The Dispatch: a Southpaw blog

SHANNON MCNALLY

www.shannonmcnally.com / www.myspace.com/shannonmcnally / www.sonicbids.com/shannonmcnally

Shannon McNally was born and raised on Long Island, New York but has spent most of her adult life traveling and living all over North America. After graduating college with a degree in Religious Anthropology she followed Los Lobos out to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. She quickly signed with Perry Watts-Russell to Capitol Records/ EMI.

Rolling Stone Magazine gave her debut album released in January of 2002, Jukebox Sparrows (Capitol Records), 3 1/2 stars. Jukebox Sparrows also spawned the AAA radio hit “Now That I Know,” which appeared on the ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ soundtrack. She teamed up with Ryan Adams’ sideman Neal Casal around the same time for a collabrative project called ‘Ran On Pure Lightening’. Her song “Pale Moon” from was picked up by Putamayo Records as the first track on their American Folk Album.

In 2000 she moved to New Orleans. ‘The city summoned me.  It called me into it’s depths and it devoured me’.  It was here that her writing’s innate earthy-end-of-the-world-defiance took on a weight and pathos which ultimately defined the mood and message of her 2005 release ‘Geronimo’ on Back Porch Records (EMI).  Produced by Charlie Sexton, the record got a lot of strong support at AAA radio and on Satelite Radio. McNally toured extensively behind it from 2005-2007, doing national tours with a band and as a solo performer.  During this time she also recorded a live record called ‘North American Ghost Music’ as well as a second album with long time friend and producer Charlie Sexton called ‘South Side Sessions’.

Unable to return to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina Shannon settled into North Mississippi with her husband and daughter. Her newest project is called ‘Coldwater’.  It was recorded with Jim Dickinson at his Zebra Ranch Studio just before his passing.  The record features Shannon’s regular touring band called Hot Sauce; they are Jake Fussell, Eric Deaton and Wallace Lester.

McNally has toured and done shows with Willie Nelson, Stevie Nicks, John Mellencamp, Charlie Sexton, Son Volt, Ryan Adams, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Derek Trucks, Rail Road Earth, Rufus Wainwright, Levon Helm and Lou Reed. She has appeared on NPR, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Mountain Stage and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  Her voice has appeared on recordings by Jim Dickinson, Mac Rebennack, John Hiatt, Rufus Wainwright, Hal Wilner, Wardell Quezergue and Son Volt among others.

HEY BATTLEFIELD

“Sounding like a mix between Bob Dylan and Joe Strummer, albeit with more irony, singer/guitarist Jason Rossi’s perfunctory detached charm, displaying just enough to avoid any potential eye rolling. The music is largely held down by drummer Michael Scheideler who kept the band afloat with a moving pulse that unexpectedly ushered subtle fills into the air.” – Brooklyn Vegan

“Hey Battlefield with percussive gusto  jazz-drummer Michael Scheideler delivers the tempo from behind the beat pulpit, launching the band’s blues /rock sound. The combination of jazzy fills and nuanced flare accents lead singers Jason Rossi’s lyrical style, and blends well with Tyler Krupsky’s driving bass lines. Hey Battlefield, though still new on the scene, should turn some heads”. - Incontinental Breakfast

TANGIERS BLUES BAND

The Tangiers Blues Band is all about … drinks. The Band started many years ago as post-Thanksgiving therapy [what would give one the blues more than a meal with your entire family?]. The original jam session consisted of Chris, Huey, King, Dave and Danny, joined by Mick Jones [Foreigner], Patty Smythe [Scandal] and John McEnroe [7 time Grand Slam Champion, and he plays guitar!]. After that night, da boys knew they had something special.

The band added “Lonesome” Dave on bass and “Sneaky” Pete ..boards and began gigging around New York at such places as Shine, Joe’s Pub and the Hog Pit. Whether it was playing traditional blues like “Stormy Monday” or down-dating a modern classic like “My Sharona” into a Mississippi blues stomp, their notoriety grew as did their legendary bar tabs. They started a Monday night residency as the house band at Amy Sacco’s Lot 61, playing for such fans as Bono, Gwen Stefani, Michael Stipe, Bruce Willis, Gavin DeGraw and Lars Ulrich. Bruce, Gavin and Lars were inspired enough to get up and jam with the band.

When Michael and I started Dig Deeper two years ago, it was with a goal of booking our soul heroes of the 1960s and 1970s, artists who haven’t performed in town in 20-40 years – an endeavor we took on because nobody else was doing it. So why exactly are we breaking rank and bringing a contemporary band from Milwaukee to town for our April 24 show?

We’ve been friends with Andy Noble for a good while, a fellow soul and funk record obsessive whose knowledge about the genre would fill volumes. We remember when he mentioned that he was starting a soul group and were intrigued. Then we remember when he shared a recording of what would be the first Kings Go Forth single (released on 45rpm vinyl, naturally), and were blown away.

Simultaneously incendiary and uplifting with the sonic lineage of the best of Curtis Mayfield, we knew even before it was released that “One Day” would be an instant classic. Since then, “One Day” on their own Mr. C’s label sold out the initial pressing the day the band put it on sale, and since then has regularly traded hands amongst DJs and collectors for $150. It’s been a regular spin in our DJ sets to the joy of the post-show dancefloor at Dig Deeper.

But what about bringing the band themselves to NYC? When would we get a taste of the band’s fiery live performances? I guess that is what makes this a classic Dig Deeper performance – imagine the challenge of coordinating bringing a 10 piece band, most of whose members have regular day jobs, halfway across the country…would it ever happen?

Then we got lucky – coincidently as we were planning our 2010 season, Andy mentioned that their debut album on Luaka Bop “The outsiders are back” would be coming out the week of our April Dig Deeper, and a mini tour came together – the band’s very first in NYC, and also their first outside the Midwest.

Our usual once in a lifetime show? So far, yes. But let’s hope this is just the start for Kings Go Forth. We think you’ll be hearing a lot more from them in the years to come.

Kings Go Forth will be playing an early and a late set on April 24. By the way, if you were wondering, that is indeed Mr. Robinson starring in Kings Go Forth’s “One Day” video: