iron-horse-music-hall

The Lightfoot Band celebrates the songs of Gordon Lightfoot on NineVoltHeart. Iron Horse show on 4/24.

xr:d:DAF7YxpYS04:4,j:1870537703749001915,t:24020717

Barry Keane is the long-time drummer from Gordon Lightfoot’s band. I mean 50 plus years long time! Barry joined Gordon as the only touring drummer ever in the band in 1972. Bassist Rick Haynes joined in 1968! Keyboard player Mike Heffernan was a latecomer in 1981 as was guitarist Carter Lancaster (recruited after the death of Terry Clements). This is the band who recorded and performed all those hits of Gordon Lightfoot, Canada’s revered singer-songwriter. They will be at the Iron Horse on 4/24 for their only New England appearance. Of course, Gordon passed on 5/1/2023 and the band convened to consider how to continue to showcase these amazing songs. They chose long-time friend of the band Andy Mauck to sing and play rythm guitars (Same guitars as Gord! Gibson B45 and Martin D-18)

The result is a triumphant return to these amazing songs like “If You Could Read My Mind”, “Early Morning Rain”, “Carefree Highway”, “Sundown” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”. Many more hits and deep cuts will be in the setlist at the Iron Horse on Thursday 4/24. My chat with Barry Keane was a joy for a Lightfoot fan like myself and anyone curious about the legacy of these songs. I began with “Rainy Day People” and began a discussion about Keane’s carreer which includes over 400 sessions for albums, an Oscar for the film “Last of the Mohicans”, appearing in a Budweiser commercial!, as well as having a record label named after him! All this even before Gordon’s studio engineer asked him to sit in on “Old Dan’s Records” in 1972. Keane told some amazing stories about recording sessions and world-wide tours as well as some insights about the man himself. We finish this amazing segment in musical history with the story about the recording (almost not) of “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”.

Details at LightfootBand.com and IronHorse.org for details.

Heather Maloney releases “Exploding Star” and sells out three local shows! NineVoltHeart interview.

Heather Maloney joined me for an in-depth discussion of her carreer and her latest album, “Exploding Star”; the local writer’s ninth release. She has two sold out shows at the Iron Horse on Feb 7&8th to begin a full tour featuring her most personal album yet. We begin and end the interview with the capstones of her album; “Labyrinth in the Weeds” and “Leave It To Them”. In between, our conversation touches on many topics including making Western Massachusetts her home base, her song writing approach to this new material as well as her visual artistry (creating linocuts for each song). We chat about the incredibly difficult chapter of losing her Dad to Parkinsons in 2021. She went to her childhood home to find it vacant of residents but not of ghosts and nostalgia among many emotions. Two of her new songs ended up being recorded at the home; literally using the walls and floors percussively! We chatted about the intensity of this formative experience to the process. The results are astoundingly touching, emotionally complicated and starkly beautiful! Heather talks about lessons she learned about grief and loss among these songs which weren’t originally scheduled for an album release at all. They were simply a creative artist working through issues. We are collectively glad that she reconsidered that decision.

Check out more about the album, the tour and all things Heather at HeatherMaloney.com

Kathleen Parks of Twisted Pine previews their Iron Horse debut, October 18.

Twisted Pine is playing a CD Release Party at the Iron Horse on Friday October 18 with the emphasis on PARTY. Kathleen Parks and her bandmates will be celebrating “Love Your Mind” which is released on the local label, Signature Sounds, for the occasion. The disc is full of upbeat songs and tunes guaranteed to turn the Iron Horse into a room of happy fans; new and old. Kat visits with Nine Volt Heart along with a batch of new songs! “Goosebump Feeling” and “Chanel Perfume (with Ali McGuirk)” from the new album along with “Ragin’ Cajun” from Kat’s latest solo work, “Rolling Down the Line” open up the segment.

Kat talks about the development of the band over time; personnel changes prompting stylistic decisions which lead to the latest album. It’s a mix of all the members influences as well as a collaborative effort, There’s fiddle tunes, danceable pop songs, special guests and even a Frank Zappa cover! We chat about the making of the album with co-producer Dan Cardinal at Dimension Sound. This is the third album in a row at his recording studio and the comfort level shows. There’s a great mix of instrumentals and songs; great mix of instrumentation with bass, guitar, mandolin, fiddle and flute throughout. The band sounds cohesive without being bored. They all are credited with songwriting as well on most cuts. There’s party songs, love songs, and everything in between.

Kat introduces our last song, “After Midnight (Nothing Good Happens)” as a phrase her Dad mentioned off-hand. He was a trumpet player in a jazz band so likely know this bit of advice first hand. It discusses the dilemma all players experience when the urge to pick all night at a festival clashes with the need to sleep and be ready for an important set the next day. You’ll have to listen to find out what choice gets made!

Twisted Pine with Ali McGuirk at the Iron Horse. Friday night October 18. IronHorse.org for details.