Courtesy of Kalispell’s Website
Way to go, music appreciators and Kalispell fans! Though it almost came down to the wire, Shane Leonard’s efforts to raise the required funds for Kalispell’s ambitious next project have been rewarded. Now that this important logistical piece of the puzzle is in place, it’s time for Leonard and his cohorts to make some music! According to Leonard, recording is scheduled for February 2014 at April Base in Fall Creek. I cannot wait to hear the new stuff!
In the last week or so, I have become really familiar with Hannah Connolly’s “Flying EP.” There is a sweet sadness that permeates the five song collection. I have found myself totally drawn in to the sadness in her songs. They are stories of intense heartbreak, loss, and hope. I wrote about these things at some length for the upcoming issue of Volume One, so I won’t spend time repeating myself here.
However, I had the opportunity to hear Connolly play live again last week at the Volume One Gallery as a part of V1’s Jingle Jams series. And, I walked away even more drawn into her music. The audience got to hear the five songs from her EP, as well as some other originals and a couple of covers. One of those covers was “Jolene,” the classic Dolly Parton song. Connolly and her accompanist, J.T. Viele, were great all night, but there was something different about their performance of that particular song. There was an intensity, a desperation, an edginess that grabbed a hold of me. I found myself wanting more of that.
The rest of the evening was filled with sweet but sad melodies, pretty guitar work, Connolly’s beautiful and distinctive vocals, and the incredible vocal and instrumental color that Viele added to the entire performance. That is what you can expect from Connolly’s EP and live shows. However, I walked away from that show after hearing that rendition of “Jolene” thinking we might only be seeing the tip of the iceberg in terms of the kind of art that Connolly can produce. I personally can’t wait to hear what comes next for her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iBn-idaQJk
(Adapted and updated from a post for Visit Eau Claire from 2012)
In my previous post, I mentioned the first time I experienced Adelyn Rose’s music. Since then, they have become a mainstay in the local music scene here in the Chippewa Valley, even winning the “Best Rock Band in the Valley” award from the readership of Volume One in 2013. That night that I first heard them, they were the opening act and played only a few songs. When my family and I had a chance to see them again the next summer, they were the main event, headlining the concert that night, and they have now toured various regions throughout the U.S.
Their growth as performers has been evident in the several times I’ve seen them since that first set. What has been even more evident is the potential for greatness that lives in them. And, I don’t mean that they will sell a billion records (maybe they will, and I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if they do). No, I mean there is incredible artistic and creative potential living inside of them, the kind of stuff that could produce some profound and meaningful art.
I also hear this potential in their first full length album, “Mezzanine,” which was released last year. It is not a perfect album, and the band would be the first to tell you that. I had the chance to meet with Addie Strei and Dave Power from Adelyn Rose shortly after it’s release. Addie compared the album to “looking at baby pictures.” I thought that was a great analogy. The album, in my opinion, is well worth the $9 or $10 you may pay for it, but it is only a foggy reflection of the greatness that resides in this band. Still, there are songs on the album that really speak to me. My favorite two songs are “Chords” and “Never Get Tired.” In “Chords”, the driving piano is reminiscent of what drew me to Coldplay’s “A Rush of Blood to the Head” album. There is an emotional intensity in these two songs and throughout the album. In this musical layman’s opinion, these two songs are worth the cost of the album by themselves. There is an intimacy and vulnerability in the album that certainly draws in this listener.
Addie said that the songs on Mezzanine were pretty old (at least to her) and are not even really representative of where they are now as a band. So, she and Dave both expressed their excitement about the album they were about to record at the end of 2012. From what I understand, they have recorded that album and are now working on editing and the rest of the finishing touches. I cannot wait to check it out myself… You can listen to the first track, “Primitive”, off the new album on their Bandcamp page: http://adelynrose.bandcamp.com/.
I’m really excited about the future for these guys. The next big step for them is opening up for Volcano Choir at Schofield Hall at UWEC next Saturday and Sunday (October 19-20). Volcano Choir is the internationally touring band including Jon Mueller, Chris Rosenau, Matthew Skemp, Daniel Spack, Justin Vernon, and Thomas Wincek. So, this is a great opportunity for Adelyn Rose to be heard by a larger audience. And, this can only lead to good things for them.
If you’d like to check out Adelyn Rose’s music for yourself or get more information about them, here are some places you can do just that:
https://www.facebook.com/adelynrose
Adelyn Rose (Spotify)
themixedbagec.com 