The Golden Hour
-
Artist:
-
Album:
-
Track:
Firewater is a band founded by Tod Ashley in 1995. He describes them as a "wedding band gone wrong".
After Tod left his previous group, Cop Shoot Cop, he quickly regrouped and formed Firewater to explore the styles of music Cop Shoot Cop had only hinted at, including klezmer, cabaret, ska, jazz, and gypsy forms. More than one source described the original Firewater lineup as an "indie rock supergroup", based on members such as Duane Denison of the Jesus Lizard, Yuval Gabay of Soul Coughing, Jennifer Charles of Elysian Fields, and Hahn Rowe of Foetus. This original lineup proved unable to tour, and Tod recruited new musicians for the band's first tour. While the lineup has changed over the years, with many different musicians appearing on different albums and tours, Tod remains the singer, songwriter, and bassist of Firewater.
On record, they are very much the product of singer-songwriter Tod Ashley, who dresses up his Tom Waits-esque down 'n' out tales with diverse instrumentation from across the globe, particularly the Middle East and Asia. If Ashley's songs weren't so lyrically detailed and full of hooks, if he hadn't spent much of the last few years in some of the countries he drew musical inspiration from, those exotic frills would come off as nothing more than the dabblings of a dilettante. But onstage, whatever musicians accompany Ashley to comprise Firewater's lineup at the moment bring his songs to exhilarating life, turning his acerbic, sad-sack musings into celebratory anthems.Tod is in the music scene because he has a passion for making music. He doesn't pander to anyone's tastes except his own. How can you not like his stuff!
Comments (12)
thanks for the introduction ... the only song I'd ever heard from them was Borneo. I really like 3 legged dog ALOT!! :)
I'm with you on that - love the opening lines. I can sure relate :-)
As usual, your post is well-written. "Lyrically detailed and full of hooks" is certainly true here, and I'm now a convert. There's nothing not to like.
I have nothing to add but a big
AMEN!
...and I'll add another Amen to that....not only is the music foot stompin fun, but the lyrics are very witty!
Nice write up, good job.
Liked it. So..what is a wedding band gone RIGHT? One immediately after I've paid a chainsaw visit?
Sounds like a reasonable assumption to me :D
Go on and squeeze that throttle, big boy.
Excellent write up and introduction of Firewater. A fun song with an unusual sound.
Interesting stuff.
Interesting stuff.