Back in the 1930’s, Lead Belly and Woodie Guthrie picked this 18th century British folk song up and recorded it in a chain-gang, call-and-response style. It’s a particular relief to hear “Stew Ball” restored to the kicky rhythm of Lead Belly’s version. With the aid of Rawlings, Watson reclaims simplicity on blues/folk staples like “Midnight Special” and “James Alley Blues.” Its revolutionary in a way to keep the original strumming and picking patterns on these songs, as Watson does, after decades of hearing these songs morphed into fully fleshed studio productions by fellow blues-lovers like Wilco, Van Morrison, and The Band. Willie recorded the album in two days in Woodland Studios, the recording studio owned by Welch and Rawlings in the Five Points neighborhood of East Nashville. Handy, Lead Belly, and the like by playing their songs with the same straightforward intimacy as is found on their original recordings.Ī big thanks is due in part to the album’s producer, David Rawlings, who delivered the warmth and razor-sharp precision found on his own recordings and those with Gillian Welch. Willie, his guitar, and his banjo are backed by the legions of blues and folk singers that passed before Willie was born. After spending over a decade playing to thousands with the sprawling neo-bluegrass band Old Crow Medicine Show, Watson is opting for simple songs, small venues, and an even smaller stage setup. At a time when traditional instruments and music have morphed beyond recognition (e.g., Mumford & Sons), Willie Watsonis stepping up as a musical historian and devotee of forgotten songs and sounds. He’s reviving the roots from which the modern folk movement has blossomed. They are stripped down and vulnerable, naked as the day they were born. 1, Willie Watson plays ten recycled tunes. A veteran performer known for his unadorned sound and worldly-wise vocals, Watson continues to impress with no-frills performances on tour.Nashville – On his first ever solo album, Folk Singer, Vol. I, earned praise from critics and fans alike for its creative covers of established classics and forgotten gems. Watson went on to enjoy a decade-long run with the band that included eight critically acclaimed albums, extensive touring, and recognition as one of the most respected acts in contemporary America which really took off with his ingenious takes on traditional folk standards. He dropped out of high school in the mid-'90s and spent several years performing with his band The Funniest Game, and in 1998 he formed Old Crow Medicine Show with several other musicians from in the local Ithaca, NY music scene. Willie Watson was born and raised in upstate New York, where he was immersed in the region's bluegrass music traditions from an early age. From the furious banjo fingerpicking of "Dry Bones" to the gentle acoustic strum of "Keep It Clean", Watson's vintage sound and authentic croon always make for an old-time concert experience fans won't want to miss.
#Keep it clean willie watson series#
I LP and supporting the release with a series of boot-stomping shows on tour.
The veteran multi-instrumentalist remained as sharp as ever in 2014, making his solo debut with the Folk Singer Vol. Bluegrass singer-songwriter Willie Watson rose to prominence in the early '00s as a founding member of beloved Americana outfit Old Crow Medicine Show, but lately it's his solo work that fans are crowing about.
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