MUSIC REVIEWS
Music Reviews - Bard of Ely
by Ken Mowery
Good writing has a transcendent quality and possesses the power
to transport through time and mindset. Even if it is done purely
for the sake of entertainment, good writing enables us to see
and experience life from vantage points much different than
our own. Steve Andrews (aka The Bard of Ely) offers a complex
and varied array of songs that are in short "good writing".
The Bard of Ely carries listeners through various paradigms
that range from the earthy and humorous musings of "You're
A Liar, Nicky Wire" and the bravado spoof "Superhero"
to "other- worldly" expositions like "For Peter
& for Paul" and "Priest of the Venusians".
Perhaps the true heart, soul and conscience of The Bard Of Ely
find clearest expression in "commentary" songs like
"The Hundredth Monkey v The Beast" and "Insect
Inside" or the philosophical proclamation "Sound of
One".
As you read Steve's responses to the CreatorsWeb Interview questions
below you will see that he sites the influences of songwriters
like Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens and Neil Young. You will recognize
their musical and spiritual presence in The Bard of Ely tracks
as you listen.
Check it out for free at: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/2/bardofelymusic.htm
****************************
Register Your Band For A CreatorsWeb Review and Interview
http://creatorsweb.com/promotionservice.htm
*****************************
Advertise On Over 100 Entertainment And Art Related Websites
http://www.creatorsweb.com/webs optenplace/rotation.htm
******************************
Music Style And Audience
How do you classify your music?
I don't! If asked I say I write songs. I am always fascinated
finding out what other people make of my songs but for me I
feel that a song is basically a set of words, the lyrics, and
a tune. I write my words first and then find a tune on the guitar
and that is the basic song but how it turns out later is another
matter. All songs are open to being arranged differently and
can be given different production. They all start out as words
and music and in my own creative process I write the lyrics
first, so in the beginning was the word!
Do you target a specific audience? If so, who?
Not really, I just sing my songs and if people like them then
I consider that to that degree I have been successful as an
artist. I do find I get a better reaction from rock fans rather
than 'folkies' though.
What performance venues are you currently exploring?
Mainly festivals. I have been the compere for the Avalon Stage
at Glastonbury Festival for the last 2 years, as well as playing
there, and followed this with doing the same at It's Jo and
Danny's Green Man Festival in Brecon.
Musical Instruments - Recording - Computer Hardware - Software
What musical instruments do you play?
Guitar and harmonica, keyboards, penny whistle and Jew's harp
enough to have used them on recordings. Kazoo too but that is
so simple it doesn't really count as 'playing.' I regard my
vocals as an instrument as well.
Do you record in a home studio?
I haven't got one, only Cool Edit and a microphone but I have
used the home-studios of friends.
What equipment and software do you use?
Various. It all depends on what is available. I have various
guitars but I mainly use a semi-acoustic Fleetwood jumbo for
practice and gigging. The only computer music software I have
used myself is Cool Edit. I must confess that I don't know much
about creating digital music and am much happier with a guitar
and mic. This doesn't stop me collaborating with other musicians
online who are skilled with this new technology, and in fact
I have a song called 'Electric Bard,' which is a 3-way collaboration
between myself and EXLectiX from America and Catherine Duc from
Australia. I wrote the words and did the vocals and my collaborators
created the music and produced it. Also, the highly talented
musician, Ed Drury, has added his music and arrangements to
a series of my poems. This sort of thing, to my mind, is one
of the wonderful things about the world of music available online.
Musical Background -Influences
How did you get started playing music?
I would have been aged about 12 and I was listening to pop and
some rock bands and also soul and Tamla and this would have
been when I was first thinking about it. This was the time of
the 'Mersey sound.' Then the psychedelic '60s arrived and the
folk protest movement and as a teenager I was inspired by Dylan,
Leonard Cohen, Cat Stevens, Neil Young and many other singer/songwriters,
as well as the whole idea of an alternative society. I would
say that I fancied myself as following in these singer/songwriters'
footsteps if I could. By the age of 16 I was going to festivals
and gigs and I made my own start at playing guitar and writing
songs and poetry. Initially it was an effort to impress girls
because I was painfully shy. I had decided that I wasn't that
impressed by the Beatles, although John Lennon is one of my
'heroes,' and The Stones were far more my sort of rock band.
Neil Young was my favorite guitarist then and still is. Other
acts that I really liked and still do are Hendrix, David Bowie,
Roy Harper, Kate Bush, Van Morrison, Dory Previn, Jefferson
Airplane, Nico, Lou Reed, Donovan, Jethro Tull, Bob Marley,
Neil Diamond, the Incredible String Band, Syd Barrett, Joni
Mitchell, Bridget St John, Tyrannosaurus and T. Rex, Roxy Music
and many many more. Then in the mid '70s Punk and New Wave happened
and a lot of the energy of the movement I found inspiring. I
saw a lot of the bands then like The Clash, Boomtown Rats, the
Stranglers, Patti Smith and others.
What has influenced your music the most?
All those acts I have mentioned above, along with many more
modern ones and genres of music like the Blues, Soul, R&B,
Folk, Rock 'n' Roll, Jazz, Experimental and anything else that
I've spent time listening too. My inspiration for songs though
is very varied and just reflects my life I think.
Music And Internet Marketing
How has the Internet effected you as a musician?
In a big way: I used to be heavily involved in music networking
via the snail mail with all the fanzines and small press and
the casssette culture which gave way to CDs, but I seem to have
phased most of that out because the Internet is a lot easier,
cheaper and faster to use.
Also, I have made very many good friends, whom I have met via
OMDs and at bbs, and discovered so much excellent music. As
well as these things it has given me a means of collaborating
with people all over the world.
When did you start marketing your music on the Internet?
In about 1997 when I first began to understand IT and to have
access to computers.
What has been the most effective way to market your music on
the Internet?
Via OMDs and Bulletin Boards. My favorite OMD was mp3.com and
I haven't seen any other site which has offered so much. The
stations it gave acts the option of creating was a great way
to promote your music and that of other acts you enjoyed, as
well as finding new music.
Musicians And The Future
What does the future hold for you?
More collaborations, more festivals...but as to where my music
will take me I really don't know! I have just written my first
song in Spanish and am learning the language, so who knows where
my path will lead?
Finally, is there anything else you want to say about yourself?
I prefer to hear what others think of me and my work so I'll
let my good friends Laura J Bollé and Chris Kalessin
have their say:
Words can barely describe the amazing, multi-talented, multi-faceted
and multi-media phenomenon that is the Bard of Ely!!! Part eco-warrior,
poet, Arthurian Druid, master of herblore, techno-folk fusion
pioneer, MC, songwriter, singer, actor, writer and performer,
the Bard has assumed cult status and is featured in many counter-culture
books and articles ... a genuinely iconic figure!
His solo work, many collaborations (most recently with Funender
stalwart Ed Drury) and remixes represent a wonderfully eclectic
body of writing and performance, work that that does justice
to the traditions of acoustic music, yet with modernity, political
relevance, and some great melodies! :)
And something else that distinguishes this talented artist is
his enthusiastic and positive support for music and musicians,
and his friendly, universally-respected presence across the
online music community. We are proud to know him and highly
recommend his music to all - Steve, the Bard of Ely!!!
Check him out TODAY!!! http://www.bardofely.com
****************************
Register Your Band For A CreatorsWeb Review and Interview
http://creatorsweb.com/promotionservice.htm
*****************************
Advertise On Over 100 Entertainment And Art Related Websites
http://www.creatorsweb.com/webs optenplace/rotation.htm
******************************
About the Author
Ken is a pastor, writer, musician living in Greeley Colorado.
His articles have been published in a number of magazines, ezines
and websites including his own www.creatorsweb.com |
|
