The Groanbox Boys
Smokestack Trilogy
© 2006 Groanbox Music (634479322099)
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Eclectic foot stompin', boot shakin', claw hammerin', box pumpin', sweat-drippin'-from-the-ceiling American folk and blues
tracks
- 1 Train Take My Pain Away
- 2 Sea Bone Howl
- 3 Hobo Heaven
- 4 Mount Pleasant Rooftop (At Dusk)
- 5 Harefield Hospital Rag
- 6 Lonesome Traveller
- 7 Home Again
- 8 Juliette Red Dress
- 9 Wham Bam
- 10 Harefield Hospital Special
- 11 Broken Down Bolivian Blues
- 12 Last Call
- 13 Bygone Era
- 14 I'm Mississippi Bound
- 15 Harefield Hospital Lament
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notes
The Groanbox Boys are the American duo, Cory Seznec and Michael Ward-Bergeman. The two play their own original brand of foot-stompin’, sweat-drippin’-from-the-ceiling old time blues, folk, rags, and minstrel songs on accordion, acoustic guitar, banjo (gourd and open-backed), piano, harmonica and odd pieces of percussion including the self-made "freedom boot".
At the core of the ‘Groanbox ethos’ is a desire to play stylistically like musicians of the early twentieth century, but also do precisely what they did: play folk music their own way, putting their hearts and souls into it and all their idiosyncrasies as well!
Smokestack Trilogy was recorded in a 1930s art deco concert hall in Harefield Hospital, which is nestled in the English countryside an hour and half outside London. Several three-day trips from London out to the hospital were made accompanied by sound designer, The Amazing Rolo. Seldom used, the hall's haunting, vestigial quality was deeply inspiring to them for what it symbolized: a glimpse into a seemingly bygone era that is, like the music they play, still very much alive. So, the three stalwart chaps set up camp at Harefield, consumed much caffeine, performed many handstands, filmed some spoofs on Broadway musicals, slept on beds made of conference chairs, and somehow managed to record a bunch of tunes.
The fifteen songs on the album grew out of the 'Groanbox spirit', which is incarnated in their mystical freedom boot and channeled through Cory and Michael, mere vessels of this strange force. Fourteen of the tracks are original compositions containing tales of trains, sea captains with scurvy, suicide, African princesses, the yearning for home, love vs. lust from the viewpoint of a convicted criminal facing a life sentence, and Bolivian fauna. The three short 'Harefield' songs were composed on the spot, two of which feature the beautifully out of tune antique upright piano abandoned backstage. The 'cover' track, "I'm Mississippi Bound" by the Delmore Brothers, was chosen for its simple, ethereal beauty, and was recorded at 4 am. If you listen closely, you can hear birds chirping.
reviews
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smokestack trilogy
author: joanneI saw you guys at the Sweeps festival in Rochester. I didnt buy your album as i was eagerly awaiting the superb mike west and miss katie, As soon as i got home i got onto cd baby and an album was dispatched pronto! I absolutely love this album and currently have hobo heaven on my lips and yes, i can hear the birdies on track 14,
Smokestack Trilogy
author: James BreckenridgeGreat album. Heard a track on the radio, then just had to find out more and buy it, glad I did.
Yeah Baby!
author: Leodean.comThank you guys, I love all of these tunes and I extra love the real-ness of it all. Buy it....now...ya hear?!
awesome music
author: Claireyes... giant congrats from France... this music swings a lot and gives pure joy merci et bravo
You can't lose on this one !!!
author: kickingmuleThis CD is a MUST !!! If you don't have it. Get It ! I'm a collector of old Blues, Gospel and other Folklore. I know what I'm talking about, The Groanbox Boys gives You the right feeling. The CD-Babes gives You that, with low price and certain delivery. I live in Scandinavia, so what more to say ! Buy NOW !!!
- author: Smokestack Trilogy
As a budding young clawhammer banjo player of 65 years, this one hits the spot.