The Felsons Biog April 2009
"Touring as much as we do, you encounter a lot of bands, but once in a blue moon it's a great band like The Felsons" - Robert Reynolds, The Mavericks
“Songs that stand proud next to anything Steve Earle has written” - Uncutat stand proud next to anything Steve Earl has written.
Imagine a world without pigeonholes... a magical realm where fine music required no further explanation, and genre-busting bands like The Felsons could flourish unfettered by categories.
Based in Edinburgh, united by a collective devotion to American roots music - from Hank Williams to Gram Parsons, early Elvis to Wilco, blues to bluegrass - The Felsons have always been embroiled in something of a love hate relationship with the word "country". Think powerful melodies, passionate vocals and gritty, muscular guitars; purge your mind of stetsons, spurs or schmalz - though this discerning selectivity didn't stop them being nominated as Best British Band in the British Country Music Awards. Add in a fondness for literate British mavericks like Elvis Costello, plus - in lead singer Dean Owens - a songwriter of rare distinction, and you've a brand of contemporary musical moonshine that targets head, heart and feet with equal intoxicating potency.
The band began life back in 1995 - more or less accidentally, as in all the best rock'n'roll stories - when Owens and bassist Kevin McGuire were gigging around local pubs playing country songs, "basically for fun". A friend who owned a studio happened to catch them live one night, and liked what he saw so much he offered to record an album. The result was ‘One Step Ahead of the Posse’, a fairly "unashamedly" Country set that nonetheless lived up to its title, showcasing Owens' lyrical skills and the band's tight, artful and inevitably explosive playing.
Increased demand for live performances following the album saw The Felsons consolidating their line-up, with Owens and McGuire being joined by Calais Brown's scorching lead guitar and mandolin.
Their 1997 EP Lasso the Moon offered a six-track calling-card of their growing assurance and range, from poignant acoustic ballads to driving R&B workouts. It was this release which led to the band signing with leading Scottish independent label Greentrax, as the launch act for their "adult-alternative" imprint G2.
Recorded in April 1998, with revered Scottish producer Calum Malcolm (the Blue Nile) at the controls, The Felsons' second album ‘Glad’ received rave reviews. From the brooding, indie-tinged opener "Boomerang Boy" right through to the haunting folky simplicity of "Meet Me After the Show" ‘Glad’ brought together Owens' various influences to create a unique and dynamic sound. Classic-sounding country originals standing alongside majestic guitar-rock tracks; dreamy love-songs give way to stormy dustbowl blues, all led by Owens' thrillingly gutsy, heart-tugging vocals, backed with classy, imaginative instrumental work.
On the live front, too, the band earned a reputation as superbly dynamic performers, gigging regularly across the country. A chance meeting in Glasgow led to them being invited to tour with top American band The Mavericks on their "Trampoline" tour of UK stadiums. Here The Felsons played to 10,000 people every night and won over the large audiences.
Other appearances included guest slots with top American acts like Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and Little Feat. Owens and the band also took up an invitation to Nashville for a series of shows and radio sessions. Owens continued to visit Nashville on a regular basis for co-writing sessions with some of the town's best writers such as Steve Earle's old production partner Ray Kennedy.
In 2001 the band took some time out to work on other projects. Owens' first solo album The Droma Tapes was released which led to him spending the next few years touring as a solo artist and working with some of his musical heroes including Gram Parsons' legendary pedal steel player Al Perkins.
Dean released a second solo album ‘My Town’ on Donald Shaw’s Vertical Records to hugely positive reviews, following this with the even more critically acclaimed ‘Whisky Hearts’, recorded in Nashville with a studio-load of internationally renowned musical cohorts onboard for the stirringly emotive ride. The album was initially released on Vermillion Road Records before being picked up on, and finally licensed to, Navigator Records – now one of the UK’s leading independent record labels. National media recognition followed, which included Dean securing a live session and interview on the now legendary, or perhaps infamous, Russell Brand BBC Radio 2 show.
With all of Dean’s solo work, the demand for Kevin as a session bass player with the likes of Eddi Reader and Karine Polwart, plus Calais recording and rehearsal studio business – Sound Station taking off, space for The Felsons has recently been hard to find.
However all that is about to change!!! The guys have recently been back together playing and recording some new material and also hope to be back out on the road soon.
Prepare you heads, hearts and feet for what most assuredly will be an explosive return
