Let's just say I could scarcely believe my ears on those first few spins. The sound and feel were instantly familiar and comfortable to me. Perfect Trainwreck is a five piece lineup that features Bow on a customized electric banjo (or a modified Telecaster or hollow-body Epiphone), bass guitar, pedal steel guitar, keyboards, & drums. They are the latest in what have been a series of lineups/bands that Thayer has played with including "The Benders."
The much hackneyed term "Dylanesque" is not my favorite descriptor. Contemporary music is rife with indie-folk rockers who might be described as such. Where I like the term as applied to Bow Thayer is: sometimes the timbre, tone, and indeed the range of Bow's singing can put me in a mind of "Blood On The Tracks" era Bob. There are worse things to put me in a mind of.
In the late 19th century there were a group of artists (painters, sculptors & the like) who "removed" to the Upper Connecticut River Valley to derive inspiration from the natural splendor to be found there. These artists became known as "The Cornish Colony." Bow Thayer has followed this tradition; and, that of his more obvious "Big Pink" musical influence. Further: he makes music on his own terms... not beholden to anyone.
A comparision to fellow banjo-wielding front man Bela Fleck does not work. Bow is a more accomplished lyricist. His work with "The Benders" at times might have invited comparison to the Steve Earle / Del McCoury collaboration "The Mountain." Bow has delved more deeply into what he calls "mountain prog" of late, yet, he is (mostly) still loathe to set down his banjo. "The Benders" to me were sort of Old And In The Way 2.0. (and, how I do LOVE that classic Garcia/Grisman/Rowan/Clements/Khan lineup). Perfect Trainwreck seems to provide greater room to move from a song arrangement standpoint than perhaps had existed in that earlier more strictly alt-country / bluegrass ensemble.
Here's the new Trainwreck album from late last year:
Bow Thayer playing what is the first track from the above album on his deck at home in Vermont:
B&B Entertainment Bloghttp://bandbent.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/interview-bow-thayer-perfect-trainwreck/
...noteworthy quote from above interview:
"We made this record last year at Levon’s barn, as we did with our last album. We fund all of our own shit so there was no fancy hotel. We stayed at the Rip Van Winkle campground and it rained every night. We recorded for three days completely live and did full vocals and took solos with every take. There was very little separation between us except for some baffles and blankets, but that’s the way we like it."
Here's the prior (debut) Trainwreck album:
"Meanwhile In The Here And Now" from the above album:
This one might be my favorite:
"The process of recording this album was very trying for the band as the original bassist quit & relocated, original tracks were almost lost, Levon had to drive down to Boston from Woodstock in an ice storm & Bow had to borrow money from a credit card to wrap up the album's production as the original record label went bankrupt. Levon told many a story to Bow & the boys & one related to the late Richard Manuel who would say 'spend it all' whenever things got dicey."
--from Plochmann Lane:http://plochmann.blogspot.com/
Here's an outstanding track entitled "Snake Bite" from Spend It All (performed here with The Benders):
Some excellent quotes in the following article: http://www.bostonbandcrush.com/2010/11/band-crush-bow-thayer-perfect.html
on moving to the country (and away from the 'scene'):
"That's one of the reasons I moved up to Vermont – not to get into a scene, but more to get out of a scene. I mean who the fuck moves to Vermont to start a music career – it's just not going to happen. But, the way I looked at it is if I could go to a place where I could focus and write, and get something going on where I could do my own thing, it would percolate to the surface and it couldn't be ignored, and it's kind of starting to happen. I piss and moan a lot about how broke I am and this and that, but we're doing it, you know? It's kind of working, I don't really know how, but it is.
on the fickle nature of popular success:
"A lot of people, once they achieve fame, all they have to do is show up. Like if Jeff Tweedy was here right now, the place would be packed and all he'd have to do is give a well executed fart and people would applaud. BUT, if someone just as good as him showed up – and there are a lot of people just as good as him in Boston – they've gotta really engage and work it."
also in this article is a notable quote from Trainwreck bass player Jeremy Moses Curtis (who is also none other than Booker T's touring bass player) about the Tweed River Festival:
"Not only do you check your ego but you check your genre at the door. You're there because you play music, that's it."
It should be noted at mention of Tweed River Music Fest - that, this is actually a grass-roots music festival that these guys put together essentially themselves featuring local musicians and dispensing with any semblance of commercial pretense:
Tweed River Music Festival: http://tweedrivermusicfestival.com/about/
"The great thing about this particular event is that it is being put on by musicians donating there time, there is no big promoter trying to make a buck, and the cost of admissions is to cover the necessities"
Here's Trainwreck performing at last year's festival (the track is "Suicide Kings" from the new record):
Here's a link to a flickr stream of some photos of Bow and the band:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bowthayer/with/5160014695/
Fat Necklace:
This little ol' gem is a pluperfect slice of Americana if there ever was one:
Donna Lee (The Benders):
Here's the traditional (famously covered by Doc Watson) "Little Sadie":
More of Bow's prolific discography (there isn't a dud among these):
"In The Pines" (traditional/Leadbelly - also notably covered by The Louvin Brothers)
"Diesel Jane"
"R U Willin"
"The Next Equation"
Alright y'all... Peace & happy listening,
StevieRay
(also great taste in music)...
