Me and my little old 1937 National Duolian guitar.
I also play in a duo with the fabulous Dayna Kurtz- look for our 10" debut EP on Kismet Records called "For the Love of Hazel- Songs for Hazel Dickens". She is another smoky alto with a beloved vintage guitar, and we have a blast playing together and basically owning the lower registers. Look for us on our Midwest/New England tour in August!
In March I won a songwriting contest hosted by the Delta Recording Service in Como, Mississippi, which is Jimbo Mathus' (Squirrel Nut Zippers, South Memphis String Band, Buddy guy's touring band) recording studio. As the winner of the -ahem- grand prize I flew down there, about 30 miles south of Memphis, and recorded a bunch of songs with Jimbo and Justin Showah. These guys are real experts in the art and science of jank, and it was a blast to experiment with their great studio and equipment and to play together. A couple of the tracks are up for listening- let me know what you think!
Influences
Memphis Minnie, Bessie Smith, Hobart Smith, Elliot Smith, John Hurt, Screamin' Jay, Captain Beefheart, Rosetta Tharpe, X, Son House, sweaty high school basement hard core shows, Chuck E. Weiss, Cliff Edwards.
Sounds Like
Get a real copy of my handmade limited edition CD "Razorburn Blues" sent to your very own door. Just click here.....
Singer and guitarist Mamie Minch sounds something like a (well) fleshed out 78rpm record. She is known in Brooklyn as the area's premier blueswoman, writing and interpreting antique blues songs and ballads. After a listen it will be clear- this is Miss Mamie's music. Growing up in a seafaring family along the East Coast and eventually landing in small town Delaware, she got used to travel, attachment and loss- and early on managed to alienate herself from her peers by falling in love with lots of dead guitar players. Her biggest influences when she was young and learning to play were Piedmont style guitarists like John Hurt and the Reverend Gary Davis- many nights spent rewinding and slowing down cassettes of their reissued recordings helped her develop the percussive, intricate resonator work for which she's known. She made it to New York after finishing art school and her fascination with early blues found kindred spirits in a group of 78 collectors who'd throw listening parties for their favorite "rekkids". She further developed her repertoire and songwriting style listening to Memphis Minnie, Sara Martin and Bessie Smith- their shameless sensuality and the winking, confessional nature of their songs was a musical revelation.
In 2004 she and Meg Reichardt (currently of Les Chauds Lapins) co-founded The Roulette Sisters, a Brooklyn based all-woman retro quartet that performed originals and covered blues, country tunes and early girl group harmony peices by groups like the Andrews and Boswell Sisters. They released one record, Nerve Medicine, on the Soapbox Records label. Since leaving the band in 2007 she's travelled extensively as a solo artist and made music in many places- in spring of 2009 she toured all over Australia with CW Stoneking and his Primitive Horn Orchestra, rabblerousing round Europe with an anarchist Italian street band, playing guitar and listening to 78s with R. Crumb in the south of France, and playing concerts and street shows all over Brooklyn and the world. She has shared the stage with Dayna Kurtz, Jolie Holland, Bliss Blood, Norah Jones and loads of other talented friends. She self-released her first solo record, Razorburn Blues, in 2008, and is preparing to release in August 2009 a 10" EP on Kismet Records recorded with Dayna Kurtz called "For the Love of Hazel- songs for Hazel Dickens".
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
Ciao,Mamie Thank you for the add and the friendship. you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot, Band, and stupendous voice. compliments ..really. you are one of my prefeitis, I feel great admiration for you, talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music. all the best.. from italy..and good week neal
"Ticklin' The Strings" by Sweet Hollywaiians
Amazing Japanese hot string band playing 1920's, 30's, 40's style hawaiian, swing, calypso, blues, italian music and originals,featuring vintage instruments.3 songs with Robert Armstrong and Tony Marcus(from Robert Crumb and His Cheap Suit Serenaders)
"The Sweet Hollywaiians have probably the best feel for this 20's music of any string band working today. They manage the rare feat of sounding relaxed even when their playing is hot, are top notch musicians with tasteful arrangements and a full, rich, warm sound.Plus, they have a nice gamut of tunes, from King Nawahi to Giovanni Vicari to Bobby Leecan. See them live, if you can, for an unforgettable experience. If you can't, buy their Cds!" ~ Terry Zwigoff
go to the thunder bunny myspace for all the ingredients to build your own "DEMONS" EP... all six tracks, all possible art work and even a downloadable t-shirt... (actuall it's an iron on but i still think that's kind of cool)
Will Scott's new album, GNAWBONE is here!!! The CD is available at CDBaby and other online retailers.
Over three years in the making, GNAWBONE, is Scott's fully-produced studio debut and features a crack team of hand-picked musicians as well as guest performances by Jan Bell, Jolie Holland, Samantha Parton, and Preacher Boy (the album's producer).
Friends we are (now) and friends we shall remain! It was SO awesome to play with you at Jalopy. I loved everything about that evening. You're amazing! And I LOVE your CD. I've been listening to it a lot in the car (I've had about 25 hours of quality car time since the last time we spoke). Let's hang out more!
Well the feeling is mutual. Y'all got a great voice, and the playing is hot, too. You need to play the Deep Blues Festival next year. You'd be a big hit.
