I’m thrilled to announce that Spuyten Duyvil’s “The Social Music Hour, Vol. 1” (Produced by yours truly) was nominated as Album of the Year by Folk Alliance International.
“The Social Music Hour Vol. 1”
“Infused in blues and smoked with folk.. an Americana treasure chest.” – Easy Ed, No Depression
“Those masters of high-octane Americana… have achieved a breakthrough on their new CD”
– John Platt, WFUV
“Big sound, big drama, big groove…”
– Stephan Winnick, The Huffington Post
Returning to the band’s beginnings (a porch, a bouzouki, a copy of Rise Up Singing), producer Joe Iadanza and SD’s Mark Miller mined this sing-along bible for great popular songs of the early 1900’s. Seeking the lyrically relevant, known but not worn out, open for suggestion song, that thrive with re-interpretation. Familiar, forgotten words find new meaning in this historically informed but thoroughly contemporary treatment. Jug Band, Blues, 2nd Line, Piedmont, Roots and Folkrock blend the decades.
The intimate sound of Spuyten Duyvil’s 1898 Victorian living room turned live room is key. Old wood, plaster, real spaces, vintage guitars and hot tubes are captured in warm, analog tones by room designer and engineer Jim Keller (Willie Nelson, Nellie McKay). Recorded by the full band (no click, no net), the tracks burst with life, joy and vitality.
Five years of touring lend familiarity, intimacy and intuition to the dynamics. The band clearly knows and enjoys one another. They play off of each other. They harmonize as old friends. And then there is her voice. Lead singer Beth Kaufman stretches out and luxuriates. She inhabits characters, styles and emotions with ease, sincerity and virtuosity.
“The inspired exploration of traditional American folk songs on “The Social Music Hour, Vol 1″. affirms Spuyten Duyvil’s place among today’s finest roots and Americana acts.”
– Noah Swistak, Philadelphia Folksong Society