This is a review of
the Whiskey Geese's 2017 release “Songs From The Goose.” Dane
Anderson, Tyler Wayne Drabick, and Jesse Farnham are listed as being
who the Whiskey Geese are, although any time I've ever seen them live
it's just Dane and Tyler. They often perform with two acoustic
guitars, both singing, and simply told, you owe it to yourself to go
see them. They're fantastic.
Now, over the years
I have heard a lot of locally produced recordings and I have to say,
until recent years they have just about all been sorely lacking. I
am a faithful friend, and gladly pay whatever the going rate is to
support a local artist, but probably anything in my local record and
cassette collection from before 2000 has had one courtesy listen and
left to collect dust. And the sad part is, most of these acts
are/were great in a live setting.
The sad truth is,
local acts don't often get to play the music that they write. Let's
be honest now, people at clubs and parties expect to hear music that
they're familiar with. Which isn't a bad thing, but for an artist
there is no replacement for playing a song again and again. And when
you don't get to play your own songs except a few times in rehearsal
to learn the changes, and then in a hurry during an expensive studio
session, they don't get their due.
That said, since the
advent (and rapidly dropping price) of digital recording, there are a
lot of good local things coming out, and this is definitely one of
them. Most of it was recorded, as reported on the CD sleeve, “in a
small cottage on Goose Pond in Canaan, NH.” And yet, in spite of
the semi-amateur setting, the final result is very professional. The
mix is good, the performances are excellent, the vibe is relaxed, the
instruments and vocals are clear . . . all in all, an excellent
effort.
Okay, so, because I
know Dane and Tyler, I feel like I have to take pains to find what I
don't like about it and present that as proof of my own integrity as
a reviewer. And I would love to, but . . . damn, it's a good album.
And it's one of those that's becoming an ear worm. I've now played
it four times, and I'm liking it better every time. That's a very
good sign.
I think Jesse
Farnham does a lot of the lead vocals, although I hear Dane and
Tyler's distinctive voices taking the lead on some. Blake Goedde
plays excellent drums, very tasty, not overplaying but setting a
deep, comfortable pocket for the songs. Drabick does some very sweet
keyboard, and both he and Anderson contribute great guitar work.
Their individual styles on guitar stand out as well.
This is a very
tongue-in-cheek record, but far short of what I would call cynical.
Cynics sneer at everything, basically despise anyone not as smart as
they are (and nobody is), and at the end of the day don't really care
because it's all an illusion, right? The Whiskey Geese view the
world through smart-ass glasses, but do it with heart and soul.
In a lot of ways
this is classic jam-band stuff. If you like Grace Potter, Keller
Williams, the Allman Brothers, Umphrey's McGee, and Gov't Mule, this
is right up your alley. They draw from a deep, deep well of
influences; a true 21st-century group but with roots sunk
deep in the ground. Yep, the usual suspects; jazz, blues, country,
the whole kettle of fish. They like taking things just a little over
the top, but not so far that they fall into head-up-the-poop-chute
cleverness.
If I'm not mistaken,
Dane is a Berkeley School of Music graduate, and I've heard that this
is where he and Tyler met, but that's second hand. If I weren't so
darned lazy, I'd ask them. More fun to just spread rumors, but they
are both highly educated. And I'm not sure of how else to say this,
but . . . they don't sound it. School didn't beat the soul out of
them.
Oh, right. Songs.
The opener, “Whiskey Goose,” chugs along with a Joe
Bonnamassa-meets-John Lee Hooker guitar hook and then throws
clarinets (played by Drabick) at you. And, at the end, you still
have no idea why they call themselves Whiskey Geese. They won't tell
me, either. (Assholes.) They probably tell everybody else, and then
order them not to tell me. Fine. Be that way. I don't care. Good
song anyway.
I'm trying to pick a
few stand-out cuts. “Funkalotapuss” is great. And, yes, Jesse,
you are a blues singer. Good effort, though. “Spittin' Blood”
makes me wonder where they got that particular inspiration. Hmm,
Drabick and Farnham . . . You bad, bad boys! “In The Snow” is
one of those modern-classic-throwaway tunes; a very calm, very sweet,
very gentle roller coaster ride. (See, right here is where your guts
slam up against your rib cage.)
“High White
Mountains” gives them a chance to show off their bluegrass chops.
“Proper Man” is just absolutely righteous. “Bucket of Blood”
is Dane at his best. “Mary Claire” might be funny, but they do
it so damned well it comes over beautifully.
On the whole, “Songs
From The Goose” is fun, often funny, smart, and very well done. I
will give it, on a scale of 5, 4 ½ NH pine cones. After all,
nothing is perfect.
Find them here:
http://www.whiskeygeese.com/
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