Music From The Dam Farm
By Sarah Guthrie - 2/5/2002
Sarah Guthrie here, sending you greetings and going on a bit about my new CD, Songs From the Dam Farm. The Dam Farm is a real place in Athens County, Ohio, a community of interestingly aligned people and animals, sort-of like the Island of Misfit Toys. Named for the beaver dams that flooded most of the bottom lands, it was a great favorite with area hill jacks for sight-seeing in the early '90's. See in our case we looked funny, and we lived poor - BUT you could see we weren't all related. Very odd.
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The CD was made to highlight my songwriting, and share a little of my insights into stuff. Many of my great friends sang and played on it - for virtually nothing but the pleasure it gave us all (well, I did hint at future fame, or rather, notoriety). Actually, many of the artists are well known to connoisseurs of local music, having played and sang and hauled their instruments and asses all over Athens for your enjoyment.
I was lucky enough to get to work with the intrepid and mysterious Frank McDermott (of classical guitar fame) who teaches guitar and manages The Blue Eagle music store in uptown Athens. He was a constant supporter throughout this project, keeping me going with his faith in me and my songs.
I was lucky enough to be graced with the participation of two of my favorite old-timers, John McGovern and Matthew McElroy. I first met John when he was standing on Court Street playing harmonica and dancing. My young daughter was delighted and she took a turn on the harmonica while he danced to her music. Matthew is a great friend of my neighbor, the hard-working Tim Peacock (of Peacock Productions), and I've hung out with him for years and watched and listened as he honed his banjo playing.
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I first saw Will Perkins play fiddle with an acoustic Appalachian Death Ride at the Casa Cantina and was opened mouth impressed. Chris Beister warned me then and there that I wasn't allowed to steal him, so I just took him on loan. His favorite part of the recording process was jamming at Blue Eagle after hours with not one, but TWO female vocalists. Some boys know what fun is.
I approached several vocalists to sing for me - I really wanted these songs to sound good, and, lets face it, singing isn't my strong suit. The first to sign on for certain was that dusky, lusty, provocative chanteuse of Misprints fame, Kathy Wicks. All three of the songs that she ended up singing say something that she could relate to - so check them out on the CD.
I love the song of Jody Schaub's that I put on the CD, it's so simple and nonsensical, and she sings so beautifully. I've known her for what seems like a lifetime, she's a long-term damfarmer, and definitely part of my karass.
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I heard Megan Cameron sing at the Casa open stage and knew she had the right voice for the simplest of the tunes on this CD, a song about overcoming some of the strange twists that fate deals us. She and I are still singing together, I even wrote a duet with her in mind that'll hopefully make it onto the next CD. Catch us playing around Athens in months to come.
Junebug was destined to play bass for these songs, he was around when some of them were written, may have caused one or two (I'm not sayin'), and played with me as a Rough & Ready Boy and also in the quartet GC/DC with Jody Schaub and David Stone. He lends his low-end expertise and vocal tremulations to several of the tracks on the CD.
Bryan Gibson did the drums as well as recording the drum and bass tracks for several songs. He is a talented and professional musician to work with, and gentlemanly to boot. I had a blast, never having really rocked out before, and I thank him heartily for the experience.
Steve Carlson did the recording and sang on the 3rd track - a song that was written years ago with him in mind in the early Joe Bob Billy days. Dreams do come true. He and I plowed through the recording and mixing process and sacrificed exactitude for "that'll do" with excellent results. The process was amazing, and I wish him luck in the great Northwest.
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Bernie Nau of The House Band did the mastering, and listening to the CD made him smile. Go ahead and ask him. I hope it does you too. I think he was impressed with my non-gratuitous use of the word "turds". You can pick it up (the CD, silly) locally at Blue Eagle Music Store or School Kids Records, both on Court Street. It's also available on-line at Amazon.com and Cdbaby.com.
I'll put in a quick pitch for Cdbaby - they have been sooooo amazing to work with! They send me all kinds of helpful hints, bend over backwards to help promote you, and offer to put you up if you're in their neighborhood. I even got connected to a radio show in Belgium through them. Check them out for small, independent releases and small labels. I like what they do.
So check out the CD if you haven't already - no, I mean it, go to the library and check it out. They have 7 copies - one for each branch - and you can get on their computer catalogue and request that they send a copy to your local Athens library - they'll call you when it comes in. Then you go and CHECK IT OUT!
Also, catch the act out on the town. I'm mostly focusing on the acoustic stuff, and singing with Megan, it's a good old time, and we definitely rock in our way. Thanks for reading up on what it is. Tell your friends, and we'll catch you around town.
