Tag: Marisa Anderson

BGS 5+5: Charlie Parr

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Artist: Charlie Parr
Hometown: Duluth, Minnesota
Latest album: Charlie Parr
Personal nicknames: Jeff, my actual first name. My mom calls me Jeff.

Which artist has influenced you the most … and how?

Koerner, Ray & Glover have probably had the biggest impact on me as a musician, and it’s hard to put into words exactly how. When I moved to Minneapolis in the ’80s there was so much amazing music everywhere you looked and each scene had a certain vibe to it, from jazz, funk, the beginning of whatever they were calling alt-country then, punk, hardcore to the incredibly unique West Bank folk/blues scene. I loved it all, but I lived on the West Bank and that sound that K,R&G made either together or in their parts (K and/or R and/or G) changed my life.

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

I’ve been lucky to have had mostly good and great experiences performing; there are so many nights that stand out it’s hard to say I have a favorite. This summer an audience in Bozeman, Montana, threw flowers on stage after my set and it really made me happy. Normally I just want to play and that’s the primary mover, but when I feel like an audience likes what I’ve done and responds with that kind of love it’s just about the most amazing thing I’ve ever felt.

What other art forms — literature, film, dance, painting, etc — inform your music?

I read a lot, mostly novels and short stories, some history and biographies, a little philosophy, and that all goes into the pot. I go to galleries when I can, and occasionally see a film, but not as often as I’d like. Everything tends to influence the music.

What rituals do you have, either in the studio or before a show?

I drink a little coffee, walk a little if there’s time and room, or at least pace. I like to warm up on the guitar if there’s a place to do that. I also really like spending time in the venue, I like to see who else is playing and meet some folks who came to the show.

Which elements of nature do you spend the most time with and how do those impact your work?

I live near Lake Superior, which is a powerful force up here for everyone, and I really like getting to go walking near the lake. When I’m on the road and there’s time I like to walk wherever there’s water; it grounds me and gives me a sense of balance.

Marisa Anderson, ‘House Carpenter/See That My Grave Is Kept Clean

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With "House Carpenter/See That My Grave Is Kept Clean," Anderson weaves together two traditional songs into a new, enchanting composition. She arrived at the song after she was asked to participate in a concert that celebrated the Anthology of American Folk Music, the seminal six-LP compilation of American music put together by Harry Smith that was first released in 1952. Her task was to present an original arrangement from a song out of the Anthology, but she ended up picking two tunes instead of one.

"I knew I wanted to play 'House Carpenter' and, in researching the song, I realized I wanted to contextualize it in a way that was meaningful to me. I played my way through many of the songs on the Anthology and decided that 'See That My Grave Is Kept Clean' was the best match for my intention. Going from one song to the next also offers a  rhythmic challenge that keeps me interested," she explains.

You might recognize "House Carpenter," an old ballad with English roots that's been done many times over (including by Nickel Creek), while "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" was written by famed bluesman Blind Lemon Jefferson. Anderson's rhythm twists and turns with her fleet picking, and you'll need a few listens to pick up on all the intricacies of her playing.

Anderson's unified take on these tunes appears on a new split record that she has with another guitar wizard, Asheville's own Tashi Dorji. You can pick it up via Footfalls Records now.