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by Nathan Stafford
East Van’s alt-folk gentleman Aaron Cadwaladr (pronounced cad-WALL-a-der) just launched his new full-length record with a packed release/tour kickoff party at Café Deux Soleils Oct 23rd. ‘Wade Through The Dark’ was produced by Colin Stewart (Black Mountain, Cave Singers) and features awesome guest musicians Steve Dawson, Jesse Zubot, Veda Hille and Peggy Lee!
“I would have to call it the Commercial Drive Connection,” says Cadwaladr. “I was honoured to have each of them lend their talents to my album.”
Track to track, you’ll find an earthy, roomy feel like a vintage coat, or “Neil Young meets Radiohead for a pint of organic stout”. Peppier numbers like ‘Slowdown’ have that Calexico feel, Aaron’s patient vocals on ‘Cooling Our Backs’ could be likened to a young Stephen Stills (4 + 20), while the title track shows a little grungier side. There’s good variety on this disc, with lots of tasteful chops and hidden gems for more than just folkies and fiddleheads.
Now to the party. The first of 2 sets! opened with relatively sedate album tracks like ‘Engage The Air’ and the Paul Simon-esque ‘Take These Chances’, making way for the extremely catchy ‘Shape Changing Sky’ (which I was still humming on the skytrain ride home). Covering Wilco, Radiohead, and later in set #2, Aaron brought up fiddler Elise Bouer for a few tunes, and ended up doing a folk-rock version of The Clash ‘Wrong ‘Em Boyo’. Last time I heard that song, there wasn’t a fiddle! Aaron could have benefited from some help vocally, otherwise he’s pretty much driving this ship himself. Side musician Nathan Schubert was a standout, playing about 5 different instruments on his crowded corner of the stage.
Check out this excellent music video put together from the show. This song was performed once in each set, so the videographers would have different camera angles, and I assume 2 takes of the live mix. This is what you can expect from an Aaron Cadwaladr Band performance:
Aaron is a pretty worldly fellow, and I asked him about his days busking in Europe, and what he thinks of a chatty audience:
“There is something very humbling about both busking - when folks just walk on by, hardly noticing - and playing in a loud café where people also may not notice the musicians. Being a street musician taught me to play and enjoy it, whether there is an audience or not.”
There was definitely an audience at Deux Soleils, but Aaron seems content in making music for himself, and hey, if anyone else likes it, that’s cool too.
“Making music to please others is a risky game as far as I am concerned, though it is nice to hear that folks are enjoying the music.”
These folks definitely enjoyed the music, and the new album “Wade Through The Dark” is a sure bet for anyone looking to escape their inner-city-dwelling lives for a cool 50 minutes of wide-open wilderness. The Aaron Cadwaladr Band will be trekking around the province for the next month or so, returning Nov 22nd for a homecoming gig at The Backstage Lounge. More dates & info at myspace.com/aaroncadwaladr.
NS: Aaron, we’re here at your release party for “Wade Through The Dark. Tell me a bit about the new CD. You had some interesting special guests: Veda Hille, Zubot & Dawson. How did this thing come about? Those are some amazing connections!
AC: For the most part I would have to call it the Commercial Drive Connection. Veda, Steve Dawson, and Peggy Lee all live in the area, and I have been a long-time big fan of all of their music. I was honoured to have each of them lend their talents to my album.
NS: On the Live-tip, I know you perform solo, and I know you perform with the band. Who will grace the stage with you tonight for the CD release?
AC: For the CD release I will be playing with my regular band with me on guitar & vocals, Cornell St Jean on bass, Nathan Shubert on piano, accordion, glockenspiel, mandolin and all sort of things. Unfortunately, our fantastic drummer Michael Munro will not be able to make it on the tour, but, we have an excellent replacement sitting in for him with James Mcrae on drums, and Elise Bouer will be sitting in for a handful of songs on the fiddle. It will be a great night and we are really looking forward to it!
NS: Do you always write solo, or have you co-written with anyone for this release?
AC: To this point I have pretty much written solo, though I would love to have the opportunity to explore more collaborative projects.
NS: I saw an excellent review of you somewhere: “ a distinctive addition to the great Canadian singer-songwriter tradition”. That must feel good, to get that media acceptance, right? Would you say you strive more for media acceptance, fan acceptance, artist acceptance, or all 3? Or do you care?
AC: That is a bit of a difficult question to answer. I really try to just focus on the music. I figure that if I make songs that I can stand behind, then that is the best that I can do. Making music to please others is a risky game as far as I am concerned… though, yes, it is nice to hear that folks are enjoying the music!
NS: Is there an element of busking in your live show, like the old days in Berlin? What do you like about busking?
AC: When I play solo shows it definitely brings me back to my days as a busker, especially in those venues where folks are more interested in drinks and conversation than live music. There is something very humbling about both busking - when folks just walk on by, hardly noticing - and playing in a loud café where people also may not notice the musicians. Being a street musician taught me to play and enjoy it, whether there is an audience or not. I love playing music – and every once and a while someone really digs it, which makes it worthwhile! Busking is excellent practice, as well.
NS: Any plans to tour Europe with this new CD, maybe go back to those roots and show off the finished product?
AC: Absolutely! The gears are already in the works for a little tour back in the homeland (Wales, England, Ireland) though I would also love to head back to Berlin, it has such a vibrant music scene and is a town always up for a good time!
NS: “Neil Young meets Radiohead for a pint of organic stout.” – explain that explanation, please.
AC: Well, People are always asking me to define my sound – I find it a bit hard to put myself in one box – so we came up with this little tag that I think defines the our sound. Neil Young and Radiohead are both huge influences on me, especially the more earthy and mellower side of both of those artists, which is where the “organic” comes into it. And stout, well I just love stout…!!
NS: Did you play with a Neil Young tribute act called Live Rust? Is that where the Neil Young connection came from? Do you cover any of Neil’s songs currently?
AC: Hmmm yes I did play with Live Rust for a spell – Until life got too busy. But I would say that the Neil Young connection runs much deeper than that – he’s in our blood isn’t he? I was drawn to the Neil Young Cover Band because of my love of Neil young, but the cover band had little impact/influence on my songwriting or sound. I still sit in with Live Rust once in a while and thoroughly enjoy it!
…and yes I have been known to throw a Neil Young cover into a set here and there!
NS: You received a FACTOR demo grant a few years back, correct? You did an EP. You were funded again for this full-length. Did you ever factor grants and things into your music career in the early days, and would you say that grant money legitimized your music career at all?
AC: The FACTOR demo was my first grant money. It definitely gave me the ability to grow my music and focus more of my energy on my own music and recording. I guess you could say that yes, in a way it may have “legitimized” my music career as I was able to work on my own material instead of doing such things as playing in tribute bands and jazz trios to pay the rent. Also, there is a bit of industry recognition, which comes with receiving artist grants, which is nice.
NS: You were also involved with SIFE BCIT. What has working with them done for your career? I watched your video testimonial of the initial stages. Have you continued working with them?
AC: Funny you ask… Yes SIFE BCIT was a great experience as it helped me to understand the business aspect of marketing my music. The leader of the group of SIFE BCIT students that I was working with is now what you might call my Manager – Ross McKeachie - so yes I suppose that you could say that, in a twice removed sort of a way, I am still connected to them.
NS: You have been a guitar teacher for over 15 years? Has that ever decreased your drive to play guitar? Like you teach guitar all day, then go home at night, is guitar the last thing you want to do, or is it the opposite?
AC: Being a guitar teacher keeps me on my toes as a musician. I have some really great students that I have been teaching for years – and I enjoy teaching. It doesn’t really detract from my personal enjoyment of playing music. They are really such different experiences.
NS: This is a bit off-topic, but what is ‘In Veronica’s Garden’ and how were you involved with that? I saw you had some Illustrator and Photographer credits?
AC: Ahhh yes, this is a bit of a left turn – but here we go…A little known fact about me is that I also have a Fine Arts Degree. For a while there I was pretty focused on painting and did a couple of watercolours for the book, my mom’s book! I also did the painting that was used in the graphics for my EP Shape Changing Sky.
NS: You also play in The Kerplunks! That’s so cool. What got you into Children’s Music?
AC: I have been playing with Dina D and Tina Jones (the brainpower and force behind The Kerplunks) for over two years now. When they asked if I wanted to join them in this project I jumped at the opportunity – their songs are great to play and they are all stellar musicians. We have a lot of fun together! It is kid’s music that both adults and musicians can appreciate. I never tire of it! We have been doing very well including winning a West Coast Music Award, a Canadian Folk Music award and getting a Juno Nomination. We lost to the Bare Naked Ladies….
NS: Back to the album, any interesting stories about the recording process for this record? Did everything go smooth as silk, or what? Getting that many musicians on board at the same time must have presented a challenge.
AC: We had pretty solid arrangements for the tunes going in for the Rhythm section, then we layered the extra instrumentation on top. It went pretty smoothly. It kind of changed as it went along and we just went with it.
NS: Anything else you’d like to tell readers of The Skinny? Aside form promoting the new album with your BC-tour, what's coming up next?
AC: My energy has been focused on this album for a while and I am looking forward to settling back down and focusing on my songwriting.
NS: And finally Aaron, cats or dogs? If you had to pick just one…
AC: Well, I have a large irritable shaggy bearded Rottweiler hound – so I would have to go with dogs… she would be pretty ticked if I chose cats, and it’s definitely in my best interest to keep her happy.
NS: Well, I hope you keep your dog, and your listeners happy with the new record “Wade Through The Dark”, which is available at fine local record stores as well as through aaroncadwaladr.com. Best of luck to you, sir!
