Grandma's Hands (3.4 Mb)
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I generally dislike listening to music on random shuffle. I like putting on a CD, record, or tape and listening from start to finish. I like mixed tapes and CDs where actual human thought is put into the mix. A few months ago, I recanted. While I was working on my computer, I put on the shuffle function of a music program. Not only did it get me listening to great things in my library I wasn't paying enough attention to, it led to this edition of the Archives.
This song came up. I thought, "What is this? This sounds cool. Those voices! Man, that is something soulful, alright." Then the song kicked in and I realized it was us. Yeah, funny. I know. Why does it sound so different? We were essentially backing up Andrina Turene and Sarah Dugas on an episode of Fuse, a show that used to be on CBC radio. The song is Bill Withers' "Grandma's Hands". This particular song never made it to broadcast. We'll throw caution to the wind and post it here, copyright be damned.
Andrina and Sarah are two beautiful women with beautiful voices. At the time, they played with two bands: Madrigaia and Rudimental. Now Andrina sings with Chic Gamine and Sarah sings lead for the Duhks. They've been singing together since they were kids and they have an amazing musical chemistry.
"Grandma's Hands" was their choice. What I love about doing gigs like this is stretching. Andrina and Sarah are big soul fans. They introduced us to a great tune. (Jay was playing drums at the time and he already knew the song, being a Bill Withers fan.) We normally don't play soul, though we like the style. Collectively we got to bring our own flavour to the tune and, thanks to random shuffle, I got hear us in an entirely different light. Hopefully you dig it, too. Judd's harmonica solo is especially cool.
Fuse, by the way, was a show on CBC Radio where, every week, they paired a couple of different acts and made them play together for an hour. Our show was the first time they let a full band on the show. Before us, it was solely collaborations between singer-songwriters. Interesting, no?
Being thrown together for a national radio broadcast is quite an ordeal. It involves intense rehearsal, the most important part of any performance. Luckily fo us, Sarah and Andrina are great musicians and keen to play. If there is no personal or musical chemistry between the musicians and endeavour like this will inevitably fall flat.
The night before the recording, we hung out until the wee hours of the morning in a hotel room, kicking around ideas, teaching each other songs and figuring out arrangements. We got up in a haze early the same morning and spent another five hours rehearsing the material at the Yardbird Suite in Edmonton. In the early evening we did the show in front of a live audience. We wound up playing something like eight or nine songs for the show, one of which was written at the afternoon rehersal. When I thought about it the day after, on the drive home to Calgary, I was a bit stunned to think that we threw together an entire set in less than 24 hours.
Though this is a cover, we played some originals, too. We can't say enough good things about what Andrina and Sarah added to our tunes. They pick things up fast and they've got the feel. If you don't have the feel, you don't have anything. Imagine, if you will, "St. Hubert" and "Oh Sorrow" performed with those voices singing back up.
That particular episode may still be posted at the CBC Radio 3 Concerts on Demand site. I'm not sure, though. By the way, whenever Andrina is home in Winnipeg and we're playing at the Times Changed High and Lonesome Club, she'll get onstage with us for a few numbers. We just played in Winnipeg, by the way. I was reminded once again how that city's scene has embraced us so warmly. We've got a lot of friends there. Thanks again, Winnipeg. You're special to the Agnostic MGC.
Those unfamiliar faces in the photo between Bob and Judd are, from left to right, Bill Stunt (Fuse producer), Caitlin Crockard (Fuse producer), Andrina, Sarah, and Amanda Putz (Fuse host).
Bob K., September 17, 2008
Archives Back Issues!
Excerpt from Holler CD, "Don't Mean a Thing". Click here.
Fighting and Onions Pre-production Demos, "Preaching Blues". Click here.
Judd interviewed and perfoming on London's Resonance FM. Click here.
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