Shelley Short, and if im lucky:
Tiffany Kowalski,
Gary James,
Jamie Carter,
Rachel Blumberg,
Cory Gray,
Dave Depper,
Andy Rader,
Alexis Gideon,
Stephen Dorocke,
Nate Query.
For her third album Shelley Short has assembled a collection of intimate songs, referring to them as ‘a diary of a barmy time that was 2006 and 2007”. Leaving Chicago in the wake of her widely praised Captain Wildhorse (Rides The Heart Of Tomorrow), Shelley jettisoned her band and took up residence in Los Angeles with her new love and sometime collaborator Alexis Gideon. There she picked up the pieces of a half-recorded (with Jamie Carter in Chicago) album and molded the collection into a coherent whole with recording engineer Raymond Richards. “Most of the songs were influenced by strings or webs that seems to tie everything together, and every so often you can get a glimpse of them and try to see how they work, where they go, and why they cling to the things they do.” While mixing at their home in LA Short and Gideon wisely made Shelley’s voice the centerpiece throughout, lending a campfire glow to the album. Notwithstanding, Short is accompanied by veterans Rachel Blumberg (M Ward, Bright Eyes, Decemberists) on drums, Tiffany Kowalski (Bright Eyes) on violin, Gary James on bass, and Alexis Gideon offering some clever guitar work. The instrumentation—particularly on the ballads—is inventive and surprising, taking more risks than prior albums: The subtle percolating guitar notes in “Swimming” evoke water, while the polarized frequencies of bells and kick drum in “How Grand” pique the ear. The songs are personal and dreamlike; the lyrics following a stream of consciousness more than a storyline. Fittingly, the title for the record comes from a dream Shelley had before moving to LA. “I was told I was saying in my sleep, ‘Water for the day! Water for the day!”
"The fit between her lullabye vocals and rustic folk/pop songs is what makes her acid-flashback titled album work." - Magnet
"Short is a storyteller of nonchalant musings on the everyday, a nice break from the usual downer fare we are accustomed to. Overall, "Captain Wild Horses" is a fantastic album, and suggests that axing those art school plans was a smart move indeed. -- Billboard
I had a great time too, I wish you still lived in chi town so we could pal more often. Doesn't Ant make a great mix? Glad you liked the Whisker. We listened to Water and loved it too. The songs, production, everything it's great. This one's my fave, yet I have a feeling you're going to top it with your next one cause each one is better than the last!
I'm sorry that we missed you this time around. Looks like you are conquering the great mid-west right now. Hope all is well on the road. And... see you soon?
Hey Shelley. The sound is working again. What was the song that you wanted me to listen to? Hope all is well. There are still cookies left. Costco tomorrow?
Hey Shelley I played a song off your new record this week, still very much loving Water For the Day. Let the fans know they should listen to the Cool As Folk show archive or view the playlist for this week’s program OVER HERE.
much fun was has in your wonderful city.. the crew @ the Townes Lounge were incredible and made us drunk.. but it was great! Im stoked to here you are coming through my neck of the woods.. I work for Daytrotter and if Im back in iowa in time Im going to come see you with Amos Lee! hope you are swell! patrick
I am going to move my Saturday lesson to a different day. Are you two free to go to the beach on the 14th & 15th. We would leave Friday evening on the 13th.
May 23- The Office of Doctor Glorious 300 Fir St Seattle, WA May 24- Mikrofest Olympia, WA May 25- Tony's House 3501 NE Simpson st. Portland, OR May 26- Towne Lounge 714 Sw 20th Pl Portland, OR
Check out the Cool As Folk show archive or view the playlist for this week’s program HERE. I played you friend. Congrats on the new record, it sounds amazing and thanks for playing in Davis. See you next time around.
