Throwback Thursday: Locals Covering Locals @ Passim 7/5/2014 Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - April 30, 2015January 21, 20160 Throwing it back to the live recording of the Locals Covering Locals Celebration of Volume 1 at Club Passim last July. It was the July 4th holiday weekend and I was scared sh*tless that no one would show up for the event...well, it was a great evening after all. With wonderful performances by Chuck Melchin, Mark Whitaker, Ian Fitzgerald, Eva Walsh, Mark Kilianski & Amy Alvey, Patrick Coman, and Dan Blakeslee. Enjoy!
Locals Covering Locals 2: Jake Hill Covers Hayley Sabella Now Streaming Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - April 28, 2015January 21, 20160 Last week we released the cover that Hayley Sabella recorded of Jake Hill's song "Simple Alicia" for Locals Covering Locals Volume 2...this week we have the opposite where Jake is covering Hayley's tune "Small Things". Being a fly on the wall for these sessions was something truly special. The two of these guys goofing off and playing around with different instruments around the studio before the record button was hit, but the second that it was you could see the look of determination and appreciation on their faces as they recorded each other's songs. Jake really took this tune into his own hands and created something that could be on an acoustic Jake Hill record. Believable, sparse, and honest. The original recording
Locals Covering Locals 2: Hayley Sabella Covers Jake Hill Now Streaming Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - April 21, 2015January 21, 20160 There is something very, very amazing about an artist covering another songwriter that they have a deep appreciation and respect for. There is a certain care and delicate handling of the song, but also a sense of wanting to escalate it where they can and truly make it their take on the track. Hayley Sabella did that and did so impeccably well with Jake Hill's song "Simple Alicia". When Hayley and Jake first arrived at the studio for the session, I think she knew she was going the piano route for this song. She fooled around with some different sounds and textures on the electric keyboard at Riverview Studios, before she was caught gazing at a blanket covering another smaller piano...the
Locals Covering Locals 2: Haunt the House Covers Ian Fitzgerald Now Streaming Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - April 15, 2015January 21, 20160 If you meet one person in your life that moves you with their art and the grace in how they hold themselves, then I would count you a pretty lucky person. If you know two sets of artists that fall into that camp, when then you probably also know Bessie, Amato, and Will and Ian. It's one thing for an artist with the talent for penning songs like Ian Fitzgerald has to put out that (or those) songs...its an entirely different and amazing thing when a group like Haunt the House, who craft beautiful songs themselves, have such an appreciation for the other artist that they take care and extreme caution in how they pay tribute to their friend. Count me one
Locals Covering Locals: Crossing Generations Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - April 9, 2015January 21, 20160 While each and every session thus far has been an absolute joy and privilege for me at Riverview Studios with Sam Margolis and Andrew Kramer by my side, this weekend will mark a new highlight for this project. The number of incredibly talented musicians involved in this project is growing exponentially. There have been some repeat musicians coming into the studio with another act, then coming back to cover their own tune (looking at you Laurence Scudder) but this weekend something truly special happens. Allysen Callery and I met...well, I am thinking it must have been through the AS220/Providence connection in some fashion. I became an immediate fan of her soft spoken songs and delicate (and often times mind boggling) picking
Locals Covering Locals Volume 2: The Whiskey Boys Cover Brian Carroll’s “This Town” Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - April 3, 2015January 21, 20160 It's ok for me to let this one slip out there...I have permission from the songwriter. Someone telling you they think you are a pretty good songwriter or musician is a profoundly humbling feeling, but when a group of folks you respect greatly are given the opportunity to choose any song or artist to cover for a project and they ask if they can cover you...that's a whole different level. The Whiskey Boys did just that and I am not really sure how to describe how that feels. They took a song I have played with many musicians, even had one or two cover in the past, and gave it that flavor and power that only Dave Delaney's arranging and vocal inflections
New Music Video: Locals Covering Locals – Bob Bradshaw Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - January 29, 2015January 21, 20160 As part of volume 2 for the Locals Covering Locals project I wanted to document the experience a bit more while remaining budget conscious. Connor (who just so happens to be a part of volume 2...check back for his video in the coming weeks) did such a fantastic job with the mini documentary from volume 1 as well as a few in studio videos. So well I almost wish he had done it for volume 2 and I had shot video for volume 1 to show that we are progressing on that front. Seriously, the guy shoots incredible video while mine, is well enough, I suppose. But I digress. I honestly am not sure how I first met Bob Bradshaw, but
Locals Covering Locals Volume 2 – The New Class Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - January 20, 2015January 21, 20160 Well, Sunday we wrapped up 3 sessions...adding some mandolin to one previously recorded tune and tracking 3 new ones! One thing about this project that has been hard to foster, but when it hits is a beautiful thing, has been true collaboration in the studio. There have been a few cases over the course of these sessions where a few folks are hanging out before or after their session and hop in to add some additional flavor to a tune. I have been lucky enough to play mandolin and octave mandolin on 3 songs between volumes 1 and 2. Last Sunday was a true representation of this as Dinty Child came on up to the studio while Sarah Borges was tracking
Locals Covering Locals: Hayley Sabella Covers Jake Hill Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - October 13, 2014January 21, 20160 I think Jake put it best when he responded to Hayley's cover with: "its a unique honor when someone decides to learn and perform a song you wrote. It is even sweeter when the person who decided to do so is one of the most talented musicians on the planet". I have covered many friends over the past 2 years when this idea of "covering you friends" and later, "Locals Covering Locals" became something I actively wanted to do. Some of the most talented people I have ever heard sing or play a guitar are people that I get to play music with often, or at least can go out and see play for 5 bucks or even free. It is
Locals Covering Locals V2 Artist: Julie Rhodes Locals Covering Locals by Brian Carroll - September 30, 2014January 21, 20160 Most folks spend years and years honing their craft, figuring out their sound, finding their aesthetic. Then there are the very few who just open their mouths one day and blow the roof off of the house. Julie Rhodes falls into that second camp and I am still repairing my roof. 9 or 10 months back my friend Jonah Tolchin sent me a message. That message simply read "you have to listen to this" and there was a link to an EP called "Who's That Yonder?". Within seconds I was enthralled with the voice singing into my headphones. Anyone can sing. Yes, anyone can...I am not saying well, but you can sing if you want. NOT everyone can sing like a