Will Scott featured on Songs From The Shed - February 1, 2012
I have been looking forward to this since making the videos on tour in the UK this summer. The world-famous Songs From The Shed posted my July session there today. Jon, who runs the series, is brilliant. The site features acoustic recordings of notable acts made in his shed in the English countryside.
Other artists on Songs From The Shed include: Rod Picott, Malcolm Holcombe, and Slaid Cleaves. Their session with Jan Bell will be posted soon as well.
Interview and live video at Living Room featured on the Independent Music Awards site - January 10, 2012
A new interview and featured video are available on the Independent Music Awards website. Will Scott's Gnawbone was a finalist in 2009 for Best Blues Album. His new release, Keystone Crossing, is in the running for a number of categories at the IMAs in 2012.
The video footage is from an Independent Music Awards showcase at the Living Room in New York in October featuring Charlie Burnham on fiddle and Tim Luntzel on Upright Bass.
To view the interview and video on the IMA site, click here.
HOMEBASE: From Indiana originally, now living in Brooklyn, NY and Philadelphia, PA
DESCRIBE YOUR GENRE: Americana, Blues, and Rock
CATEGORY ENTERED: Song and album categories in Blues and Americana, also Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Love Song, and Eclectic song categories
SONGS SUBMITTED: A number of songs from my new album, Keystone Crossing
ALBUM SUBMITTED (If applicable): “Keystone Crossing” produced by Scrote featuring guest performances by Dayna Kurtz (Vocals) and Deacon Jones (B-3)
LABEL: The album is on my own label, Weather-Tone
PLEASE LIST THE ARTISTS FEATURED ON THIS RELEASE.
Will Scott – vocals, acoustic guitar, songwriting Scrote – producer, electric guitar, arranging, and songwriting Dave Palmer – Piano, B-3, Moog, and other keys Ben Peeler – Lap Steel, Mandolin, Banjo, Guitar, and other strings Dave Piltch – Upright and Electric Bass Jerry Roe – Drums and other percussion Bob Hoffnar – Pedal Steel on “Last Rest Stop” Dayna Kurtz – Second Vocals on “Derry Down” Deacon Jones – B-3 on “Last Rest Stop” and “You Are The One I Love”
WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND YOUR BAND NAME? WERE THERE ANY CONTENDERS?
My given name is William Scott. When I was young, I was called Bill Scott after my paternal grandfather. I started going by Will in high school.
DESCRIBE YOUR LATEST RELEASE.
“Keystone Crossing” is an honest, fairly straightforward, record with some twists here and there. It draws from a number of styles, especially Americana and blues (with rock and a tiny dash of Flamenco), blending them into a soulful roots record. The project is already receiving excellent reviews in a variety of genres:
“Continues to stake his claim as America’s most soulful country blues artist” Four Stars – Q Magazine
Top Blues albums of the Year – Classic Rock Magazine
“Shows off Scott’s rich, deep, trembling voice in the very best possible light” Nine Stars – Americana UK
“Brings blues, country, gospel, and Western swing to the table and delivers cohesive, haunting results” – Guitarist Magazine
“An eclectic master of all things Americana” – LucidCulture
“It’s the voice that gets you. A deep, dark, hurt thing, it compels you to listen, whatever story it’s telling.” – Rock’n’Reel
“It’s the slightly twisted, even maverick nature of his original songs that’s the most intriguing” – Folk and Roots
There’s a lot of personal and family history on the album – although much license has been taken. (Contrary to the lyrics of “Broken Arrow,” I have a great relationship with my mother! Hi Mom)! My step-father used to sing Johnny Shines “You Are the One I Love;” and it was one of the first songs I learned on guitar. “White River Rising” was inspired by a flood in Southern Indiana, and by Midwestern religiosity, in general. The album title comes from a street near where I grew up that I was not allowed to cross when I was younger.
In terms of production, I wanted something that felt a bit more live and slightly more stripped-down as a follow-up to my 2009 release, “Gnawbone.” I was thrilled to get to work with Dave Palmer, Ben Peeler, Dave Piltch, and Jerry Roe in Los Angeles. The producer brought them to the project and they were a perfect fit. We tracked at an excellent studio in Hollywood owned by Latin pop star (and former member of Menudo), Draco.
DID YOU USE ANY UNUSUAL INSTRUMENTS OR EFFECTS?
The album’s producer, Scrote, plays some great, non-traditional, electric guitar. Otherwise, it is a fairly straightforward approach with the instrumentation. I worked with some cool custom slides from Diamond Bottleneck (glass and steel), and Rocky Mountain Slide Company (ceramic).
WERE THERE ANY ‘HAPPY ACCIDENTS’ IN THE STUDIO OR DID YOU RECORD IT AS PLANNED?
We received a call from a music supervisor while we were in the studio who was working on a film with Bruce Willis. He described what he needed for a particular scene and it turned out to be very close to a couple of the tracks we had just recorded. We took a couple of hours away from the record to put together a track using the rhythm from one song and vocals from another. As it turned out, we liked the new arrangement better than the earlier version and put it on the record as “Just to Ferry Me Over.”
HOW DID YOU FUND THIS PROJECT?
Revenue from CD sales and live shows in the US and Europe provided funds for Keystone Crossing.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SUBMIT TO THE 11TH IMAS?
I like what the Independent Music Awards represents and the sincere effort they put into promoting and supporting the artists who submit. The impressive list of judges certainly doesn’t hurt either. As a 2009 nominee in the Blues Album category for “Gnawbone,” it was never a question whether to enter again with Keystone Crossing.
WHO IS SITTING IN YOUR AUDIENCE? WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE?
They are brilliant, often artistic, and always quite good looking.
HAVE YOU EVER HUNG OUT WITH ONE OF YOUR MUSICAL HEROES? WHAT’S THE STORY?
Years ago they had a benefit for blues guitarist Lefty Dizz at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago. I was maybe just old enough to get into a bar and very much into Chicago blues then. A good number of people came out to support and I’d say nearly half were blues legends. Buddy Guy was there, Junior Wells, Lonnie Brooks and more. That was probably my last opportunity to see Lefty and Junior play and I got to see them playing together while hanging out in the audience with blues royalty.
WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE?
Playing Glastonbury twice ranks high on the list. Every show is memorable, however. I feel quite lucky to get to do what I do.
WHAT’S YOUR BEST/CRAZIEST TOUR STORY?
I played a show in Berlin this past summer; and it seemed like every five minutes someone was coming up saying they were from Brooklyn. It felt like half the borough was there. Some of them were friends from New York who were traveling and just happened to come to the venue.
ARE THERE ANY SONGS YOU WISH YOU WROTE?
There are lots of songs I would love to have written. One of them is Jan Bell’s “Right to Love” that I cover on “Keystone Crossing.” It says so much so clearly with so few words. It is a perfect heartbreak song.
WHAT ARTISTS ARE YOU LISTENING TO THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS?
I listen to a lot of flamenco (Camaron de la Isla, Paco de Lucia, and others). Usually, I am easily drawn in by great singers. I am a big Cindy Lauper fan in part for that reason. She gets passed off from time to time as an 80’s bubble-gum pop star, but she makes great music… and I still like her versions of “What’s Going On” better than anyone else’s (sorry Marvin Gaye).
NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU ARE CHAMPIONING.
Jan Bell – Writer of “Right to Love,” founder of The Maybelles, and former IMA winner (www.janbellmusic.com)
Christian Gibbs – As Rolling Stone puts it, “a country brother to Tom Waits” (www.cgibbsreview.com)
Elyas Khan / Gentlemen and Assassins / Nervous Cabaret – I like anything Elyas sings (www.elyaskhan.com)
Paranoid Larry and His Imaginary Band – and excellent song craftsman… and completely insane (www.paranoidlarry.com)
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM SHOW LINEUP?
I have a number of dream show lineups. Tony Joe White with Chuck E. Weiss on a bill would be cool! The Luminescent Orchestrii, Gentlemen and Assassins, with The Dead Exs would do nicely for an eclectic international rock binge. For blues, Magic Sam, Otis Rush, Junior Kimbrough, with Hound Dog Taylor. For Americana and country, Blaze Foley, Townes Van Zandt, Buddy and Julie Miller, with Solomon Burke.
FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS…
Still in business. Things are continuing to change, of course, closing some doors and opening others. There have been better times to have rock star fantasies, but all in all it is not a bad time to be an independent musician.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN THE WORKS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR?
The album is just now getting released in the US, following two tours in Europe. I will be touring this side of the pond regularly and beginning work on the next album. I’m also pursuing some additional licensing arrangements.
HOW CAN FANS FOLLOW YOU? WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE?
Work on recording the new album, produced by Scrote (www.scrotemusic.com), is nearly complete. Just got back from Hollywood where we tracked last week at Phantom Vox Studio (Draco's place). The legendary Deacon Jones (John Lee Hooker's band leader) joined on B3 for a couple of tunes and more exciting special guests are in the works.
We started out with an all-star band for basic tracks. Players included:
Ben Peeler (The Wallflowers, Shelby Lynne, Lucinda Williams, et al.) - lap steel, pedal steel, mandolin, banjo, and more.
Dave Palmer (Solomon Burke, Fiona Apple, Chris Isaak, et al.) - keys (wurlitzer, piano, B3, Moog Bass, etc).
Dave Piltch (KD Lang, Solomon Burke, Bill Frisell, et al.) - upright and electric bass
Jerry Roe (Legendary Shack Shakers, Julianne Hough, Dave Roe, Jerry Reed, et al.) - drums & percussion
Scrote - on electric guitar
Multiple-Grammy-winning Seth Horan was at the board engineering.
The project is scheduled to be completed by March 2011 with an initial release in England to coincide with a June/July UK and Europe tour (including a return to Glastonbury and debut at Maverick Festival). That will be followed by a US release (and more touring).
New Album in the Works - December 21, 2010
Work has begun on recording a new album. I spent the past few days in Los Angeles working with Producer, Scrote (www.scrotemusic.com), on pre-production. Scrote is a top-notch producer, musician, and writer; and I am thrilled to be working with him on this project. The pre-production sessions were quite successful. The mighty Ben Peeler stopped by to offer some instrumental ideas on guitar, mandolin, lap steel, and more. I was honored to have him there and by a visit from drummer, Jerry Roe.
The project is scheduled to be completed by March 2011 with an initial release in England to coincide with my June/July UK and Europe tour. That will be followed by a US release (and likely more touring).
Will Scott Signs with Bob Paterson Agency for UK Booking - August 15, 2010
I am pleased to announce that I have signed with Bob Paterson Agency (BPA) for UK booking (http://www.bpa-live.com/profile_willscott.htm). They have been on the wish list for some time and are a great match for what I do. Other acts on the BPA roster include Elizabeth Cook, Otis Gibbs, The Wailin' Jennys, and a number of other great artists.
GNAWBONE Reviewed at Gritz.net by Michael Buffalo Smith - June 22, 2010
Was thrilled to receive the following review in Gritz by the legendary Michael Buffalo Smith...
"You ever just fall in love with an artist’s music the very first time you heard them play? Such was the case with the music of Will Scott. From the very first song on his CD, “Jack’s Defeat Creek,” I was hooked in. But when the second track kicked it, I turned the volume up to eleven. The swampy rock of “Gnawbone” grabbed me by the short hairs and never let go.
Not only is Will Scott a great singer and songwriter, he is also one more fine guitar player. I mean, the songs just keep gettin’ better and better. “Make Her Love Me” sports an infectious groove of southern swamp boogie and “Lazy Summertime” is exactly what the title suggests, a laid back, hazy days of summer slice of true Americana.
The lyrics are so real. Great songs like “Country Soil” an the countryfied “Louisiana Lullaby” tell stories drawn straight from real life. I always like to say “keep it real” a lot. Well, guess what? Will Scott keeps it real baby.
I love the groove on “Mother May I” and the fingerpicking of “Stain Letter.” Speaking of grooves, “Long Time Since” boasts its own unique and excellent groove. “Amen Corner” closes out the set in style, beginning with church organ and moving into a haunting groove.
It’s been a while since an artist captivated my attention the way Will Scott has done. In this day of cookie-cutter country pop, boring Top 40 and sometimes talentless indie artists, it is indeed a breath of fresh air to hear something so real, so honest, from an independent artist. Bravo."
Gnawbone (song) Semi-Finalist at Internations Songwriting Competition - March 1, 2010
"Gnawbone" (the title track on my recent album) made semi-finalist at the renowned International Songwriting Competition. Judges included Tom Waits, James Cotton, Jerry Lee Lewis, John Mayall, Loretta Lynn, and many other legendary artists. The NY Times calls their judges panel "the most impressive group of judges... in any songwriting competition." Quite an honor.
GNAWBONE nominated for Independent Music Award - December 19, 2009
Will Scott's recent album, GNAWBONE, has been nominated for an Independent Music Award. It is one of five finalists for Blues Album of The Year. Judges include Tom Waits, The Black Keys, Charlie Musselwhite and many other greats. In addition to the judges' selection, there will be a Vox Populi award based on fan votes. Please stop by and VOTE HERE.
Will Scott signs with Charisma Artist Agency - December 1, 2009
I am pleased to announce that I have just joined the roster of Charisma Artist Agency (www.charismaartist.com). They will now be handling all of my performance booking, and handling some of the promotion for the foreseeable future. They're a great company with a focus on Americana, World, Roots, Bluegrass, Indie, Rockabilly, Swing, Avant Garde and Jazz.
Other Charisma artists include Luminescent Orchestrii, The Asylum Street Spankers, The Wiyos, and Two Man Gentlemen Band. The Wiyos and Two Man Gentlemen Band recently opened a number of dates for Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and John Mellencamp.
GNAWBONE reviewed in Americana UK - November 20, 2009
Will Scott “Gnawbone†(Weather-Tone Records, 2009)
Brooklyn resident Will Scott’s debut studio solo recording draws on southern rock, blues and music akin to Jim Morrison of the Doors even, as he embraces everything that is good in Americana music
Indianapolis and Chicago-raised Scott has previous recording experience having made an album with the Forecasters (1998), and his own self-made Solo Electric Blues (2002). 'Gnawbone' see-saws from one style and tempo to another quicker than a blink of the eye as Scott and producer Christopher ‘Preacher Boy’ Watkins (guitars, keys, piano, mandolin and additional percussion) who between them wrote all the songs but for ‘Louisiana Lullaby’ toss ideas and musical directions around freely.
‘Louisiana Lullaby’ is a heart-tugging affair that underlines his strength as a performer, songwriter and his inbuilt ability to hold the attention of the listener through lyrics that tell a good story. On getting rowdy and funky ‘Paper Match’ gate crashes the party in chaotic fashion, and as for my reference to the Morrison I think if he were alive he would have relished the opportunity to perform the thrilling ballad ‘Jack’s Defeat Creek’ (hints of Harry Chapin’s ‘Cat’s In The Cradle’) and fabulous rock cut ‘Make Her Love Me’. Possessing a hard driven groove supporting his full-bodied bluesy vocals it is arguably Scott’s best entry — that isn’t to rule out the superb, slide-guitar fashioned Mississippi hill country styled ‘Gnawbone’. That just about blows everything else out of the water! Such being the surging groove and powerful rhythm as his songwriting takes the listener on a roller coaster ride through the American south, bouncing along the back roads that stops off at roadside taverns for human refuelling.
After the three five-star opening tracks the competition to match is not of the same strength till ‘Stain Shifter’ and the swirling keyboards aided shuffle ‘Sarah’. That, on possessing a strong gospel harmony chorus Scott regains a strangle hold on things. But, just hold on there a minute because after repeated plays the well titled ‘Lazy Summertime’ is making up lost ground, fast — as his mellow side rears in an impressive manner. ‘Amen Corner’ the closing track leaves the listener on a high and no doubt hankering to sample more of one of the most impressive new act of his kind to come along in quite some time.
Support to Scott and Watkins comes from the fine musicians Joe Magistro (drums), Jim Whitney (drums), Harvey ‘Slippery’ Jenkins (banjo) plus harmony vocalists Jolie Holland, Samantha Parton (Be Good Tanyas) and Jan Bell (The Maybelles).
Date review added: Friday, November 06, 2009
Reviewer: Maurice Hope
GNAWBONE reviewed in FolkWax - October 23, 2009
Many thanks to Kyle M. Palarino and FolkWax for this lovely review of Gnawbone. I have been an avid reader of FolkWax for years. I'm truly honored.
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Take a Bite on the Gnawbone, (10/21/09)
The Indiana born, Brooklyn, New York-based singer/songwriter/guitarist Will Scott has released a new album produced by musician/ poet Preacher Boy. In fact, the album seems to be quite a collaboration between the two. Preacher Boy also adds guitars, piano, mandolin, and percussion to the project. There are guest appearances by Jolie Holland (Anti-Records), Samantha Parton (The Be Good Tanyas), and Jan Bell (The Maybelles).
There are several influences on the album. You hear the sounds of the Native American singer Bill Miller, Waylon Jennings, Glen Campbell, George Jones, Charlie Rich, Steve Earle, The Band, and Fats Domino. Gnawbone is a true Americana album with all of the early sounds of country, folk, rock and roll, and then there are modern twists to keep you on your toes.
Roots rock permeates the air on "Jack's Defeat Creek," "Gnawbone," and "Sarah." Bring out an African drum beat for the "Stain Lifter." The finger picking on the guitar is pretty while the lonely vocals sing of the stains of his soul. The laid back "Lazy Summer" sounds like Sid Selvidge's southern sweetness. "Make Her Love Me" and "Paper Match" both have slick production with some studio tricks to start the songs off. Those little touches add a modernism to the album that brings it to a new era. The ghost of Charlie Rich haunts the "Louisiana Lullaby." This song reminds me of Rich's '70s songs. A somber tone closes the album with "Amen Corner." The church organ and Jolie Holland's box fiddle eerily get the song off before Scott's vocals. This song is a great song for that late middle of the night drive. You could almost see the headlights gleam on the painted yellow lines as Will sings about the journey of life.
Gnawbone is a low key album. You really need to put the headphones on to really appreciate the dark and desolate land that Scott paints on his easel. From open to close, this is an experience to take you through many thoughts and reflections you just need to hear at the right time. Some songs are as raucous as teenagers finding themselves, while others are a meditative middle aged man looking back at a broken life. The lyrics are poetically strung together and sung with a sharp passion or soft gentleness, whichever the moment calls for.
The instrumentation keeps each song a little different from the last. An organ might highlight one track, while the mandolin might set a tone on another. The guitar playing is never too loud on any number. Each mix on this album is to emphasize the song, not the individual instruments, making it a gorgeously built album.
This album should get some serious listens. Scott sings with heartfelt and honest emotion. Some songs have a gruff gritty attitude, but I think however Scott does it is his way. Chew on Gnawbone for awhile. It won't go stale.
Kyle M. Palarino is a contributing editor at BluesWax. You may contact Kyle at blueswax@visnat.com.
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Excellent review of GNAWBONE in BluesMagazine.nl - August 29, 2009
Will Scott grew up in Indianapolis, and was always surrounded by the sounds of the Blues, Jazz and traditional Country music, since there are quite a few family lines with something, his first project was listed as "Too Damm Cold" together with the Forecasters , then we go back in 1998 then led to critical acclaim. In 2002 followed the introduction in the New York Scene.
In the summer of 2009 will see this album Gnawbone than the light, which is launched by producer Preacher Boy, who had already produced several things for Blind Pig Records, but also for Eagle Eyed Cherry, so really not a small boy I think.
Furthermore, this man came also with blues legend Sam Myers and Will now lives in Brooklyn at the moment and enter government with a large measure on these days, and provides blazing revieuws as he gives performances.
The man writes his own songs very good, and his voice sounds very strong, with a lot of Soul and Blues there. Think in this context a bit later Johnny Cash, but also Tom Waits while also influences rock ala Tom Petty in it, what ensures that this album is home to much variation. Including special contributions of Jolie Holland and more magistro Joe-Drums, Jim Whitney, bass and piano-guitar-Preacher Boy and more.
Will our course introduces his hefitge guitar picks and bluesey our throats by the Swamps and the Hell of the earth, which makes for a very impressive drive in my opinion. It is not Persee a blues album but very worthwhile. The tracks then: Occasionally Tom Petty things but Daniel Lanois, who also Bluesey many elements in his music mixes.
Opener "Jack's Defeat Creek" is reminiscent of Nick Cave, Johnny Cash, but also the style of Tom Petty and Patti Smith, The title track "Gnawbone" is a gritty Delta song, which you the voice of our friend at best one can hear , "Make her Love me" a pop song with a decent feel Jazzy Blues, a wonderful song in the form of a "ballad ala Jim Crocey," a sort of Country Blues "Country Soil, Louisiana Lullaby, a beauty with lines that do Again think of Johnny Cash but also The Band, beautiful vocals and a simple accompaniment, Blues again in "Mother may I?", with a touch Randy Newman, Dan "Dark and ominous," "Long Time Since" just wonderful, and let the accents of the keys and bass, and voice Oei so beautiful.
Thus do many styles with each other in a very surprising variable drive, which is a nice ballad keystone late flourish "Amen Corner". The total does not surprise me that this man is now quite familiar, and I am glad that I also belong to that group and now I can verrrijken with a remarkable drive of a remarkable artist, who knows what good writing in songs like, and she gives great shape, Just Class!
(Frank van Engelen)
GNAWBONE sweeping the charts at CDBaby - August 6, 2009
Just found out that my new album, GNAWBONE, is the #1 top-selling album on CDBaby in the Juke Joint Blues genre and #2 on their Americana chart. It's sweeping the charts for all of the genres in which it is listed.
GNAWBONE also received an Editors Pick from CDBaby under Juke Joint Blues and is the #1 seller in its "Mood" category.
One of the many reasons I wanted to write for Americana Roots was to spread the word on music I thought deserved more praise and recognition. There is so much great music out there that many of us unfortunately never get a chance to hear and enjoy. I recently received one of these true gems, and felt compelled to tell others right away.
Will Scott’s debut release titled “Gnawbone†will catch your attention immediately with its hard driving soulful depth. The mixture of classic rock, blues, and even folk, permeate through to deliver a tantalizing CD. Drawing from a variety of musical influences such as Junior Kimbrough, Tony Joe White, Townes Van Zandt, and Tom Petty among others, Scott has the unique ability to deliver a song vocally with the soul and passion that drives a song home. His vocal presence is astounding.will-scott
Scott additionally writes or co-writes all 12 songs on the CD along with producer Christopher “Preacher Boy†Watkins, with the exception of “Amen Corner,†which was also co-written by Christian Gibbs. Preacher Boy also fills in admirably on several other instruments throughout the record. There is a great supporting cast here as well including background vocals by Jan Bell (The Maybelles), Jolie Holland, and Samantha Parton (The Be Good Tanyas), Joe Magistro does a great job on drums, Jim Whitney provides a thundering rhythm on bass, and Harvey “Slippery†Jenkins on banjo.
The CD opens with two songs that display his close ties to the state of Indiana, where he spent his youth growing up. “Jack’s Defeat Creek†has almost a Doors feel to it, with the supporting mesmerizing keyboard of Preacher Boy. I defy you to not begin tapping your toes in rhythm immediately…and when Scott’s deep vocals kick in it truly hits you squarely. The title cut, “Gnawbone,†opens with a primal drum beat and bass, which cascades into a driving song that will keep you moving.
“Jack’s Defeat Creek takes its name from a very small town in southern Indiana,†states Scott. “It is based loosely on one of the folk legends of how the town got its name. As the story goes, the two lovers get separated by the flooded creek. I always liked old stories such as that, and decided to write a song about it.â€
Scott continued to tell me about the title cut. “Gnawbone was inspired by a dream I had of my paternal grandfather in a pumpkin patch in a small town called Normal, Indiana. As the song came together, Preacher Boy and I changed the route a bit to Gnawbone. You have got to love the grit of a town called that.â€
Additional highlights here include the funky “Make Her Love Me,†the melodic “Lazy Summertime†and “Louisiana Lullaby,†which allow Scott’s vocals to roll freely, “Mother May I,†where Scott conjures great memories of Stevie Ray Vaughn, and “Stain Lifter,†that certainly has the feel of Townes and Junior Kimbrough.
Scott is already busy working on a follow up to his initial release. “I just returned from a 3 week tour of the UK, including a great gig at The Glastonbury Festival. I am getting ready to leave for the west coast for a short 2 week tour, and then head back home to New York for a release event hopefully in August. I have been busy continuing to write as well as promote this release. So, all is going very well.â€
It is music such as this that I truly enjoy. You can instantly hear the depth and passion within the music, plus the amazing vocals don’t hurt either. Do yourself a favor, and check Will out….and then let me know what you think. You can thank me later.
Solid, heavy, trance-like rhythms bubblin' up from a cool Mississippi hill country spring with just a sweet bit of twang. A timeless, layered voice somewhere between our patron saint, The Swamp Fox, Tony Joe White and the great Gordon Lightfoot after a three-day whiskey bender. He's a soulful and gifted songwriter with a sound thick as Tupelo honey. This album knocked us out. We got the title track on eleven here at Southern Brand, shakin' the shingles. Check him out here. Buy this man's music. Catch him live.
Gnawbone Reviewed in Lucid Culture - July 7, 2009
Gnawbone Reviewed in Lucid Culture
The new album, Gnawbone, receives its first full review from the mighty Alan Young in Lucid Culture. Thanks, Lucid Culture!
http://lucidculture.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/cd-review-will-scott-gnawbone/
CD Review: Will Scott – Gnawbone
July 7, 2009 · Leave a Comment
This is a roughhewn, somewhat menacing album. Vocally, Will Scott is a casual, soulful presence. He’s got a big voice that fills the space here comfortably – he knows he doesn’t have to work too hard to make his point, and he doesn’t. Likewise, his guitar playing is terse, with a bite. Scott comes out of the Mississippi hill country school of blues playing, continuing the tradition that Junior Kimbrough, T-Model Ford and R.L. Burnside kept alive for so long. It’s a literally mesmerizing style, with long, improvisational songs that go on for minutes on end, frequently without a single chord change. Scott puts his own individual stamp on it, along with several considerably successful ventures into country. Christopher “Preacher Boy†Watkins’ production is marvelously oldschool, vocals up front, guitars and then the rest of the band a little further back in the mix like an old vinyl record. With sparse, tasteful cameos from the Be Good Tanyas’ Samantha Parton, Jolie Holland and Jan Bell along with Preacher Boy on a multitude of instruments, this was made for late-night listening.
The cd opens with the growling psychedelic Americana of Jack’s Defeat Creek, a murky, genre-blending success. The title track, a sarcastic chronicle about several big bullshitters bears Scott’s signature hill country stamp: it could go on for twice as long as it does and that wouldn’t hurt a bit. Make Her Love Me layers acoustic and electric guitars eerily in the background, with a wild, noisy, all-too-brief noise guitar solo making a particularly imaginative crescendo.
Lazy Summertime blends slow swinging 70s style outlaw country with a more rustic Tom Waits vibe. Country Soil reverts to hypnotic blues, like Wayfaring Stranger as Country Joe & the Fish might have done it if they’d been able to handle their drugs a little better With its subtle gospel inflections, Louisiana Lullaby would be perfectly at home on a vintage Waylon Jennings lp.The defiant Paper Match has some neatly intricate bluegrass-inflected twelve string work coming out of the chorus along with some fluidly potent upright bass from Jim Whitney. Of the rest of the tracks, there’s a swing blues, a fast Waits-ish number, a dark, rustic spiritual and the absolutely fascinating Long Time Since, almost a dub reggae production with its haunting and hypnotic repeater-box guitar popping in and out of the mix as the rhythm section careens along. If there’s anything to criticize here, it’s that like so many other studio albums by bluesmen, it would be awfully nice to hear [fill in the blank: B.B. King, Albert Collins...Will Scott] get a chance to cut loose more here – Scott plays a mean solo. Maybe next time. In the meantime, this will help put him on the map. He just got back from UK tour, back to his more-or-less weekly Wednesday 8:30 PM gig at 68 Jay St. Bar, something you ought to see if Americana is your thing.
Will Scott's new album Gnawbone Released -- Press Release - June 2, 2009
Acclaimed New York City-based Soul-Americana and Alt. Blues artist, WILL SCOTT, releases his debut studio project entitled, “Gnawbone.†The new album includes guest performances by Jolie Holland (ANTI- Records), Samantha Parton (The Be Good Tanyas), Jan Bell (Jan Bell & The Cheap Dates, The Maybelles), and the album’s producer, Preacher Boy (Eagle Eye Cherry, Blind Pig Records).
“Gnawbone†is receiving glowing reviews from the press and fans. Martin Dowsing describes it in the London Evening Standard as “an astonishingly assured blend of sophisticated songwriting and soulful vocals… backed up by a crack team of hand-picked musicians.â€
The first two tracks show Scott’s Indiana roots. Tom-Petty-styled rocker, “Jack’s Defeat Creek,†and slide-guitar romp, “Gnawbone,†are both inspired by towns of the same names in southern Indiana. Additional highlights include “Make Her Love Me,†a funky, Junior Kimbrough-inspired groove, “Stain Lifter,†a hard-hitting song of contrition with a touch of Lanois-style production, and “Amen Corner,†a meditation on dying made heart-breaking by Jolie Holland’s devilish fiddle and the angelic backing vocals of Holland, Samantha Parton, and Jan Bell.
Known for his big, bluesy voice and distinctive guitar playing, Scott’s work has been labeled “Soul Americanaâ€--a meeting of Alt. Country and Blues with a dash of Rock and Roll. The New York Press describes his voice as “thick as blood.†His popular weekly residency in Brooklyn is hailed as “the best weekly blues show in New York†by Lucid Culture. “Gnawbone†showcases his voice and style backed by some of the country’s finest musicians including Joe Magistro on drums, Jim Whitney on upright bass, and Preacher Boy on Hammond, piano, guitar, and more.
WILL SCOTT’s energetic live performances have captivated crowds all over the US and England. He is just back from two months of touring in the UK and West Coast US and planning a CD release event in New York to be announced soon.
New Lucid Culture Review Calls Whiskey Wednesdays Best Blues Show - April 23, 2009
An excellent review of 68 Jay Street Bar shows, "Whiskey Wednesdays," from Lucid Culture, one of the top online music publications in New York. Click the header to visit Lucid Culture and leave a comment.
The best blues show of the week in New York is typically not found at one of the city’s two remaining blues bars, Terra Blues and Lucille’s. It’s pretty much every Wednesday at 68 Jay St. Bar in Dumbo, just down the hill from the York St. F train. Starting around 8, Will Scott and inventive former Sweet Lizard Illtet drummer Wylie Wirth put their own spin on Mississippi hill country blues, and to their credit, it’s pretty much impossible to tell the originals from the covers (bet on the originals - Scott is taking the style to new and exciting places without taking the soul out of it). For the uninitiated, the hill country style differentiates itself from the more laid-back Delta style in that it’s both dance music and trance music. In the work of the best-known hill country players like T-Model Ford, R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough, there aren’t a lot of chord changes, the songs often going on for seven or eight minutes, rising and falling with remarkable subtlety for music this raw and primitive-sounding.
Last night at the bar an older couple was celebrating their anniversary. Scott told the crowd that he’d known them since he “wasn’t old enough to drink, but drunk enough to raise a glass and say ‘l’chaim.’†Silence. “OK, I see what kind of demographic we have here,†Scott acknowledged, and he and his drummer launched into a haunting, relentless, hypnotic number with a plaintive Kimbrough feel. They’d opened with a swaying stomp with imaginative flourishes from Wirth, who turns his counterintuitive thumps and cymbal washes into a swipe upside your head that’ll bring you out of your reverie. Scott also added a melodic, upbeat rock feel to one of the livelier numbers, stomped his way through a dark, pounding one with a Mississippi Fred McDowell flavor as well as a few with a slide. The most ferocious of these, he said, was inspired by a dream where his grandfather admonished him to get out of the pumpkin patch.
In May, Scott is back at his home base on Wednesdays, with additional gigs at LIC Bar on May 11 and May 16 at Two Boots Brooklyn. In mid-June, he’s off on UK tour with the equally captivating Jan Bell. Watch this space for additional New York dates.
Will Scott Performing at Glastonbury Festival, 2009 - February 27, 2009
Will Scott will be performing on the Babylon Stage at this year's Glastonbury Festival in June 2009. Dates and times are pending final confirmation. This performance will be part of Will's June 2009 UK tour. See the show calendar for additional dates.
Working on Record in Aptos, CA - August 10, 2008
Thank you all for your warm and encouraging messages about the record project! I just got back from my second session in Aptos, CA, finishing all the vocals and a number of additional percussion instruments (shakers, eggs, the stolen hubcap from a 1964 Ford, the skull of an unfortunate monkey... you get the idea). Preacher Boy and Fraction are working on cleaning up some of the tracks now. After five years of work on this project, its starting to feel almost done.
The award-winning writer, performer, and producer, Preacher Boy (www.preacherboy.com), is producing the project. He gets the MVP award for being able to play damn near anything well and for his production work. He recently moved to the Santa Cruz area prompting our recordings there. Turned out to be a blessing. Found a great studio for better rates than NY.
"Fraction" is Chris Chase, engineer (on the latter part of this project, and producer on many others). He's on his way out to Boston to work for Thundering Sky Studio. Kept trying to get his dog, Quintin, to bark a bit on a track or two, but he was too shy. If yer in the Boston area, look him up (Chris or Quintin, Chris is probably easier to google). I highly, highly, recommend him whatever studio he's working.
Got a few rounds of mixing, and maybe a touch of tracking to finish still. Odd how the closer you get to finishing something, the farther away it can start to feel. But, this project seems to have a nice fire under its pale ass these days... probably due to the recent availability of funds. I'm awfully excited about the tracks. Can't wait to get it out to hear what y'all think.
Many, many, thanks for all of your support and friendship!
Review of 68 Jay Show on LucidCulture - January 17, 2008
As many of you know, I've been performing a regular juke-joing-style show in DUMBO for a few months with Wylie Wirth. The folks at LucidCulture have been kind enough to post a few reviews of our shows on their popular blog site. I have copied the most recent below for our show this past Wednesday. While the style description doesn't account for my country and americana songs and influences--we do tend to focus more on the bluesy songs for these shows--its a very, very, nice blues review.
Will Scott Live at 68 Jay Street Bar, Brooklyn, NY 1/16/08
Scott is a real find, with a very high ceiling. He's been playing Wednesdays at around 8:30 at this remarkably comfortable little corner bar for awhile now. His stock in trade is Mississippi hill country blues, which doesn't sound much like blues from the Delta: it's deceptively simple and usually very hypnotic, often set to a fast 2/4 dance beat. Because there aren't many (if any) chord changes, players color the music with subtle changes in the rhythm, accents and passing tones on the guitar. Scott has masterful command of the style. For an artist playing idiomatic music, to say that it's hard to tell the difference between his originals and his covers is high praise, and sometimes it was hard to tell. Other times it wasn't, because Scott uses the style as a springboard for his writing and adds a lot more chords (and a lot more tunefulness). Running his acoustic through a little Ampeg amp and backed by an excellent drummer with an equally good feel for this kind of music, if you closed your eyes, it was as if T-Model Ford and his sidekick Spam were holding down the beat in some rundown Mississippi shotgun shack. Except that it was really cold outside.
Scott opened with what sounded like a tribute to Junior Kimbrough, thoughtful and meandering but with considerable minor-key bite, in the late, lamented bluesman's trademark style. Most of the songs he played afterward – again, it was difficult to tell what were his and what weren't – were short and fast. Scott's fingerpicking was fiery, fast and effortless, and so were his vocals. He sings with a drawl, but like his playing, it sounds effortless and authentic, not like the legions of trust-fund children from New Jersey playing Pete's Candy Store, pretending they're from the deep South. Maybe it works for Scott because his voice is strong: he's not exactly afraid of the mic. "In case you were wondering, this show was brought to you by whiskey," he joked. He was already working on his second glass of Jameson's by the third song of his set. "It's a multinational corporation."
It's not often that we run across someone who under today's circumstances might actually be able to reach a national audience. At this point, even most indie labels are keeping nonconformist musicians at arm's length. But there always seems to be an audience for the blues, even if it barely qualifies as blues and it's played by beerbellied fifty-year-olds from Westchester who think Eric Clapton is a bluesman. Being white, Scott could probably make a living introducing sedate suburban audiences to the music he loves so much, for $25 a ticket, at places too fearful to book someone like, say, R.L. Burnside. He'd be perfect on that bill coming up at the Town Hall next month: he's a whole lot more interesting than Cephas and Wiggins. When he moves on to that sort of thing, let's hope he doesn't forget he got his start in New York playing a midweek residency at a tiny, laid-back little place in Dumbo. That's where he is for the moment. You should see him sometime.
Holidays and Video Work with Joshua Coleman and MerciMedia - December 26, 2007
First of all, I hope y'all had a great holiday season! I stayed in NY to work on a couple of projects and spent Christmas Eve drinking wine with alt-blues and americana pioneer Preacher Boy (www.preacherboy.com), award-winning alt-country artist, Jan Bell (www.janbellmusic.com), and sound engineer Josua Coleman (ESPN, et al). Preach also happens to be a bit of a wine expert, making the event all the more enjoyable for everyone.
On the music front, Wylie Wirth and I have been working on a series of video shoots with Vivek Sharma of MerciMedia in the past few months. The end product will be at least one live song video, and hopefully a live DVD and album song video (when the album is finished). The live video is planned for submission to CurrentTV and Warner Nashville.
Joshua Coleman has been doing the live sound recording to be synched to the video. We started mixing two days ago and the results so far are fantastic! I can't wait to get them out there.
Thank you all for your friendship and support!
All of my best wishes,
Will
Jalopy Opry--WFMU Benefit, Nov. 4, Sunday - November 2, 2007
I will be performing a set this Sunday, Nov. 4, at Jalopy in Red Hook,
Brooklyn, as part of the "Jalopy Opry" benefit for WFMU's Old Time
New. The show is to be recorded live for later broadcast on Old Time
New.
Old Time New is one of my favorite radio shows. They play everything
from Son House to the Carter Family. That's right, both kinds of
music, Blues AND Country and quite a bit of the in between, the
before, and the after. Shows generally feature a deep-rooted
contemporary artist performing live in the studio. Tune in sometime if
you can, if you can't there are lots of archived shows at
THE JALOPY OPRY -- A Benefit for WFMU's 'Old Time New'
Starring: Mamie Minch, Will Scott, Austin Hughes and Philippa
Thompson, Hilary Hawke, Katy Rose Cox, Shotgun Party (from Austin,
TX), and Jan Bell - with Kings County Opry host Dock Oscar!
We'll be doing this in old-time live radio format, each artist will play about a 20-25 minute set.
Opry Art Opening from 6 until 8 P.M. features the paintings of Tanya
Rynd.
Music performance and recording begin promptly at 8:00 p.m. If you're
running late, please come in quietly... but do still come.
Suggested donation: $10
About Jalopy:
Jalopy, one of the classier things to appear in Brooklyn of late, is
a bar, performance space, music venue, music school, music store, art
gallery and more. "The stage is intimate, with drooping velvet
curtains, brick walls and aged tin ceilings. Designed to showcase the
talents of an eclectic array of performances, irreverent home-made
pews together with scattered folding chairs allows Jalopy to transform
for each event." Jalopy is fast becoming one of the top listening
rooms in Brooklyn for roots and folk music. They also do fine work on acoustic intruments if you're in need.
Venue Address: 315 Columbia St. in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
Venue Phone: 718-395-3214
Venue Website: http://www.jalopy.biz
Train Directions: F or G train to Carroll St. (first car if coming
from North/West). Walk 1 block up Smith St to 1st Place. Make left.
Walk down past highway to Columbia St. Make left to 315 Columbia. See http://www.jalopy.biz/directions.php for a handy map.
Heading back to the Ozarks--On Tour in Arkansas Next Week - October 5, 2007
I'm heading back down to Arkansas next week for a few shows. The main one will be at Pied Piper Pub/The Cathouse in Eureka Springs for their folk festival next Friday, Oct. 12.
Keep an eye out that week too for one of my favorite alt.-country/bluegrass bands, The Maybelles (featuring Jan Bell, Melissa Carper, and Katie "Rose" Cox).
