Willy Mason, Informed Songwriter

Willy Mason is scheduled to release his second full-length album, "If the Ocean Gets Rough," on March 20th, 2007, on Astralwerks. 

In November of 2003, at the Knitting Factory, I saw Willy Mason with his brother Sam Mason on drums open for Bright Eyes. He won that audience over, especially me. He casually said at the end of the set, “I have like five CDs in the back if anyone is interested" I think he recorded them before the show.  I had to see him again and again. Everything about him captured my attention, his guitar playing, informed writing, and relaxed and authentic manner. He has a gift for melody. I love how he plays the guitar using resonating and alternating bass notes. He adds strumming and picking with interludes of harmonic surprises down the fret. Although he is 21 years old, his voice sounds weathered and worn.  While listening to his lyrics, it is evident that he is curious, smart, and well-read. He exposes social and political hypocrisy as he searches for deeper meaning and understanding of life’s daunting conflicts. He weaves a personal subtext within his songwriting while tackling poverty, war, materialism, and hedonism. It is the inference that adds weight and gives the lyrics cerebral edginess. Leaving the listener's brain in overdrive.

I've seen him live eight times in different settings alone, with Nina Violet on viola and an assortment of players working on his freshman CD "Where the Humans Eat." The most recent touring band includes Nina, Sam Mason on drums, Colin Ruel on guitar, and Farley Glavin on bass. They just finished an 18-stop tour opening for Radiohead in May and June 2006. I was lucky to see the band play the Living Room on July 21st, 2006. The set included all new material except for one song. The melodies, time changes, and lyrics were memorable. The band sounded strong and confident. There was something different about Willy. He seemed more determined and serious. This time rather than being discovered, he seemed ready and eager to present his music.  Check out his new site called G-ma's Basement It is a home-based online retailer selling local music from the Island of Martha's Vineyard. This includes some of Willy's live sessions with cousin Zak Borden and past releases of Willy and his talented mother, Jemima James. "Equal parts hobo and Holden Caufield, nineteen-year-old Willy Mason blends precocious lyricism, spare, jangly guitar, and a world-weary voice that sounds older than his years." - Rolling Stone

LANGHORNE SLIM, DELIVERS

LANGHORNE SLIM ["PRINCE" OF FOLK] Langhorne Slim delivers live. I Saw them at Rothko's in January, with a packed house. The group worked the crowd into a frenzy with just an acoustic guitar, stand-up bass, and drums. This group has heart, passion, and a love of performance that is refreshing and uplifting. I was watching the show with a drummer from a legendary hardcore punk band. At the close of the show he shook Langhorne's hand and said "after seeing this show I will follow you anywhere, man you're awesome." Their sound is a mixture of folk, hillbilly, scat, bluegrass with the sensibility of punk, especially with the strong percussion team of Paul Defiglia on bass and Malachi DeLorenzo on drums. Mr. Slim's high quivering voice can get very raw, bluesy, gritty, nasty, naughty at times and downright sweet, singing a love song with just a guitar. The other players sing and shout along as momemtum builds. Energy radiates from these three players and a kinetic force is created leaving the audience exhilarated. Langhorne has physical aspects to his playing that are very charismatic. His head turns from side to side while he pauses and stares to emphasize a word or phrase. He sways high and low with his guitar as he stomps and glides across the stage. Kind of like the artist "Prince" but folk style. There are so many mannerisms that are charming, quirky and great to observe. The other members ham it up as well. The banter during and in-between vocals is not to be missed and is never the same. It is guided by audience feedback, creating an interactive set. Langhorne Slim's full length CD When The Sun Goes Down (2005) lovingly unites the rousing songs with the beautiful love ballads. It is deserving of all the accolades it has received. The band has toured relentlessly in the last two years, featuring new material. They are in the process of recording a new LP. They have two shows in late August and two in September supporting the Violent Femmes, in New Jersey and Baltimore. For their fall tour they will support the Two Gallants , tour dates are listed on their myspace site. I hope you get a chance to experience this amazing group! When The Sun Goes Down LP 2005 Electric Love EP 2004

Honne Wells, Performance Stature of a Veteran

HONNE WELLS gave a performance with the stature of a veteran at Bar 169 in the Lower East Side. As Honne Wells sat down on a low stool, he slowly took off his shoe, placing his foot through a small tambourine. The mic stand was set low. Standing at six foot two inches in a grey suit and wide tie, he slowly began to stomp his foot, placing his hands behind his back. He bent over at a forty-degree angle to sing into the mic. His voice is low at the extreme, guttural and startling. The sound resonated, the air thickened with anticipation, and the time period altered to the early beginnings of Blues. Mr. Wells sat down with his guitar tuned to an irregular E. His glass slide tools are laid out in a row. Each is used and carefully chosen to vary the intonation of the rugged sliding bass notes. His fingerpicking moved the higher strings to a constant flutter. Five songs in, he added whistling to his repertoire. Ending the set with a great cover of Good Night Irene by Lead Better. Standing again, he sang and paused carefully between verses, leaving his audience speechless. Honne Wells blends earnest songwriting and conceptual affect with stunning music. Although he is a young man, his level of performance acumen is that of a veteran. Self-released What the Lead Said 2005 Honnephone Self-released Mother Pie 2006 Honnephone "The sound you hear are the harmonics of sorrow, people have called it folk, blues, gospel; but all it is to me is war." Honne Wells

Photo credit: Joshua Eric Schwartz