tr ‘
Company man
‘PEOPLE THINK I'M REALLY OLD 0R FROM THE SOUTH'
Judge a man by the fine quality of the company he keeps? There’s much more to bookish troubadour M Ward thinks Doug Johnstone.
ere‘s an ad hoc theory for you: You can tell the quality of a musician by the company he keeps. From this we can deduce that Michael Jackson is abjectly miserable. washed-up and utterly talentless because he spends his time (probably) playing
backgammon with the car crash triumvirate of
lilizabeth Taylor. Uri Geller and Bubbles the monkey. Actually. I‘ve nothing against Bubbles. And over at the other end of the spectrum. we can
deduce that singer songwriter M Ward is a marvel of
delicate. dark. intelligent country folky genius. because he's recently been seen either collaborating or touring (or both) with the likes of Bright Eyes. My Morning Jacket. Jenny Lewis. Cat Power. Beth Orton and many more extremely talented people.
Originally from California but now relocated to Portland. Oregon. Ward (the M stands for Matt. by the way) has become something of an underground legend
among discerning alternative types since the release of
his debut album. Dirr’ls'fur Guitars #2. in 2000 on Ow
Om records. the label owned and run by Howe Gelb of
Giant Sand (there‘s another fine pal. note). Also. Ward featured in jazz-rock noodling trio Rodriguez. Grandaddy's Jason Lytle (are you keeping count‘.’). who remains a huge fan. Grandaddy even covering his ‘Fishing Boat Song'. But these days Ward‘s solo career has long outstripped his time as part of that band. and rightly so. One key factor is the extraordinarily soulful. bluesy whisper of a voice the man has. which sounds like he’s smoked 6()-a-day for the last umpteen years. Far from it. apparently.
'I don't smoke.‘ he explains. ‘I started recording in
30 THE LIST 10—17 Aug 2006
my parents' house when I was If) and. not wanting to wake anybody up. Ijust sang quieter. I think that’s why my voice is so messed-up. People who only know the records think I‘m really old or from the South.‘
Ward is not just an amazing voice on legs. however. His finger-picking guitar style is something to behold. and his lyrics are intelligent and thoughtful. Indeed. his records tend to be concept albums of sorts. the last one. 'I‘rrmsi'stm' Radio. being themed around old pre-WWII wireless American blues and country broadcasts.
‘The idea of the record was to go back in time to when radio was brand new with a lot more flavours
than it has now. It was inspired by an entire century of
American music. Some chord progressions are as ancient as time and. to me. that‘s a comforting feeling.‘
This concept hoo-ha has continued with Ward‘s forthcoming new album. l’ust-Il’ur. Inspired by the two novels — Ernest Hemingway‘s The Sun Also Rises“ and Kurt Vonnegut‘s Slutighter/muse I’i'i‘t' — it deals with the possible aftermath of the ongoing war in Iraq.
‘Something that I think about is what's going to happen in our country once these soldiers come honin he says. “What happens to these families that have been broken up? I like the way these novels addressed the coming home issue.'
M Ward then: A man with cool friends. an incredible voice. amazing guitar skills and intelligent. thought- provoking and wholly moving songs. Don‘t expect him to be making up a foursome for bridge with Jackson. Taylor and Geller anytime soon.
ABC2, Glasgow, Wed 16 Aug.
The Bees Taking the time to leave the comfortable envrrons oi the Central Belt to convert yet more diSCipIes to then IOYS of their feelgood. rusty. funk trunk, The Bees can kick up a party vibe better than S Club, 2 Live Crew and Cass put together. The Reading Rooms. Dundee. Thu 70 Aug; GUU, Glasgow. Fri 7 1 Aug. (Rock 8 Pop)
Chemikal Underground Special To celebrate the launch of their new compilation DVD. the label throw a wee party including screenings and acoustic performances from De Rosa. Aereogramme and Arab Strap. CCA, Glasgow, Fri 1 7 Aug. (Rock 8 Pop)
Piping Live! The big blow out continues with a whole number of events including the World Pipe Band Championships on Saturday and the likes of Angus MacColl and Chris Armstrong at the Masters Invitational Solo Piping Competition on Sunday. Various venues, Glasgow. until Sun 73 Aug. (Folk)
Koshka Lev Atlas. Nigel Clark and Oleg Ponomarev combine their multifarious musical perspectives to bring a mix of jazz. rock. and even flamenco to bear on their global gypsy tunes. Cafe Kossachok, Glasgow, Sun 7 3 Aug.
(Jazz, Folk)
Lorraine, City and Local Hero. They‘ve got a bloody terrible name but they're a pretty good wee band are Nonrvegian electropop trio Lorraine. Bart/y, Glasgow, Mon 74 Aug.
(Rock 8 Pop)
M Ward See preview, left. ABC, Glasgow, Wed 76 Aug (Rock 8. Pop)
Cryptopsy, Gorerotted and She Said Destroy Everybody needs a bit of Quebecois death metal in their life do they not? C'mon it'll make a change from that Best of the Beautiful South you've been caning on your iPod for the last three months. Barfly, Glasgow, Thu 17 Aug. (Rock & Pop)