CASEY NEILL
ìCASEY NEILLî
apr 1019 * available on CD only
Casey Neill is a rough-edged rocker with a passion for music from deep in the
traditional vein. Influenced by the rambunctiousness of traditional Irish
music, his songs range from melodic ballads to celebrations of wildness. With
a passion for the environment, strong communities, and social justice, he is a
songwriter and performer of the same spirit as Billy Bragg and Dick Gaughan,
and a carrier of the
traditions of Pete Seeger and Phil Ochs.
"Casey Neill," Neill's new CD, is, in his words, a "personal take on political
music." The album, which is his first for Appleseed Recordings, features 10
original songs and a cover of Ewan MacColl's "Manchester Rambler." Tucked at
the end is an incisive hidden track called "Taking Back the Music." It's a
pointed and barbed rock/punk rap that includes one of the most quotable lines
we've heard in a long time: "Beavis and Butthead is a self-fulfilling
prophecy." Recorded in analog at Crow Studios in Seattle, Casey Neill features
the playing of upright bassist Cary Black, Irish fiddler Martin Hayes, Hanz
Araki of Celt-rockers the Paperboys on flute and whistle, hand percussionist
Dave White, guitar player (and tunesmith) extraordinaire Jim Page, and others
backing up Casey's songs. Zak Borden co-produced the disc, and also adds
octave mandolin, queca, bodhran, and mandolin to the project. The arrangements
range from slow acoustic ballads, to rowdy rock íní reel with a full band.
While the songs are contemporary originals, they are heavily influenced by the
sound, melodies, and emotion of traditional music. Neill's guitar playing
travels from percussive attack to slow finger style, with the occasional
flatpickin' of a fiddle tune. The most striking element of this eponymous CD
are Neill's gritty vocals. They are influenced by training in the ornamental
Irish sean-nos (old style) singing, and his voice indeed sounds like it comes
from another place and time.
Casey Neill follows on the heels of "Riffraff," an album that earned Neill a
lot of attention. The music on Riffraff ranges from driving rock to Celtic
influenced ballads to alternative country, with Neill's gritty voice and
acoustic guitar work at the center of it all. Acoustic instruments such as
fiddle, upright bass, banjo and mandolin, combine with distorted guitars and
power pop influenced drumming. Members of notable bands the Walkabouts,
Treepeople, and Rumors of the Big Wave, contributed to the project.
Neill is also featured on Appleseed Recordings' new Pete Seeger celebration
album--"Where Have All the Flowers Gone: The Songs of Pete Seeger." Not
surprisingly, Neill performs "Old Father Hudson" and "Sailing Down My Dirty
Stream," two of Seegerís songs about the environmental abuse of New York's
Hudson River. Of Neill's performance of these songs, Seeger wrote "To me,
Casey's interpretation is one of the best; I feel the passion in his singing."
In the tradition of great troubadours like Seeger, Neill tours constantly
across the United States and Canada, playing festivals, universities,
coffeehouses, and rock clubs. He has shared billing with Edie Brickell, Spirit
of the West, Ani DiFranco, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Sarah McLachlan, as well
as folk, rap, and hardcore bands. With his generation-crossing music, his
passion, and his rockin' sound, he is quickly building a very large and
dedicated following.
"Make no mistake, Neill's music isn't for foot tapping. The frenzied beats
often inspire intense moshing, despite the fact that he plays totally
acoustic."
--Eureka Times Standard
"Pogues fans should definitely check out Casey Neill. He's got that same raw
Celtic energy, plus a sort of Seattle twist."
óHear Music
For more information contact: Josh Michaell -- 415-453-9356 --
APPLETWANG@aol.com
or Jim Musselman -- 601-701-5755 -- folkradicl@aol.com
Appleseed Recordings * P.O. Box 2593 * West Chester, PA 19380 * 610-701-5755 *
610-701-9599 (fax)