Week 2 of "Allison Crowe August" Live

Woke this morning to the sounds of ‘The Friday Morning Markout’ on CHMR Radio – with genial show-host FanBoy Mark Jabroni ringing in “week 2 of ‪#‎AllisonCroweAugust‬!”

Hearing the DJ spin almost the entire two-night concert set of Allison – “Live at Wood Hall” – on the air’s a welcome reminder of how great is this release: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/live-at-wood-hall It’s an all-time fan fave, particularly in Europe where the sound of solo voice and piano is especially appreciated. Here’s a capsule description from when Rubenesque Records first posted this double-disc – dim the lights and enjoy the concerts:

Live at Wood Hall is an exciting journey through Allison Crowe's concert repertoire, recorded with a simple clarity in the converted chapel of Victoria (B.C.)'s Conservatory of Music. Alongside more than an album's worth of original songs of love and hope, social and political conscience, and real beauty, Allison covers cherished favourites - including Ani DiFranco ("Independence Day"), Counting Crows ("A Murder of One"), Tori Amos ("Playboy Mommy"), Janis Joplin ("Me and Bobby McGee"), and John Lennon ("Imagine"). Colours in the artist's musical palette range from roots & blues, through folk, pop/rock, jazz and Broadway. There's even a traditional Irish aire, "Believe Me If All (Those Endearing Young Charms)", sung acappella. Once again, Larry Anschell (Turtle Studios) captures the music on tape and Alix Whitmire designs the beautiful artwork/CD cover. " 'Music, man, that's where it's at'/ it is a religious line/ outside, the chimes rung/ an they/ are still ringin."

Full album credits, track-listing and all at the link below. And, to enjoy week 3 of “Allison Crowe August” upcoming - search "CHMR's RING RUST" on the Stitcher app, or listen live via http://www.chmr.ca/main.html 

Turtle on KISM + Times Colonist - Allison Crowe In the News

Much of Canada celebrates Victoria Day today. Ideal holiday-time to catch up on some fun music news. Broadcasting from Mount Constitution on Orcas Island, Washington in the Pacific Northwest region of this continent is classic rock station KISM 92.9 where “Locals Only” show host Pooner Clark, a DJ with Idaho roots, interviews special guests. A recent chat with Larry Anschell, founder of storied Turtle Recording Studios and Brad Graham, Turtle engineer/producer extraordinaire, is now online: http://kism.com/locals-only/this-week-turtle-recording-studio (btw, the two DJs pictured with the audio, "Brad and John", are with a different program – they’re not Clark, Anschell or Graham)

Anschell recounts the originally-mobile, 1987-established British-Columbia-based, studio’s history capturing the sound of artists on both sides of the nearby Canada/US border – from Kenny G to Pearl Jam, Sarah McLachlan to Soundgarden and Alice in Chains (http://www.turtlerecording.com/about.html). As well, he and Graham spin current tracks of Jason Mitchell, Five Alarm Funk, Tonye Aganaba, Russ Robson and Sean Simpson.

About 22 minutes into the program, you’ll also hear a new recording from Allison Crowe and Band. Starting in 2001, to date Crowe has teamed up with Turtle on several singles, one EP, three albums and three double-albums. Videos of the artist performing “Hallelujah” and other songs from “Tidings” live-in-the-studio, enjoyed by many millions of people around the world, show Turtle’s studio when it was located beach-front in White Rock, BC. “Introducing / Heirs + Grievances”, the just-released debut double-disc from Allison and Band is recorded live-in-concert by Brad Graham and in the studio’s new, forest, location by Larry “Turtle” Anschell. For their ‘ears’, their integrity, and their special attunement to her honest style of music-making, Crowe and musical partners love working with the Turtle crew.

Introducing “Lisa’s Song” for the KISM radio show, Anschell provides insight into Crowe and her ways: “This was a live recording off-the-floor. She tends to just like to lay it down as real as can be… She’s really an amazing talent. Whenever I hear her, I get goose-bumps. And, you, know, that doesn’t always happen… being as jaded as we are in the recording business. When you’re struck just by real talent it’s an amazing thing.”

In print this holiday weekend, the convivial “Scene and Heard” column in The Times Colonist newspaper, based in BC’s capital city of Victoria (named for the same Queen we celebrate today), updates readers with word on Allison Crowe’s activities from “Newfoundland Vinyl” to her band’s new record release: http://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/music/hermann-s-hosts-bluegrass-stars-bob-moses-returns-to-canada-1.2260599

TC rock music+ scribe Mike Devlin notes the video series for “Heirs + Grievances” is building on Vimeo https://vimeo.com/album/3932431 Today we’ll add the eighth song vid to this visual album.

The First Noel

“The First Noel” - a favourite from the traditional Christmas canon.



Late one afternoon, Allison Crowe took her place at the piano and performed the songs of “Tidings” live-off-the-floor – captured on film in real-time by director/producer Alex Postowoi and his crew: camera-persons Karen Duthie, Randy Rotheisler, editor Shirley Claydon and interviewer Steven Rosenberg. The audio’s recorded by Larry Anschell at his Turtle Recording studios in White Rock, BC, Canada.

Crowe's much-loved versions of carols alongside tunes from the popular songbook, by Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles and more, have been viewed and heard by millions of people around the globe - every sex, race, religion and creed+ without boundaries or divisions.

It’s an historic session that nearly didn’t happen.

On the way from Vancouver to the studio near the Canada/US border, the large industrial van carrying the musician, film crew, and the lighting and camera gear broke down and had to be abandoned on the median.

Once bodies and equipment had been transferred into friends’ passenger vehicles, including a Volvo sedan so weighted down its undercarriage sparked as it grazed the tarmac, all arrived at Turtle late in the day for what had been booked for a morning call.

Engineer Anschell said had it been any artist other than Allison Crowe he’d have cancelled the session and looked to reschedule, as there was not the time available to set-up and film/record an album of song material. Knowing Allison, though, “Turtle” let things proceed – and, between sips of water and tea, she performed each song in a single, first, take. The full recording happened in the window it takes to enjoy these videos.

Coming Ashore: Allison Crowe and Band with Recordings and Concert Joy

Bi-coastal musician, who’s cameoed in the latest Superman movie and toured with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, brings her band to Canada's mainland for the first time

Islander Allison Crowe (vocals, piano, guitar, fiddle, bodhran) and bandmates Billie Woods (guitar, vox), Lin Lin (cello, vox), and Dave Baird (bass) bring their singular hybrid of Canadiana, Celtic, jazz, roots, folk, soul and original rock to mainland Canada with a concert at Vancouver’s St. James Hall (3214 West  10th Ave.) on Friday, November 13 at 8pm.

This weekend the group is in recording sessions at White Rock’s storied Turtle studios with Engineer/Producer Larry Anschell (Pearl Jam, Bif Naked, Sarah McLachlan) – capturing what will be, either, Crowe’s fifth album of 2015 (including a 21-song curated collection), or her, first release of 2016.

“Sylvan Hour is truly a masterpiece”, says pioneering culture blog Muruch of Crowe’s Springtime offering. “The music seems to rise from deep with her chest, sometimes ripping out of her throat in full roar, other times being restrained and shaped with the skill of a master sculptor.” 

And, her newest song collection to reach ears carries forward with winning praise:

“Newfoundland Vinyl 3 by Allison Crowe brings the beautiful winter breeze early,” says The CelticMusic Fan. “Allison’s music offers an “unique listening experience as I don’t think I have met a kind of style or recording like hers. The styles vary from traditional to modern… Fiddlers Green, The Irish Rover will appeal to lovers of Irish music. While the rest are infused in folk, pop and blues style… Allison Crowe’s arrangements are simple and they exude an intimate air which is rare these days, in a world where music is overblown or over-produced. You get the sense of organic simplicity in each track. It’s the feeling of coming home after a long hard day from work.”

“Further jaunts and ‘me boys’ abound with Crowe bringing a joyous appreciation to the traditional folk roots of the songwriting and authentic presentations… This is definitely traditional fare delivered with genuine, folk-honest class” notes Some Diurnal Aural Awe. “A fine guitarist and an absolutely stunning pianist, Ms Crowe plays and sings with a genuine passion that is completely void of vacuous histrionics. She skates the edges of soulful folk and folky soul with a commanding ease… With this release she accomplishes what few artists even attempt” is the comment @ “It’s Only Rock’n’Roll”.


Out now is "Souling (Bonus Tracks Edition)” – an album which expands upon Allison Crowe’s popular acapella release of last Christmas season. This year she’s added one traditional carol plus fresh takes on the secular holiday songbook. With characteristic distinction, Crowe's crystalline pure approach brings new emotional colour to “Blue Christmas” and other classics.

Allison Crowe celebrates Halloween ‘fore setting sail anew with band 

Unstable

Robert Plant, Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Joe Cocker, Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart), Eddie Vedder… visceral rock singers of legend.

 

Among Allison Crowe’s early studio recording experiences was a kind invitation from “Her Royal Majesty’s Records”, the label started by Canada’s own rock/punk/poet icon, Bif Naked. Naked’s manager and HRMR co-founder, music industry veteran Peter Karroll remarked upon first hearing the island-based musician: “She is reminiscent of some of the great women vocalists who shaped rock music in the late '60s and early '70s. Allison's emotional delivery is unique in today's music."

 

Here’s “Unstable” - one of the songs Allison Crowe performed in those days with her bandmates Dave Baird (bass) and Kevin Clevette (drums). It’s recorded in White Rock, BC’s Turtle studios by Larry Anschell (who’s captured music of Bif, Pearl Jam, Sarah McLachlan ++).

The accompanying visual is excerpted from an experimental 1928 film version of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1839 short story, “The Fall of the House of Usher”. Directed and photographed by James Sibley Watson, Jr. – it’s a cinematic adaptation Watson co-wrote with Melville Webber (who also designed the sets for this American avant-garde piece). An early scenario for the film was written by poet and essayist+ e.e. cummings.

Dearly

This time of February, for lots of folks, opens a door through which love, its many forms and facets, is a focus. With Valentine’s Day and V-Day happenings songs have a cherished part, too – reflective, celebratory, and all else.

In days of doo-wop, people addressed love’s pizmotality in musical letters. Fast forward to this week - and delivery of a bundle of songs bearing Allison Crowe’s singular stamp.

First posting is “Dearly”, from Allison’s “Spiral” album. On this, Allison (composer, voice, guitar, engineer) is joined by Billie Woods (guitar), Dave Baird (bass), Laurent Boucher (percussion), Larry Anschell (engineer) and Kayla Schmah (orchestrator, string arranger, producer). The foto of Allison was captured by Billie back-stage at Berlin’s beautiful Osterkirche.

"Scared" Not

In light of our news (media reports) being full of violence against women, one of the web’s original music bloggers, Muruch, tweets: “I was just thinking about lack of anti-violence songs & wanting @Allison_Crowe to record one. I'd forgotten she already did. :)”

Among her passionate expressions of life’s dimensions, Allison’s extraordinarily diverse song catalogue speaks to themes of abusive relationships, self-harm, suicide, societal pressures, and more...

Muruch specifically highlights a song that addresses a culture of abuse, shame and silence - “Scared”: http://www.muruch.com/2014/11/allisoncrowe-scared.html

 

In the video embedded by Muruch, Allison and bandmates Dave Baird, bass, and Kevin Clevette, drums, are seen in various locations on Vancouver Island, Canada – in Nanaimo and Victoria. The video-makers, Angela Kendall and Brian Dutkewich, would later make popular videos for a Canadian duo, Tegan and Sara. (For trivia buffs: in this vid, Allison’s father, Del Crowe, happens to drive by at one point, and, Allison’s longtime manager, Adrian du Plessis, is also caught, serendipitously, walking by as he waves to Del.) The song's audio is recorded by Larry Anschell of Turtle Studios, and features 19-year-old Allison Crowe and band.

Running

Joseph Frank Keaton, Kansas-born into a family of vaudevillians, “Buster”, as he’d tell it, was given his nickname by legendary illusionist Harry Houdini (partner to Joe Sr. in a traveling show).

Over the course of his life Buster Keaton (1895 – 1966) created a world of cinematic magic from his own genius. Of the actor, comedian, stunt-artist, writer, film-maker and more – film critic Roger Ebert succinctly notes "in an extraordinary period from 1920 to 1929, he worked without interruption on a series of films that make him, arguably, the greatest actor-director in the history of the movies.”

Running from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

After immersion in Buster Keaton’s silent features and shorts, Ebert observed “his movies, seen as a group, are like a sustained act of optimism in the face of adversity”.

Here’s an excerpt from a 1922 short, “Day Dreams”, (directed by Keaton and regular collaborator Eddie Cline, produced by Joseph Schenck), on track with Allison Crowe’s song “Running” - like so many of her recordings, performed live (captured by engineer/producer Larry Anschell).

#7 of 16 Songs

         

Allison Crowe – Disease (White Rock/Corner Brook) - complete

“Disease” - Allison Crowe’s vocal and piano performance captured in concert on International Women’s Day in 2008 (08/03/08) – at Turtle Recording’s 20^th anniversary celebration. Larry Anschell and Brad Graham co-engineered the audio – showcasing Turtle’s fine-tuned mobile recording expertise heard in music releases from Allison, Pearl Jam, Bif Naked, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Sarah McLachlan and others from the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

"Power-house intense" says an European reviewer, “"the energy of 'Disease' can easily provide electricity to a small country for a decade."

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/track/disease-08-03-08

Ready to ward off rolling blackouts where e’er they may threaten, this uniquely trans-national creation features Allison Crowe’s live music recorded by Turtle’s dynamic duo, Anschell and Graham, in White Rock, BC – on Canada’s Pacific coast.

Visually representing the live intensity is footage from “A Corner Brook Tidings” – the charming 2012 documentary film directed and produced by Peter Buckle – a project graciously supported by the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council, with special thanks to Katrina Rice, NLAC Program Officer. Buckle and his camera team crew, Ryan David Butt and Jamie Brace, filmed Allison’s “Tidings” concert in Corner Brook, Newfoundland – on Canada’s Atlantic coast.

Psychedelically fusing this bi-coastal experience is Vimeo’s “Amoeba” enhancer.

Disease (White Rock/Corner Brook)

Allison Crowe performs live - "Disease" -- coast-to-coast 'cross Canada. Concert footage filmed by Peter Buckle and crew in Corner Brook, Newfoundland with audio captured by Larry Anschell and Turtle's co-engineer Brad Graham in White Rock, British Columbia.

Full performance video coming soon to Allison Crowe's facebook, Vimeo, YouTube + pages.

"Let It Be" - Allison Crowe performs The Beatles

“In My Life” - Allison Crowe performing a “John song” was our first video commemorating the 50th anniversary of Beatlemania in North America. With her take on a “Paul song” – here’s Allison now with “Let It Be”, again captured in real-time by film director Alex Postowoi and crew and audio engineer Larry “Turtle” Anschell (and in higher fidelity than previously available online).



The ‘Tidings’ album version of the song - http://music.allisoncrowe.com/track/let-it-be - was recorded a year or two earlier, as was Allison’s version of “Let It Be” that’s part of the NYC-produced “It Was 40 Years Ago Today” tribute album – a compilation also featuring Dee Dee Ramone, Sylvain Sylvain and other DIY, indie, alternative and punk rock musicians (released on February 9, 2004).

Beatlemania Hits Fab 50: Allison Crowe Performs "In My Life"

“Beatlemania, as it is called, affects all social classes and all levels of intelligence,” The New York Times reported in December 1963.

We’ll hear all manner of takes on similar themes over the coming month, with this February 7 marking the 50th anniversary of The Beatles landing at JFK International (New York City’s Idlewild airport rechristened on December 24, ’63 in tribute to the recently assassinated US President). The group’s appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show – broadcast over the three succeeding Sundays - electrified a new continent.

Plenty came before, and much has happened since, Pan Am Flight 101 delivered the Fab Four aboard a Boeing 707-331, known as the Clipper “Defiance”, to a world ready for joy and release.

 Celebrating the musical legacy of John, Paul, George and Ringo – here’s Allison Crowe performing “In My Life” – captured in real-time by film director Alex Postowoi and crew and audio engineer Larry Anschell at Turtle Recording studios by the sea in White Rock, BC, Canada.

(This is an higher-fidelity video recording than has been previously available!)

And, here’s another performance of the song by Allison – recorded, audio-only, at Turtle a couple of years earlier: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/track/in-my-life

Joy!

Rockin’ around the Christmas tree has deep roots – as we hear in this carol first shared in the 1800s. Here’s a joyous performance from Allison captured by Alex Postowoi and crew at the merry and bright Turtle Recording studios in White Rock, Canada:

Snow on Snow

Fun Facts: Musician Allison Crowe lives in one of the snowiest parts of Canada - Corner Brook - second only to Gander, NL as the snowiest city of them all. Her music label, Rubenesque Records, lives in the least snowiest region of Canada - on Salt Spring Island - between Victoria (#1) and Vancouver, BC (#3): http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Science/2013/11/28/snow1280.jpg

When there’s snow sighted, the best thing, of course, is to sing. Here’s Allison Crowe performing “In the Bleak Midwinter”, a traditional song of the season: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNo5U3C0cB4 This recording was made ten years ago this week – for “Tidings”, a national television special. Warmest thanks to Doug Slack and the production elves at the New VI/A Channel.

Like snow-flakes, no two musical performances are the same. Here's the "In the Bleak Midwinter" recording of Allison Crowe made live-in-the-studio at Turtle Recording, White Rock, BC Canada - by the teams of Alex Postowoi (film) and Larry Anschell (audio): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI00JhQpiaA

Delay - Musical Decade Shines Still Brighter

"Once you’ve heard one Allison Crowe song, You’ve heard one Allison Crowe song," says Allan Showalter, the erudite mystery-man behind the enriching and entertaining Leonard Cohen-centric blog, 1 Heck of a Guy.

With the good doctor's observation in mind - here's another one from Allison:



This, a diamond mined 10+ years ago - and the musical equivalent to kimberlite pipes are richer than ever. The fuller origin story can be found on the YouTube page hosting "Delay".

Midnight Memories Ever-Fresh

When Allison Crowe and her then-trio, Dave Baird on bass and Kevin Clevette on drums, were starting to roll internationally – film director and Hollywood+ steadi-cam veteran Alex Postowoi offered to shoot a band video. The song chosen for Allison’s first, and only, “story” video was “Midnight”. Tami Mancey and Josh Dahling were the lead actors. Full credits and this charming video itself can be found @ Allison Crowe and the Midnight Video

   
To add to the aural fun, at White Rock, BC’s Turtle studios Allison’s trio was joined on mandolin by Robert Ford, of Canuck Celtic rock legends, The Stoaters, as well as Hammond wizard Darryl Havers (Ferron, Alan Doyle, Brickhouse, Raffi+). With some additional support from “One-take Eddie” Johnson, percussion, and Larry “Turtle” Anschell handling guitar and production – Midnight “The Single” was born. This (2002) was no longer the heyday of “music television”, but, it still was a place many bands and fans looked to connect. Canada’s counterpart to MTV passed on playing “Midnight” – deeming it “too country”.

With Allison about to join Karen Sparkes and Gerri Lynn Mackey, personable hosts of CFCB 570AM Radio, home to new and classic country music, for an on-air chat, the memory brings forth a chuckle :)

Grab a sarsaparilla and kick back - here’s “Midnight”, as performed by Allison Crowe and friends, sounding as fresh and invigorating as the day they all came together.

Seems some browsers and operating systems respond differently to things and, so, should you have any problem watching the "Midnight" video directly on the site of film-maker, Alex Postowoi, we've made this page on Allison Crowe's home-site which may provide additional viewing options.

Oceans

"Oceans" arises from Allison Crowe's life - at home on, both, the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Canada. Joining Allison on this open-hearted musical voyage is her "Spiral" crew - including Larry Anschell on electric guitar, as well as engineering. Sail on...

Double-Edged Swords

Allison Crowe switches up with "Double-Edged Swords" - riding the rails geographically and emotionally. On board with Allison, the band, and producer Kayla Schmah is long-time musical partner, Turtle Studio's Larry Anschell, engineering the instrumental tracks. There's no 'sleeper' on this trip...

Me and Bobby McGee

"Me and Bobby McGee" penned by Fred Foster and Kris Kristofferson, closes this second concert of Allison Crowe "Live at Wood Hall". Allan Showalter, Buddha of the Broomcorn, blog-master @ http://1heckofaguy.com says, "Allison Crowe is the best thing to happen to 'Me And Bobby McGee' since Janis Joplin changed Kristofferson's lyrics."



(Applause/thanks)

Imagine

"Imagine", composed by John Lennon, performed live by Allison Crowe. Peace.



(Applause/banter)