Episode 19-10: Son Volt, also featuring The Slamming Doors

About This Episode

Led by the songwriting and vocals of Jay Farrar, Son Volt was one
of the most instrumental and influential bands in launching the
alt.country movement, precursor to what is now widely referred to
as Americana. Farrar possesses one of the most distinctive voices
in roots, rock, country or any genre. He exudes a soulful longing
combined with a wise-beyond-his-years command that is as
arresting and compelling as ever. As a songwriter, Farrar's depth
and poetic penchant has been the foundation of a thoughtful, deep
and intelligent body of work.


Son Volt's most recent album release was Notes Of Blue (Thirty
Tigers). The 10 songs on Notes Of Blue are inspired by the spirit
of the blues, but not the standard blues as most know it. The
unique and haunting tunings of Mississippi Fred McDowell, Skip
James and Nick Drake were all points of exploration for Farrar
for the new collection.


The album opens with the country soul of "Promise The World",
followed by "Back Against The Wall", a song that could stand
alongside the great Son Volt songs of their early albums.
However, Notes Of Blue reflects the blues as it resides in the
folk tradition, but heavily amplified. The primal stomp of
"Cherokee Girl", the frenetic guitar on "Static" and the raw
slide in "Sinking Down" exude grit and attitude. Conversely,
tracks such as "The Storm" and "Cairo and Southern" seamlessly
meld blues with hypnotic melodies that add a unique balance to
Notes Of Blue.


Whether you call it alt.country, Americana, roots rock, insurgent
country or just good ol' rock ‘n' roll, musical trends appear and
disappear on regular basis. Notes of Blue is a testament to the
legacy of inspiration and creative spirit that Jay Farrar and Son
Volt continue to uphold.


This episode also features songs from The Slamming Doors. This
Iron Range group brings a lot more to the table than just being a
run of the mill country band. The country edge is just a fraction
of what is happening with this music. These are sounds and
traditions many musicians assume are too mapped out, too well
traveled for anyone to successfully create something fresh and
new. And in the hands of most bands attempting to operate there,
these sounds and traditions often do feel worn out. With The
Slamming Doors the memorized map hasn't vanished, or been
rejected, it has become Origami.
About Michael Perry

Michael Perry is a New York Times bestselling author, humorist
and radio show host from New Auburn, Wisconsin.


Perry's bestselling memoirs include Population 485, Truck: A Love
Story, Coop, and Visiting Tom, and his latest, Montaigne in Barn
Boots: An Amateur Ambles Through Philosophy. His first book for
young readers, The Scavengers, was published in 2014 and first
novel for adult readers, The Jesus Cow, was published in May of
2015.


Raised on a small Midwestern dairy farm, Perry put himself
through nursing school while working on a ranch in Wyoming, then
wandered into writing. He lives with his wife and two daughters
in rural Wisconsin, where he serves on the local volunteer fire
and rescue service and is an intermittent pig farmer. He hosts
the nationally-syndicated "Tent Show Radio," performs widely as a
humorist, and tours with his band the Long Beds (currently
recording their third album for Amble Down Records). He has
recorded three live humor albums including Never Stand Behind A
Sneezing Cow and The Clodhopper Monologues.


Learn more about Michael and where to get his publications at
www.sneezingcow.com.


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