Just under a month ago, Vermont-based artist Anaïs Mitchell released her new album Young Man In America on Wilderland Records/Thirty Tigers. Unlike Bruce Springsteen's brand new recession rock Wrecking Ball which takes a look at how things feel right now, Young Man In America takes a look back at how we got here!
Young Man In America takes a hard look at how things used to be.
'Dying Day' takes a look at an older view of work, looking at work as a rite, as opposed to the pre-recession view of jobs as a vehicle of
excess. She has a solemn tune, 'Shepherd,' based on her dad's novel The Souls of Lambs. It's a somber look at the sacrifices of hard-working souls. In this case, the shepherd, at his wife's urging, was working to bring in the crop before it spoiled, with the consequence of his wife dying before she could get medical attention and give birth. On 'He Did,' she examines the same kind of hard work and sacrifice of the previous generations, perhaps leaving too much for the thankless youth. The result of these hard working parents is not a satisfied family, but a greedy, out-of-control youth. She exposes her her title character the 'Young Man in America,' as ”a restless character on a feverish hunt for pleasure and success. Alcohol, fame, money, sex—nothing satisfies him.” (http://anaismitchell.com/media/press/). Anaïs Mitchell does leave some room for hope as she also sheds light on the lovely 'Venus', 'Anne Marie' and the adoring young lady of 'Tailor'!
Anais Mitchell - "Coming Down" Official Video
On top of the deeper lyrics, the music is truly enjoyable. Amazingly the album transforms almost perfectly to the live show. The only thing I found lacking in the live show, was a replacement for Chris Thile's mandolin from 'Dying Day'
Anaïs Mitchell and her Young Man Band have been touring since mid-February and continue across the country in support of the new album and Hadestown in selected cities (see http://anaismitchell.com/tour/)
Since posting the review of the concert at Philadelphia's Tin Angel (click HERE for the review), I had a chance to learn more about Anaïs Mitchell, her band, and their listening preference.
Here's what I found out!
Root Down In The Shadow: During during the request portion of your set at the Tin Angel show, a fan requested 'Arabic Chicken Song,' What release or session was that song from?
Anaïs Mitchell: This is a song I learned in Egypt when I was a student there. I've never recorded it but there was a time when i used to sing it a lot at shows. It's so exotic-sounding that Ii think it stuck in people's heads and someone remembered it enough to request it.
RD: You mention meeting Rachel Ries at the "campfire in Texas"; was that a summer camp?
AM: I met Rachel at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville Texas, about two hours west of Austin. it's a legendary songwriter festival. we used to volunteer on staff there and stay for the whole three weeks of the festival. that's where i met Rachel!
Root Down In The Shadow: Lots of singer-songwriters at the show were looking up to you. Who were your heroes starting out?
Anaïs Mitchell: I came of musical age as a teenager with artists like Ani DiFranco, Dar Williams, Tori Amos. Very bold, emotional women songwriters. those gals made me go, "I wanna do THAT".
RD: Any advice to give the new artists?
AM: People talk a lot about "finding your voice" as a songwriter, but I don't believe we find our voices
Root Down In The Shadow: How did you chose the Young Man Band?
Anaïs Mitchell: Rachel and I have toured together for years, so we have a very steady companionship on the road and she's such a gorgeous singer and all-around musician. She sings the other female harmony part on the record, so that made great sense. Noah is my husband, and this is our first tour together; it's the first time it made sense to have electric bass in a band. Ben is our newest friend, we're all fans of his Cuddle Magic band. He's a monstrously great musician with a great head for arrangements. I guess the main goal with this band was to be able to create a lot of different sounds and textures and still keep the band small enough to fit in a minivan. So we needed multi-instrumentalists who could sing! We're all living in Brooklyn at the moment too; that helped.
RD: Hadestown includes Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver), Ben Knox Miller, Greg Brown, and Ani DiFranco on the album. You worked with Corin Tucker (of Sleater-Kinney), Amy Correia, & Erin McKeown for the live shows; and now Chris Thile, and pal Rachel Ries, on the new album. What’s it like to play with all this talent?
AM: Humbling, fun, and awesome.
Root Down In The Shadow: Are you seeking out the players, or are you sought out to work with?
Anaïs Mitchell: For Hadestown, and Young Man In America, we sought out a lot of folks. I tend to really enjoy collaborating. I love how the longer you stay in music, the more people you meet, and then you just KNOW them, the world gets smaller and smaller.
FAVORITES!!!!!!!!
Fav Ani DiFranco song: 'Dilate' (that's just... the one i thought of just now that i'd most like to hear)
Fav Bon Iver song: 'Re:Stacks'
Fav Amy Correia song: '(Ballad Of A) City Girl'
Fav Rachel Ries song: 'Leaning Into The Wind'
Fav Erin McKeown song 'Blackbirds'...or this new one that might not be recorded yet 'Humble'
Root Down In The Shadow: What music made it into the van for the tour?
Anaïs Mitchell: We've been rocking Eamon O'Leary's Old Clump', Vic Chestnutt, Ron Sexsmith, Outkast, Cuddle Magic, Robyn
RD: Who picks
AM: All of us!
Root Down In The Shadow: Mode? ipod/cd
Anaïs Mitchell: both
RD: Any plans for vinyl of YMIA or HAdestown?
AM: YES I want to press them both at the same time whenever we get a good chunk of change!
***************************
Have you listened to the new album?? What do you think? Comment here!!!
Anais Mitchell - "Coming Down" Official Video
On top of the deeper lyrics, the music is truly enjoyable. Amazingly the album transforms almost perfectly to the live show. The only thing I found lacking in the live show, was a replacement for Chris Thile's mandolin from 'Dying Day'Anaïs Mitchell and her Young Man Band have been touring since mid-February and continue across the country in support of the new album and Hadestown in selected cities (see http://anaismitchell.com/tour/)
Since posting the review of the concert at Philadelphia's Tin Angel (click HERE for the review), I had a chance to learn more about Anaïs Mitchell, her band, and their listening preference.
Here's what I found out!
Root Down In The Shadow: During during the request portion of your set at the Tin Angel show, a fan requested 'Arabic Chicken Song,' What release or session was that song from?
Anaïs Mitchell: This is a song I learned in Egypt when I was a student there. I've never recorded it but there was a time when i used to sing it a lot at shows. It's so exotic-sounding that Ii think it stuck in people's heads and someone remembered it enough to request it.
RD: You mention meeting Rachel Ries at the "campfire in Texas"; was that a summer camp?
AM: I met Rachel at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville Texas, about two hours west of Austin. it's a legendary songwriter festival. we used to volunteer on staff there and stay for the whole three weeks of the festival. that's where i met Rachel!
Root Down In The Shadow: Lots of singer-songwriters at the show were looking up to you. Who were your heroes starting out?
Anaïs Mitchell: I came of musical age as a teenager with artists like Ani DiFranco, Dar Williams, Tori Amos. Very bold, emotional women songwriters. those gals made me go, "I wanna do THAT".
RD: Any advice to give the new artists?
AM: People talk a lot about "finding your voice" as a songwriter, but I don't believe we find our voices
Root Down In The Shadow: How did you chose the Young Man Band?
Anaïs Mitchell: Rachel and I have toured together for years, so we have a very steady companionship on the road and she's such a gorgeous singer and all-around musician. She sings the other female harmony part on the record, so that made great sense. Noah is my husband, and this is our first tour together; it's the first time it made sense to have electric bass in a band. Ben is our newest friend, we're all fans of his Cuddle Magic band. He's a monstrously great musician with a great head for arrangements. I guess the main goal with this band was to be able to create a lot of different sounds and textures and still keep the band small enough to fit in a minivan. So we needed multi-instrumentalists who could sing! We're all living in Brooklyn at the moment too; that helped.
RD: Hadestown includes Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver), Ben Knox Miller, Greg Brown, and Ani DiFranco on the album. You worked with Corin Tucker (of Sleater-Kinney), Amy Correia, & Erin McKeown for the live shows; and now Chris Thile, and pal Rachel Ries, on the new album. What’s it like to play with all this talent?
AM: Humbling, fun, and awesome.
Root Down In The Shadow: Are you seeking out the players, or are you sought out to work with?
Anaïs Mitchell: For Hadestown, and Young Man In America, we sought out a lot of folks. I tend to really enjoy collaborating. I love how the longer you stay in music, the more people you meet, and then you just KNOW them, the world gets smaller and smaller.
FAVORITES!!!!!!!!
Fav Ani DiFranco song: 'Dilate' (that's just... the one i thought of just now that i'd most like to hear)
Fav Bon Iver song: 'Re:Stacks'
Fav Amy Correia song: '(Ballad Of A) City Girl'
Fav Rachel Ries song: 'Leaning Into The Wind'
Fav Erin McKeown song 'Blackbirds'...or this new one that might not be recorded yet 'Humble'
Root Down In The Shadow: What music made it into the van for the tour?
Anaïs Mitchell: We've been rocking Eamon O'Leary's Old Clump', Vic Chestnutt, Ron Sexsmith, Outkast, Cuddle Magic, Robyn
RD: Who picks
AM: All of us!
Root Down In The Shadow: Mode? ipod/cd
Anaïs Mitchell: both
RD: Any plans for vinyl of YMIA or HAdestown?
AM: YES I want to press them both at the same time whenever we get a good chunk of change!
***************************
Have you listened to the new album?? What do you think? Comment here!!!
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