PAT MACDONALD: In the Red Room

pat mAcdonald

In the Red Room

© 2004 pat mAcdonald (634479042713)

pat mAcdonald's style is the lovechild of narcotic rock and electric stomp boogie ala John Lee Hooker: low-tuned guitar, edgy harmonica, home-made stomp board, sly lyrics and vocals that are "at once evil and angelic." This is his first live solo CD

notes

THIS CD NOW AVAILABLE HERE: http://cdbaby.com/cd/patmacdonald2

PAT MACDONALD SPEAKS OF "IN THE RED ROOM"
(excerpt from the liner notes)

"The Red Room is a corner bar in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, a couple blocks from Katherine's mom's, where we live in the U.S.

Harley Junior (a.k.a. "H" or "Nick") was kind enough to open it on a Sunday and give us the run of the place, so we moved aside the pool table, set up a P.A. and invited a few friends to drop by later that night.

Everything on this disk was played and recorded that day, February 1st, 2004, between 6pm and 2am closing time - just me, my guitar, my foot and harmonica, live with no overdubs.

Surviving my cruel process of elimination, a lucky thirteen (eight new originals, three new versions, and a couple covers) made it to this disc. The production cost was about $200, including 3 rooms at the Holiday Motel and a $50 bar tab.

I thank everyone who so generously contributed their time and equipment, especially Chris Aaron, H, the Red Room staff, recording engineers Dave Kent and Don Jackovich, mastering engineers Plopper and Vicarious Bliss. Thanks also to Connie for the use of her house, her daughter and so much more, Katherine for more than i can even express, Peter for his analog delay, Jessica, both Jeffs, Zack, Richard, Jim, Tim, Dylan, Hillel, Moolay Management and all who cheered me on and helped load out at 3am."


PAT MACDONALD: THE TROUBADOR OF STOMP

From PERFORMERMAG.COM
http://www.performermag.com/wcprofile-3.php
by Jason Broome

"I've always been drawn to the lower notes on the guitar," says Macdonald when questioned about his sound. His trademark is a unique dirtch of dark and murky blues boogie and sex-swamp. He is the epitome of an old school one man show with his custom made boot stomp box, electric semi-hollow guitar and a voice that is at once angelic and evil.

The heart stop of a subwoofer and the sometimes backing beauty and voice of his companion Katherine aid in the haunt and the "spooky modal mountain melodies" of his music. He spent hours in his room as a teenager listening and playing to John Lee Hooker which is evident in the way he approaches sound and emotion. After seeing Macdonald solo, it is easy to see how other instruments might just get in the way of the boogie spook and feelings he nails.

It is a feat to stand out amongst a sea of mediocre singer/songwriters. Pat does this easily and even more so when he is sandwiched between standard rock formats. His sound is an easy lay in any environment, finding comfort in a roadhouse or music hall. His lyrics are strong and the feeling comes through beautifully in the nakedness of the solo delivery. There is a scent of the sweet and dangerous, of the sexy and vulnerable. This is no surprise hearing Pat talk about music. "Music is ethereal sex, like having sex in the air." Or how he describes the meeting of mind and body in his songwriting. "Song writing can be consciously putting complex thoughts into metaphor, but if you are not expressing the horny human animal part of you then the thoughts get in the way of the feeling. My favorite music has both going on, when the two parts of human nature find harmony."

Listening to a Pat Macdonald record, it becomes clear he practices what he preaches. His songs get in your head and you are forced to put his record on, not because you can't get it out of your head, but because you ache to hear the real thing again. His studio work in particular does an excellent job of defining the subtle nuance the mood and sway of emotion in song. The production aids in this definition of mood and Pat's records have the added blessing of John Parish (P.J. Harvey, Eels, Sparklehorse) as producer and sometimes player his studio ventures.

Macdonald has written songs for a long list of characters including Cher and Aerosmith but you wouldn't know it from talking to him. With the exception of his new live record, In The Red Room, which is available on CD Baby, you might have to search to find his music. It is out there, Pat claims you can find "Sleeps With His Guitar" on Ebay sometimes, but some of his records are only available in Europe. It is well worth the hunt however, since each album transmits a different voice. Most obviously, last year's release of "Strange Love, PM Does DM", an entire acoustic album of Depeche Mode songs. His new live album will give you the best overview of his live style and song writing spunk, but Begging Her Graces is also worth a listen. It weaves a variety of genres all the while holding true to the strength of the songs.

Pat has the salt and pause of an elder statesmen when he speaks about his philosophy of music and life. They seem to him inextricably intertwined. Yet, for someone so passionate about his beliefs and ideas he seems overtly nonjudgmental about how others live their lives.

When asked about his denial of over a million dollars in advertising, he makes a point to state that his own opinions on the subject should never condemn anyone else in their choices. He speaks as a man who has found his place on the complex see-saw of music and promotion and is content to let others find their own way. "Everyone has to find their comfort zone," he says, "it is harder and harder for musicians to make a living these days... the meshing of commercialism and music is not the death of art. Music adds a bit of magic to a product being sold, but for me it robs some magic from the music. I made a promise to myself a long time ago. It's good to keep promises you make to yourself." -JB

reviews

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  • Those not in tune with where Macdonald is driving them
    author: CG Laes

    All the reviews are true....the good ones. Pat MacDonald stripped down in a corner bar. Performing (what's become his style) of raw americana the way it is meant to be. Those not in tune with where MacDonald is driving them will be pleasantly surprised by the destination.

  • there is a reason there is a wait
    author: Ears A Mule

    In the middle of a barren desert stands a man playing alone. Only the few lucky travelers on lonely highway nine get to hear the haunting harmonica and catchy guitar riffs. Those who dare bare the heat and isolation get to hear lyrics of hope from the cynic inside us all.

  • Great, beginning to end.
    author: Joe Robertson

    Without a doubt one of the greatest of today. Awesome album - shows that he can do just about everything!

  • WOW ! I love every song this guy writes
    author: Chris Aaron

    Most CD's today have a couple of good tunes on them, but all the song on IN THE RED ROOM are WAY ABOVE AVERAGE***** Soulful,Real Music,that makes me want to stomp my foot and sing along!

  • 10 words? hell no
    author: Alex

    i remember the day i stumbled upon pat macdonald's myspace page, what a day. i played through those four songs for about an hour and at that time i knew i needed the cd. i got my brother to let me use his paypal account and ordered the cd right away. i was out of town when it came, but when i got home i got in my car and drove for a half hour just to get the full cd effect. good cd, great service A+... i also like the letter it came with "specially packaged" and what not

  • provides that 'just what i needed' feeling
    author: steve el

    you know that feeling? ...when you've stumbled into some venue, feeling better than you remembered you could, and some musician comes out, and sounds better and hipper than anything in your entire cd collection? Well, that's the feeling i get whenever i listen to this cd. thanks pat.

  • As good as his best.
    author: Leslie Gerber

    I played this CD every day for a week and it's still not put away on the shelf. "Pat MacDonald Sleeps With His Guitar" is one of my favorite albums ever. This one is amazingly different (more aggressive, for one thing) but just as good. Previously I've been most impressed by MacDonald's songwriting, but here the solo performances are also amazing.

  • Good, raw and raucous!
    author: marvwriter

    I miss Timbuk3, but it's good to know that Pat M hasn't lost his touch. This CD proves it. Just wish he were back in Texas, although he probably doesn't. Great raw sound, but very rhythmic and listenable. Makes you feel like you were there. Pat hasn't lost his knack for catchy lyrics either. If you ever tour Texas again, Pat, please come to Forgetaboutit in Houston.

  • author: Xavier

    What a sound ! Difficult to believe this is just one man (well, not just a man, but a very great artist) and his foot stomp. Red Roost Romp is so good that I hardly can't stop listening to it. Hope to see the man soon back in Belgium. Een dikke proficiat !

  • author: frank frankiebee

    drive in is so good I had to buy the album! come on baby get out of my lane!

  • This stuff is great!
    author: Reviewer Extrodinarre

    Pat's just the shit. And this cd is nothing less than what we've all come to expect from this amazing singer/songwriter. It's a huge testimonial to his enormous wealth of talent. Not many other musicians can do what Pat can do with so little. He's got it.

  • By far, the best singer/song writer in the last 20 years
    author: Bernard Parrish

    Ever since the first riff from Life is Hard, I have been buying Timbuk3's CD's. Hated to see them break up. They were a breath of fresh air, that, for some reason, the public just didn't get. I just don't know. But, I continue to buy Pat's CD's. I think he is brilliant, and true to his craft. His lyrics are so crisp, so true. Of course, I do his songs at gigs, I have the same range as he, so it's really cool. Would love to see him live.

  • author: Alex Steininger, CD Baby

    Channeling early blues legends, but modernizing the sound they pour into his soul, neo-blues rocker Pat MacDonald delivers a record that brings wit, style, and good ol' rock 'n' roll to the blues and Americana genres. Recorded entirely live, there is no studio trickery or Pro-Tools walls to hide behind here. This is pure, lively, in-your-face music comprised only of a voice, an electric guitar, and a stomp board, ensuring an album that is as real as someone playing in front of you. It's a fiery, lively, stomping collection of thirteen tracks that will turn up the heat and make you want to groove.

  • UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
    author: Anna

    complete poetry!!!

  • WOW - once again
    author: no one important

    once again another hit - try this if you're sick of hearing the same old thing and want to try something different

  • 100% true
    author: P. G

    dark and lovely at the same time...one of the best to come out this year!

  • pat macd is god
    author: vicarious bliss & helene

    sooooo goooood we're wet...

  • Raw, cool, bad ass guitar plus great songs
    author: guitarina

    A singer songwriter record with really raw, cool and bad ass guitar... It catches his BIG live sound better than any of his other albums, and it has a lot of really good new songs as well. The songwriting is wry, honest, moving, all the good stuff Pat MacDonald is known for. This rekkid is very highly muchly recommended.

  • It's amazing to think that all this sound came out of just one guy
    author: Christie Weber

    Not a sell out at all- refreshing to hear. This CD is pure, original and from the heart - something which seeems to be lacking in original music today. I Can't believe all this sound came from just one guy!

  • one of his best
    author: lizzief

    pat macdonald - in his purest form - makes you wish you were there

  • ass kicking good

    kick ass good!

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