- Get $1 in Amazon MP3 credit with qualifying purchase. Limited to one promotional credit per customer. Here's how (restrictions apply)
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Special Offers and Product Promotions
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Editorial Reviews
Review
Eden and John's East River String Band are white city folk - singer/ukulele player Eden Brower and singer/guitarist John Heneghan from New York's East Village - who cover black country blues from the 78-rpm era with crisp fervor on Some Cold Rainy Day. They don't strain for authenticity, but address songs such as Willie Brown's Future Blues and Skip James' Crow Jane with a natural flair that suggests loving study and a respect for the hard lives and fight for joy on the original records. --David Fricke - Rolling Stone, Nov. 13, 2008 Is 1065
Like some of their contemporaries, for Eden Brower and John Heneghan of Eden & John's East River String Band that has meant going backwards in time and searching out old blues and popular songs from the early part of the twentieth century to perform. While there'salways the risk that when performers look to an earlier era for their material thatthey will become a type of museum piece or a curiosity, one only has to listen to their recently released CD, Some Cold Rainy Day, recorded on their own East River Records label and distributed by Forced Exposure, to realize that this duo won't be put in a display case any time soon. One of the hardest things for a musician to do these days is be able to hold an audience's attention when it's just you and your guitar up on stage or on record. Even a duo, like Eden and John, face a stiff challenge in both grabbing their audience's attention and then holding on to it once they begin performing. Even more difficult is doing what they have accomplished with their CD. I don't remember the last time that either a solo act or a duet has been able to hold my attention like these two. Right from the opening track, Mississippi John Hurt's Ain't No Tellin, Eden's voice reaches out and pulls you into the songs. You don't just sit and listen, as there is something about how she sings that drags you into the song so you experience what she's singing about. There's been plenty of people who have covered old blues and pop standards from these time periods, but very few of them have been able to bring them alive like John and Eden do. I've gone years without being able to take the ukulele seriously as an instrument, and now for the second time in as many weeks here's another person playing one with such flair and finesse that it makes you forget people like Tiny Tim. Eden plays a resonator ukulele, metal body with a cone built in to amplify the sound, that you think would make it sound tinier, but in actual fact gives the instrument more body. It makes a wonderful counterpoint to John's guitar playing as she fills in the spaces around his chords with her sound. Some of the songs on the disc are ones I'm familiar with from other sources, Nobody's Business If I Do by Tommy Bradely & James Cole for instance, but some of them, both songs and writers I've never heard of before. John and Eden have culled these tracks from old 78 records that they have dug up at used records stores, garage, and junk sales across the United States, and some of the song titles and writer's names are half the fun of this disc. On Our Turpentine Farm by Pigmeat Pete & Catjuice Charlie or I Had To Give Up Gin by the Hokum Boys are two of my favourites. What makes it even more fun is how good the songs sound. I think part of the reason the songs sound as good as they do is that both of Eden and John have been passionate about this music for a long time. They have pictures on their web site of them standing in front of shelves filled with old 78 records that they've collected over the years. They appear to spend a great deal of their time getting together with like minded musicians and playing this music just for the love of playing it. That love shines through in every song sung and every chord plucked and played. When you hear people that excited by what they are doing you can't help but get caught up in it. You can also tell this just isn't a fad for these two. They'd be playing this music even if there wasn't the renewed interest we've been seeing over the last few years for more traditional forms of music. When Eden and John play a song like Little Hat Jones Bye Bye Baby Blues the song sounds like it was written for them. They may not have the most polished of voices or be the slickest of players, but this music wasn't written by or performed by people who were either. --Richard Marcus BC Music
Like some of their contemporaries, for Eden Brower and John Heneghan of Eden & John's East River String Band that has meant going backwards in time and searching out old blues and popular songs from the early part of the twentieth century to perform. While there'salways the risk that when performers look to an earlier era for their material thatthey will become a type of museum piece or a curiosity, one only has to listen to their recently released CD, Some Cold Rainy Day, recorded on their own East River Records label and distributed by Forced Exposure, to realize that this duo won't be put in a display case any time soon. One of the hardest things for a musician to do these days is be able to hold an audience's attention when it's just you and your guitar up on stage or on record. Even a duo, like Eden and John, face a stiff challenge in both grabbing their audience's attention and then holding on to it once they begin performing. Even more difficult is doing what they have accomplished with their CD. I don't remember the last time that either a solo act or a duet has been able to hold my attention like these two. Right from the opening track, Mississippi John Hurt's Ain't No Tellin, Eden's voice reaches out and pulls you into the songs. You don't just sit and listen, as there is something about how she sings that drags you into the song so you experience what she's singing about. There's been plenty of people who have covered old blues and pop standards from these time periods, but very few of them have been able to bring them alive like John and Eden do. I've gone years without being able to take the ukulele seriously as an instrument, and now for the second time in as many weeks here's another person playing one with such flair and finesse that it makes you forget people like Tiny Tim. Eden plays a resonator ukulele, metal body with a cone built in to amplify the sound, that you think would make it sound tinier, but in actual fact gives the instrument more body. It makes a wonderful counterpoint to John's guitar playing as she fills in the spaces around his chords with her sound. Some of the songs on the disc are ones I'm familiar with from other sources, Nobody's Business If I Do by Tommy Bradely & James Cole for instance, but some of them, both songs and writers I've never heard of before. John and Eden have culled these tracks from old 78 records that they have dug up at used records stores, garage, and junk sales across the United States, and some of the song titles and writer's names are half the fun of this disc. On Our Turpentine Farm by Pigmeat Pete & Catjuice Charlie or I Had To Give Up Gin by the Hokum Boys are two of my favourites. What makes it even more fun is how good the songs sound. I think part of the reason the songs sound as good as they do is that both of Eden and John have been passionate about this music for a long time. They have pictures on their web site of them standing in front of shelves filled with old 78 records that they've collected over the years. They appear to spend a great deal of their time getting together with like minded musicians and playing this music just for the love of playing it. That love shines through in every song sung and every chord plucked and played. When you hear people that excited by what they are doing you can't help but get caught up in it. You can also tell this just isn't a fad for these two. They'd be playing this music even if there wasn't the renewed interest we've been seeing over the last few years for more traditional forms of music. When Eden and John play a song like Little Hat Jones Bye Bye Baby Blues the song sounds like it was written for them. They may not have the most polished of voices or be the slickest of players, but this music wasn't written by or performed by people who were either. --Richard Marcus BC Music
Product Description
Eden & John's East River String Band are a contemporary acoustic duo that play country/blues classics from the 1920s and 1930s. The band consists of Eden Brower on ukulele and vocals with John Heneghan on guitar and vocals, including special guest Terry Waldo (legendary ragtime piano player who has recorded and toured with Leon Redbone and Woody Allen). The duo try to keep alive the rural music tradition that existed before the Great Depression of the '30s, playing primarily country blues covers including classics by such greats as Skip James, Mississippi John Hurt, Lottie Kimbrough and Blind Lemon Jefferson. Here are some rave reviews: "Some Cold Rainy Day is by far one of the most enjoyable contemporary recordings of early pre-war blues music I have ever heard. Eden and John stay true to the original arrangements and vocals that these songs had when they were first released. I would call this a MUST-own for fans young and old of blues music and even those who want a modern introduction to the great old music of the 1920s and 1930s. PLEASE NOTE: Crumb not only did the cover for this album; he loves the music on it, too. Crumb collectors know that he does very little commercial work now with his busy schedule and will only illustrate items he himself loves. What better endorsement is there than that?" --Ralph Deluca; "Eden and John do a fantastic job with their special renditions of great old blues songs! The guitar playing is great and Eden has just the right voice for most of the songs. It is a bit odd to hear a woman do Willie Brown's "Future Blues," but Eden pulls it off in a way that grows on you with each listening. I am not much of a fan of modern day artists doing classic blues songs, but this is one CD that has found a home in my rotation." --John Tefteller
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
First Great Blues LP in almost 50 years!!,
By
This review is from: Some Cold Rainy Day [Vinyl] (Vinyl)
Eden & John's East River String Band's latest album release titled "Some Cold Rainy Day" is by far one of the most enjoyable contemporary recordings of early pre-war blues music I have ever heard. Eden and John stay true to the original arrangements and vocals that these songs had when they were first released. Being an early blues lover and record collector myself it is hard for me to find any new records to buy that I actually enjoy listening too, that is until I got this. I would call this a MUST own for fans young and old of blues music and even those who want a modern introduction to the great old music of the 1920's and 1930's. PLEASE NOTE: Crumb not only did the cover for this album; he loves the music on it too. Crumb collectors know that he does very little commercial work now with his busy schedule and will only illustrate items he himself loves. What better endorsement is there than that??
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A joyous suprise,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Some Cold Rainy Day (Audio CD)
The East River String Band is a joyous reinterpretation of old time music, with a sonic transparency that puts the duo in your living room. If you love The Kweskin Jug Band, Geoff Muldaur, and Dan Hicks this shiny little disk is for you.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Acoustic Blues Masterpiece !!!!!,
By
This review is from: Some Cold Rainy Day (Audio CD)
"Some Cold Rainy Day" by the East River String Band is the most authentic old-time acoustic blues re-creation i've ever heard. They do Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James & Blind Lemon Jefferson clasics that match the originals. The ukulele & guitar duo are joined by legendary stride pianist Terry Waldo(Leon Redbone, Woddy Allen) for three tracks including the title track and the Hokum Boy's "I Had To Give Up Gin". Absolutely the best acoustic blues duo playing today. If you don't believe me, hey Robert Crumb did there cover!!!!! What more do you want!!!!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
SoundUnwound - the personal music encyclopedia
Passionate about music?
Learn more at SoundUnwound, the personal music encyclopedia, or challenge your friends with our music quizzes.
