idea to record. I think I had the idea to do the shows. I think John had no idea whatsoever.:)
LUCY:
John came up with the name Red Horse as a kind of play on the name “Red House”, since we’re all on Red House.
Eliza emailed me a few months ago and asked me if I wanted to do some gigs with her and John. I loved the idea and mentioned it to my husband, Rick, and he said “why don’t you guys make an album together?” I suggested that to John and Eliza and everyone wanted to do it.
JOHN:
I don’t know if Red Horse has a lot of deep meaning. We are all Red House artists. A house usually stays in one place, most horses can run, and sometimes a red horse can fly… I think it’s like that. For me it’s a colorful symbol of freedom. We liked it better than some combination of our names, I guess.
We thought it would be fun to sing together. Lucy’s husband Rick said “why don’t you make a record?”, so we did. I’m glad we have a souvenir of our time together. Now we have to ask Rick what to do next.
2. How did you go about choosing the songs? How did you all decide on the cover tunes?
ELIZA:
I liked the idea of going back deeper into the catalogs and choosing songs that were ripe for a makeover. I had always wanted to do a more gritty production on “Walk Away From Love”, and Lucy and John both chose more obscure songs of mine that benefited from new interpretations. I went way back into John’s catalog for “Forget to Breathe”, though I stayed close to the original structure and just added a cool hymnlike guitar part. Lucy’s song “Promise Me” jumped out and demanded that I give it a shot.
As for the cover tunes, of course they had to have great harmony potential , but it was also our chance to round things out in terms of balancing the various moods of the whole recording, so we chose with that in mind as well. That was the hardest part for me actually, til I found that old Neil Young song. I used to sing it way back when, and it was fun to record-it’s a deceptively simple sounding song with a very inventive and original chord progression and melody, and the harmonies are really fun to sing. Plus Mike Hardwick played a killer twang and thump Gretsch guitar solo on it.
LUCY:
Eliza and I each chose a song of our own that we either wanted to re-record/reinvent, and John, who’s so much more prolific than I am, had a new song he wanted to do with us.
We each chose a cover we wanted to do, and ran the idea by the others. In my case, John and I had sung “Wayfaring Stranger” together at a gig in November, and he suggested we do that one. I thought it was a great idea.
JOHN:
I think we each considered what batch of songs would get along with us and each other. I think.
3. You all covered a couple of each other’s songs on this album. Why did you choose the songs you did? What were your initial reactions to hearing your song(s) interpreted by the others?
ELIZA:
Normally artists do their own material on projects like this, so we thought it would add a new twist and challenge for us to cover each other’s songs. It really changed the recording landscape, and I think was the most satisfying part in the end. Choosing was a process we each came to separately, searching though the material til a song resonated personally-you have to be able to step into the character and make it your own. I was thrilled to hear their versions of my songs, just thrilled, I like them better than my originals. It breathed new life into them for me.
LUCY:
A couple of years ago someone at a show of mine requested “Blue Chalk”. I’ve sung harmony on that song for years with John, and I didn’t think I knew the lyrics, but it turned out I did. I sang it at that show, and have been singing it in shows ever since. So it was kind of an obvious choice.
There are a bunch of Eliza’s songs I love and would love to sing, but “Sanctuary” blew me away. I thought it might work well with solo piano and would be really different from Eliza’s version.
JOHN:
We suggested a few songs to each other as possible candidates. The 2 main considerations I had were: Which songs could I pull off and which songs would I not mind singing for the rest of my life.
July
7
2010
By Ellen Stanley
This year’s Taste of Minnesota got a makeover this year with higher end food vendors and more music stages, including one presented by Red House Records and KFAI Radio. Here are some photos from the festivities…
The Red House Records & KFAI Stage had the best location on the Harriet Island festival grounds–right on the river with beautiful views and a constant breeze amidst the humid heat. The steps leading down to the water made for great seating and a sweet sounding amphitheater.
Guy and Ellen geek out over banjo!
MA interviews Guy
Guy Plays Harp on Fox9
Marcus Wise & Nirmala Rajasekar kick off the stage on Friday
- Dave Moore
Dave Moore put on a great set. The highlight was when he answered his cell phone on stage, and says: “It’s my good friendRay Bonneville.” Everyone cheers.
- Guy invites Dave Moore to play harp…
- …and then Iowa City’s Joe Price on electric guitar.
Joe & Vicki Price did a great set prior to Guy.
Joe Price & Dave Moore chat with Red House president Eric Peltoniemi.
Before Minnesota music legend Willie Murphy played his set, I got to introduce St. Paul’s Mayor Chris Coleman–how cool!
Before Minnesota music legend Willie Murphy played his set, I got to introduce St. Paul’s Mayor Chris Coleman–how cool!
Just before Mayor Coleman comes on stage, Willie lights up a big stogie.
Mayor declares July 2, 2010 Willie Murphy Day in the city of St. Paul.
- The Mayor congratulates Willie…
- …and then sits down to enjoy Willie’s smokin’ set of soul and classic R&B.
- His kickin’ band brought out the crowds and was the perfect way to end our stage on the first day.
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Continue Reading >>
June
11
2010
Yesterday we were happy to learn that Ruth Moody’s solo album The Garden received the award for “Best CD/Vinyl album cover illustration for a solo recording” from Canada’s visual communications magazine Applied Arts. The beautiful and intricate cover illustration and design was done by Ron Sawchuk who has also been the mastermind behind The Wailin’ Jennys’ album covers.
It’s good to see that there are still folks out there that appreciate good album cover art. In a time when most covers are reduced to the size of a thumbnail, details become lost, and the artform of the cover seems less important. It would be easy to brush off this importance with a cynical grumble, but to do that is foolish. In some ways, the cover art is more important than ever now, even with the growth of the digital music world.
Whether you purchase vinyl, cassette (they are still being produced), CDs, or digital the cover is the first thing you see. It may not be the determining factor on whether you buy an album or not, but it can certainly determine whether some one even picks up your album to look at it or not. Maybe you’re cruising the racks at your local music shop and you reach for an unfamiliar album solely because you think its cover looks cool. Or maybe you even skipped over a CD or two because it didn’t catch your eye. And now with the resurgence of vinyl a great cover not only catches your eye, but it slaps you across the face.
In an industry that is in constant flux, we take great care and pride not only in the music we put out, but also in the packaging. We see it as part of an art form unto itself. To toot our own horn a little, we’ve been pretty lucky to have put out some great album covers over the years. Check out some of our more recent covers! You can see more great covers in our on-line store at www.redhouserecords.com.
June
2
2010
Pieta Brown, Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka, Bo Ramsey, and Lucy Kaplansky
Summer is here and so are the artists!
Every now and again an artist will drop by our offices when they are in town. A couple weeks ago there was a perfect storm here at Red House and 5 of our artists dropped by for a visit!
Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky (Red Horse) and Pieta Brown & Bo Ramsey.
May
24
2010
Pieta Brown just returned from a 28-date North American tour opening for Mark Knopfler. We asked her if she would share her thoughts on this experience and what it was like opening for one of her musical heroes. Pieta was kind enough to provide not only her reflections on the tour, but some great behind the scenes photos. Her latest album on Red House, One and All is available now!
Here’s Pieta’s song “Other Way Around” from that album.
Pieta Brown-Other Way Around
Pieta and Bo at soundcheck/ photo credit: Guy Fletcher
Spring has landed here on the plains and the Lilly Of The Valley is already fading into yellow. Got home last week from 5 weeks out on the road opening shows for Mark Knopfler and his killer band. I went in…went out. Got some serious schooling. I went up…down…wrote a new song. I drove my ass off. And so on. I even slept some!
The tour…especially the music…was grand. I’m still reeling. I’ve still got “a high temperature…” to quote Bo Ramsey quoting Little Walter. And as Tim O’Brien (multi-instrumentalist in Mark Knopfler’s band on the North American Tour….and artist in his own right!) wrote in a quick email after we all got home about a week ago, “I’m feeling like my whole system got realigned and now I’m resetting it to my regular world. Some of it may never go back. Maybe a good thing.”
I was honored to get the call to open the shows for Mark Knopfler…as I have a vivid memory of finding a tape cassette when I was a kid…living between divorced parents. I remember finding that tape…putting it in the tape player…and playing it over…and over…and over again. I eventually wore that tape out. It was a Dire Straits tape. I was way too young to drive, but I would make all the grown-ups play the tape on all the journeys…across town…out in the country. There was something in Mark’s voice and in the voice of his guitar that was hypnotic and comforting at the same time. I was completely into it.
Bo Ramsey, Mark Knopfler, and Pieta/ photo credit: Guy Fletcher
Now 20 some years later I still am. Seeing and hearing Mark Knopfler and his band play live so many nights only deepened my respect for him as an artist and musician. And it made me hope that when I’m 60 I’m as badass and as tuned in as Mark is. And as steady.
Mark had an 8-piece band! A mystic orchestra! And the sweetest management and production crew you could ever meet…they were all men. Most (not all!) of them 20+ years my senior. And they treated me like a queen. And like a friend. And I reckon that is the best you can hope for as a woman out on the road! Or anywhere for that matter…
As for my own shows, I had my best friend in the world, Bo Ramsey with me to maneuver down the crowded highways. Bo and I had a few magic sets. Many solid ones. A few rough ones that luckily got lost in the shuffle. Most of the crowds were listening crowds…which really knocked me out. There were a few rowdy crowds out there on the East Coast, but it wouldn’t have felt too rock-n-roll if there weren’t a few of those…and even the rowdy ones treated me pretty kindly. I played a lot of new songs from One and All…and I played a lot of the less new songs. I sang a couple of songs I have never sung before…and may never sing again. I tried to figure out how to sell CDs from stage…still not sure I figured that one out. Marketing and playing music don’t go together very well in my head. ”Shut up and play your guitar. Just sing the songs.” That makes more sense to me. But Mark’s fans were sweet! And they bought a lot of my CDs!
"In the Wings in Albany...finalshow"
So here I am at the end of that road with a bunch of fevers…Tim O’Brien gave me banjo fever…Richard Bennett and Mark Knopfler and Bo gave me a bigger guitar fever than I already had. Guy Fletcher and Matt Rollings gave me key fever. Mike McGoldrick gave me the whistle fever. Danny Cummings and Glenn Worf gave me shake-it fever. You put all those guys together and the result is stunning.
And now, down behind the fevers I’m left with a song in my heart that I could never sing. It’s a borderless, ageless song with a thousand voices or more. And like the Lilly Of The Valley outside in the yard…fading into yellow now…I reckon the song will give way to the wind and the rain and the sun and the dirt and the snow. And with any luck it will come back again and again and again.
-pieta, middle of may, 2010
Pieta hand-selected some of her favorite tunes from the musicians who were part of this tour. With their permission here are the streams of those tracks. Enjoy!
1. Tim O'Brien-Look Down that Lonesome Road
2. Bo Ramsey-Hate to See You Go
4. Mark Knopfler-You Can't Beat the House
5. Michael McGoldrick-Waterbound
6 Guy Fletcher-Man In Front of Me
9. Richard Bennett-Pink Oleander
10. Mark Knopfler-Piper to the End
May
18
2010
Peter Ostroushko recently performed at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. Before the show he had time to answer some questions that will shed some light on what makes this master mandolinist and violinist tick. His new album When the Last Morning Glory Blooms is out now!
Peter Ostroushko
Five Minutes with Peter Ostroushko
By Brian Corner
What 3 words would you use, MySpace-style, to describe your music?
“For Your Soul”.
What do you have planned for the Cedar show on April 30th?
“Madness, mayhem, and pathos ( in a fun way). I’m playing with my good friends Dan Chouinard on piano and accordion and Sam Miltich on guitar. We did a really fun gig together a few months ago in Zumbrota. Some French. Some Irish. Some Brazilian. Some Ukrainian. Traditional fiddle tunes. Swing music. Of course enough of my original waltz’s to keep the handkerchief’s well used. It was very loose and spontaneous and most of all FUN!”
What have been some highlights of your past year?
“Teaching at the Mandolin Symposium in Santa Cruz, CA. I got to hear some of the best mandolin music on the planet! Going to see the Twins play at the new ballpark. Visiting and recording with two of my mentors, Norman Blake in Rising Fawn, Georgia and Johnny Gimble in Austin, Texas. Seeing my daughter Anna be in the lead role of the Circus Juventas production of “Yulong and the Jade Dragon”. Becoming a faculty member at the Macphail School of music. I love to see those light bulbs go on over the heads of my students”.
What are you listening to now?
“I rarely listen to music when I’m not playing it. I recently drove my daughter down to Florida to check out a college. It was a grueling car trip. 2 and a 1/2 days each way. I listened for about 30 minutes while driving through Kentucky to Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys (his first instrumental recording), and for about an hour while driving through Tennessee I listened to Madagascar guitar player D’Gary and to David Lindley and El Rayo X”.
What are you reading, or what books are near the top of your must read list?
“Currently I’m reading “Matterhorn” by Karl Marlantis. A great book about the Vietnam War. Also I’m reading “Bite Me : A Love Story” by Christopher Moore. A man with a very sick sense of humor that I love”.
Do you have a favorite place you like to go back to regularly, perhaps where you write your music?“Yes. It’s called the automobile. Endless hours driving to gigs without the radio on. I get all kinds of musical inspiration looking out the windshield. When I want to inspire my own well being I go to Prairie Creek Redwood Forest in Northern California”.
Do you have advice for young musicians?
“Yes. First, you need to have a vegetable garden so you can get your hands in the soil. Second, you need to learn how to cook all that stuff that you grow in the garden. These two things will teach you every thing you need to be a contented musician. Without them you better have a plan B”!
What do you now know that you wished you would have known when starting out?
“Well, I’ve always loved gardening and cooking so I’m covered in that department. For the Dylan session I wish I had spent more time playing in the Flat keys. It would have come in handy on that day.”
What’s next for you?
“I have a new CD coming out in May called When The Last Morning Glory Blooms on the Red House label. It’s a beautiful CD of mostly my original waltz’s. I’m also working on a CD for the future with a working title of Mandolin. It’s shaping out to be at least a 3 CD set. With music from around the world and also some classical pieces from Bach, Beethoven, Vivaldi, and Paganini. I’m also returning to the Big Top this Summer to play live music for the Circus Juventas big Summer production. And also continue to teach what I know at MacPhail School of Music.
Thank you very much for your time, Peter!
Thank you to Brian Corner and The Cedar for their support and for allowing us to re-post this interview.
May
17
2010
Red House owner Beth Friend took the staff out for a bowling party last week at Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis. As these photos suggest, we easily had more fun than anyone else in the bar…
Bryant Lake Bowl--the hippest lanes in the Twin Cities
Director of Marketing Luke Welsh gets in the zone
Luke & Beth look on as Jon and Chris keep score
Jon Rodine is more than the manager of customer services & shipping--he apparently is an expert bowler!
Fancy footwear
Luke and Director of Publicity & Promotions Ellen Stanley get funky
Real funky
President Eric Peltoniemi oversees the proceedings
Production & Information Manager Brandon Henry and Luke a few frames in--Brandon doesn't look happy with how things are going.
Good advice
Only a serious bowler brings his own bowling gear. If Danny Schmidt & Carrie Elkin had been in town, they also would have been showing off their hip bowling attire.
The next day Luke presented Jon Rodine with the 2010 Red House Top Bowler trophy and birthday girl Ellen with the 2010 Top Music Publicist/Fair Bowler trophy
May
4
2010
I still have yet to post my adventures from Day 4 of the Storyhill/Mother Banjo tour of Montana, but in the meanwhile, enjoy these photos from the road!
I arrived at the Bozeman airport around 10 am last Wednesday and enjoyed the wildlife statues in baggage claim, like these birds…
…and this bear!
My opening set at Yellowstone Brewery in Billings
Storyhill joined me on “Wide”
And Chris brought out his harp on “Revival Train”
Then Storyhill did a sweet set in front a large crowd of fans
And they got an enthusiastic encore!
Snowy view outside my window in Bozeman
Storyhill getting ready to do live performance at instrument shop Music Villa in Bozeman. You can check out their performance here.
Music Villa’s impressive collection of Gibsons…
…and banjos!
Mural behind the counter at The Leaf and Bean in Bozeman, where Chris and Johnny played when they were younger.
Chris’ sister Jennifer, Storyhill’s agent Renee and me outside the historic Ellen Theatre in Bozeman
Renee, KGLT’s Ron Craig and me doing some serious music industry work at Plonk, the hip bar down the street from the Ellen
On the road to Kalispell
Hilarious bathroom graffiti in Butte
The water in Flathead Lake was a beautiful green that day…
…and despite the cloud cover, we still got some nice views of the mountains.
Playing a sold-out show at the KM Theatre in Kalispell
Stopping for gas on the way to Missoula
Outside Missoula’s legendary Top Hat, where Leon Redbone recently played!
I talked with singer/rapper Keegan Smith (who played a late show at the Top Hat), and it turns out he’s a big banjo fan.
Promoter-musician extraordinaire John Floridis and my new friend Julie Walker, who handled our merch at the Top Hat.
With the boys after our final show together. What a blast we had!
May
1
2010
By Ellen Stanley
Yesterday we loaded up the car with instruments, CDs and large coffees, leaving Bozeman around noon. Thankfully the snow eased up as we got out of town so that I could see more of the mountains. This was a new stretch of I-90 for me, and I enjoyed it immensely, going through Butte, through the Mission Mountains and by Flathead Lake.
We checked in at our hotel and then went to the KM Theatre for our soundcheck. We were greeted enthusiastically by the promoter Marshall, who had seen me a couple years ago at Storyhill’s Bozeman festival. We had a quick and easy soundcheck and then grabbed some dinner downstairs at Red’s Wine & Blues.
Local artist Sarston Noice opened up the sold-out show with a couple of her funky originals, accompanied by her electric guitar. Then Scott of Montana Radio Cafe introduced me as Marshall’s favorite banjo player. I played a short opening set and had a great time. A small theater in the round, it has amazing sound and a cozy vibe. The crowd was a lot of fun and turned out to be full of great singers, when they joined me and Storyhill on my closer “Revival Train.”
Highlights from Storyhill’s set included “Full Circle,” “Town Talks,” “Caught in a Mess,” “Well of Sorrow,” “White Roses,” and “Sacramento,” the second of three songs they did during their encore.
I met lots of great folks after the show, including local musician Barbara Calm, a friend of Sound of Blackbirds contributor Jess Byers. Afterwards, we all had margaritas and fries at the North Bay Grill–a really fun time.
Got some decent sleep before heading out this morning to Whitefish to check out Amazing Crepes. Invited by owners Becky and Todd last night at the show, we were treated to some amazing savory and sweet crepes. (My favorites were the root vegetables/spinach/cheddar/locally raised ham and the apricot gruyere ones.) Definitely worth a trip if you find yourself in downtown Whitefish.
Now we’re on the road to Missoula, where we will play tonight…8 pm at the Top Hat!