Lisa's Song Completes Suite

Hope.

“Lisa’s Song” completes the song suite from Allison Crowe and Band – continuing Act 2 of “Welcome to Us”. 

Lisa's Song – Allison Crowe and Band W2U2 from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

Visual accompaniment is from the cinema masterpiece “Ménilmontant”. (The full suite – I Might / Back to Black / Shifts of Light / Tones in Transition / I Am the Air / Lisa's Song – is @ https://vimeo.com/261671693 )

Musicians Allison Crowe (vocals, piano, guitar, fiddle, bodhran), Céline Sawchuk (cello, vocals), Sarah White (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Dave Baird (bass, vocals) & Keelan Purchase (accordion, 12-string guitar, bodhran, harmonica, vocals) banded together on the lovely isle of Newfoundland for sessions and shows.

For a flock of creators who live, literally, all over the map it’s a rare chance to slow the world a bit. “We had time to experiment, and think more about the larger picture musically,” says bassist & birder Dave. “It’s only the beginning. It’s just the first we’ve had opportunity to work the music out without much time restraint. It was fun, relaxed, and productive.”

Melding into one sound and performance experience the rawest of folk roots and the richest of arena rock – that barely begins to describe the originality and freshness of the quintet’s music and personality.

Debuting at Corner Brook, NL’s Rotary Arts Centre, RAC Theatre Co-ordinator Brad Randell observes, “The performance was absolutely magical.”

Rolling across the rock, captured fresh at the LSPU (Longshoremen's Protective Union) Hall in St. John's, NL, Canada – it’s music that’s food for the soul and fun for all.

Fortune’s present audio-wise, and Allison’s SD (memory) card is filled with tracks to be mined and enjoyed. Sláinte!

"Welcome to Us 1", the concert’s first act, presents the brilliant bi-coastal band's more guitar-and-fiddle-centric tunes – live: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-1http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-1

"Welcome to Us 2", the concert’s second act, features the group's more piano-centric tunes – and encore – live: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-2http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-2

"Welcome to Us Banter Bits" includes any chat, laughter, applause not found on the "Welcome to Us" albums on iTunes et al. A free download to complement the concert music: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-banter-bitshttp://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/welcome-to-us-banter-bits

Lisa Marie Young's Story on Casefile

The case of Lisa Marie Young of Nanaimo, Canada is focus of the latest episode (26) of ‘Casefile’, an haunting Australian+ true crime podcast featured in Rolling Stone and on iTunes. It can be heard desk-top via Soundcloud @ https://soundcloud.com/casefile/case-26-lisa-marie-young and on devices @ https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/case-26-lisa-marie-young/id998568017?i=1000372988520&mt=2 and http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/casefile-true-crime-podcast/e/45496269 (+ numerous podcast-playing apps for, both, apple and android).

Musician Allison Crowe wrote “Lisa’s Song” for Lisa, a school-mate, and for Lisa’s family in 2002. It’s now over 14 years since loved ones last saw Lisa – daughter, sister, niece, grand-daughter, cousin, mentor, friend and all else that’s Lisa. Her story from June 30, 2002 is tragic. And it needs to be told until there is justice and, ultimately, some closure: http://www.allisoncrowe.com/lisaspage.html

In December 2015, Canada’s government announced an inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women in this country. Draft terms of reference, recently leaked online, “do not go far enough in scope to look specifically at the effects indifferent or ineffective policing has had on families," says Sheila North Wilson, Grand Chief, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/mmiw-inquiry-violence-prevention-1.3686671)

“If anyone has info and wants to get in touch please do so at casefiletruecrime@gmail.com Will treat any info anonymously,” notes the international team behind ‘Casefile’. You can also email producers of the dramatic documentary series c/o host@casefilepodcast.com and get in touch via direct private message on facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/casefile and the show’s website @ http://casefilepodcast.com 

Lisa's Song

"Lisa's Song" completes this EP/CD. In Summer 2002 Lisa Marie Young is abducted during a night out with friends in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Allison Crowe returns home from tour to learn her high-school friend is missing. (More on this tragedy @ Lisa's Page) Allison's trio are invited into Seacoast Sound where Rick Erickson records this performance ripped from the soul.

Philosophy

"Philosophy" is today's selection on "6 Songs". Fittingly, it closes that EP/CD - just as the song closed many a concert when Allison Crowe rocked out with her band. As the final song of a concert set or encore, Allison would often build to a coda of Pearl Jam's "Jeremy". It was all mighty frenzied. With bassist Dave Baird deep in the groove, drummer Kevin Clevette's drumsticks would splinter amidst the Bacchanalia.

Scared

"Scared" is our pick for today. "This song is about not being afraid to stand up for yourself and what you believe in, to speak out even in the most adverse of circumstances," says Allison Crowe. (On YouTube is a Scared music video - created by Angela Kendall and Brian Dutkewich of transmission2videos who've later made vids for Tegan and Sara, Death Cab for Cutie, Jets Overhead +)

Dark Blue

"Dark Blue" is today's song - from the "6 Songs" session. Once more, Allison Crowe (vocals, piano) is joined by Dave Baird (bass) and Kevin Clevette (drums) for this live-off-the-floor take captured by Engineer/Producer Larry Anschell (Pearl Jam's "Alive", Sarah McLachlan's "Gloomy Sunday" and mucho more).

Crayon and Ink

Song of today, from the "6 Songs" session, is an epic favourite of many - "Crayon and Ink". Recorded live-off-the-floor by Allison Crowe, and bassist Dave Baird and drummer Kevin Clevette. Artwork for this EP (Extended Play) CD, and its subsequent editions is by Allison, with the cover photo by Gord Christmas. Happy Sunday!

Midnight

Here's a song that's had several incarnations - this is the first. "Midnight", also recorded by Allison Crowe and trio (Dave Baird, Kevin Clevette) at Turtle, that afternoon in July 2001. Allison's songs are pretty much all autobiographical. Some, like this one, contain verbatim passages of her life :)



Allison Crowe, Lisa's Song, 6 Songs, EP, Turtle, Larry Anschell, Dave Baird, Kevin Clevette, piano, voice, drums, bass, rock, jazz, folk, indie, passion, Midnight, Pearl Jam

Fade Away

Background: On Allison Crowe's facebook Artist page, Turkish fan Furkan Sidar started things rolling with a song request, and it proved so much fun, I realized - there's over 100 songs released on Allison's seven albums and not everyone has heard all this music. Thus begins a series of a song every-day-or-so to bring all of this music to ears anew.

"Fade Away" on Allison Crowe's first release, an EP called "6 Songs", was written when Allison was 15. In July 2001 Allison and trio - Dave Baird on bass, Kevin Clevette on drums - traveled to Seattle, USA to join Pearl Jam fans for a "Worldwide Convergence". Stopping en route for a session at Larry Anschell's Turtle Recording Studios in White Rock, BC, they recorded six songs "live-off-the-floor". This is the first.