All Man Band
Dean Magraw, Guitar...
Tyler Burkum, Guitar...
Daniel Marcus, Guitar...
Aaron Fabbrini, Bass....
Steve Goold, Drums...
Influences
Lucinda Williams (Essence), Patty Griffin (1000 Kisses), Shawn Colvin (Whole New You), Slaid Cleaves (Broke Down), Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (Raising Sand), Peggy Lee, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Dar Williams, Lyle Lovett, Ray LaMontagne, Edie Carey, Rose Cousins, Anne Heaton, Iron & Wine, Over the Rhine, Dean Magraw, Guy Clark, Bonnie Raitt,
and Eva Cassidy.
“A two-lane highway is more than a road. It’s the only place I ever feel at home.”
--Lyrics from ‘County Line’
Close your eyes and bring back a memory of your first road trip. The wind blowing through your hair, the adventure of discovering the unknown and unfamiliar, the freedom of solitude, the skylines of cities, farmers tending to their crops, the sun rising and setting, the tires rumbling over the highway, the radio static, and the hours gently moving with every mile. This gypsy lifestyle is one that singer/songwriter, Vicky Emerson, knows very well.
Vicky has been touring as an independent artist for the past five years and has arrived, safe and sound, with an incredible collection of songs in an album appropriately titled, “Long Ride.” The album was produced and engineered by Matt Patrick (Greycoats, Elizabeth Hunnicutt) on the first week of June 2009 at Patrick’s Minneapolis studio, The Library, in a live setting with the help of Minneapolis based musicians. The band included the talents of Steve Goold (drums), Aaron Fabbrini (bass), Tyler Burkum (Mat Kearney) on guitar and also Matt Patrick (multi-instrumentalist), who played a myriad of instruments and provided background vocals. “On my first visit to The Library, I knew immediately this studio was the place to create this record. The volumes upon volumes of books, the grand piano and the genius of Matt’s creative spirit and nurturing personality convinced me he could help me realize my vision for this project.” Sharing similar musical influences and creative process, Patrick and Emerson developed an instant kinship. Matt Patrick agreed saying, “"I had the distinct pleasure of working with Vicky on her Long Ride album. She possesses all the elements it takes to create a beautiful recording; great skills in the art of song crafting, a competent knowledge of music, a great work ethic, the appreciation and understanding of music as an art-form, she is a skilled player of piano, guitar and voice and in my experience, the most important factor in the artist/producer relationship, Vicky Emerson is a really likeable person. Long Ride will go down in my memory as one of my all-time-favorite album productions.”
Listeners will hear a shift sonically in Emerson’s music from her previous self-titled album which had more traditional country nuances. Influenced by the grit and gravel of Lucinda Williams, the wry wit of Lyle Lovett, the deeply personal lyrics of Patty Griffin and vocal styling’s of Shawn Colvin, Emerson has indeed shaped her own brand of Americana music on “Long Ride.” Emerson, who is a classically trained pianist, surprisingly wrote many of the songs on her Seagull guitar. “My songwriting is evolving in a way that makes me understand some of the hardships and obstacles I’ve overcome. In my twenties, I made some bad choices. I hurt people and people hurt me. When I was going this time in my life, I found it nearly impossible to write about what I was feeling. I did not fully comprehend the emotional impact of the situation or the life lessons I would fortunately come to learn. After the dust settled, I was able to revisit those memories and discover the universal truth living inside those experiences. I pick up the guitar and I call it “Going to the well.” The last two years, I found myself unafraid to go to the well, throw down the bucket and see what it would carry up to me.”
Indeed the well was a plentiful place for Vicky as demonstrated in songs like ‘County Line’ where she explores the traveling musician’s constant struggle to balance a career and a family. The title track, ‘Long Ride,’ is a beautiful road-weary song that could sway folks to ditch the day job and become a roadie. ‘Ferris Wheel’ is a touching song dedicated to her father, where she longs for the innocence that can only be experienced in childhood. The gem on the record is ‘Into the Woods,’ a 7 minute and 19 second exquisitely haunting song about confronting insecurities.
Emerson currently lives in Manhattan but was raised outside the small village of Elmwood, Wisconsin (self-proclaimed UFO capital of the world.) “There is no doubt that the juxtaposition of growing up on a rural farm and now living in a heavily populated city like New York has influenced my music and songwriting. I’ve found myself becoming an urban cowgirl and I believe I’ve been able to combine both of those worlds to coexists peacefully inside my songs.”
Pryvit! Tere! Hi!
Greetings from Viljandi Estonia!
SVJATA VATRA Performance to Be Broadcasted by 24 European Radio Stations EuroSonic,
Grand Theatre, Noorderslag Groningen, The Netherlands!
Presented by ESTONIAN RADIO Radio 2 www.noorderslag.nl/en/festival/artists/
If you can not come you hear ;-)
Love & Respect.
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..?
Hi...Welcome, and thanks for dropping by our site for a visit. Thank you too for the add, and for the friendship.
If you'd like to find out a little more about Slick Nickel go to www.slicknickelyumaaz.com , and if you get a chance check out our new CD, "MAGIC" at www.cdbaby.com/cd/slicknickel Get your copy today while they're on sale!
This month we mostly have Catie Curtis (with a Richard Thompson cover), Lindsay Fuller and The Cheap Dates (and who amongst us isn't?), Josh Fix with a track from the well-titled album This Town Is Starting To Make Me Angry and the rather lovely Red Rooster.
If You Would Like To Be A Part Of The 4 Day World Music And Art Fair Please Let Me Know By EMAIL OR MY COMMENTS. Read My Page From Top To The Bottom also My Blogs. Join My Blogs For All Up Dates To This Event. It Does Not Madder Were In Our World You Live If We Want You We Will Find A Way To Get You To The Event. Take A Look At This Video To See What Has To Happen To Make This Event Happen. Your Friend Bob
September 1:st our 1:st single, Dare To Lick (Hunter's Red Sleeve), from our upcoming album SILENT REVOLUTION,was released and is available on iTunes but also on our MySpace of course!
The album will be released October 1:st and later that month we go on tour in Germany with The Movements.
Hi there, Vicky Emerson! We'd love to design a custom MySpace profile for you! We also offer full website design, flyer/poster design, and more. Check out our portfolio on our MySpace page.
You can also visit a few of our most recent MySpace Designs:
Ever wondered what to do in the event of a nuclear threat?
A while ago I found stuff that inspired me to make this film:
Living Under the Shadow of the Nuclear Umbrella
Both artistic (ensure you get the background music!) and educational, it primarily comprises official British government civil defence advice.
Though source materials are quite aged, much remains relevant today.
I encourage all to visit the YouTube page to learn more (Show support! Rate! Comment!) and responsibly circulate as widely as possible, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaIim3Rj7L4
Four more little sonic gems for your August pleasure are now available on the site. Blitzen Trapper, Boulder Acoustic Society, Jay Brannan and The Wiyos. Yet another fine quartet even though we say so ourselves as picked them out.
