Gill Landry

Last updated

Gill Landry
Gill Landry with Old Crow Medicine Show at 9-30 Club Washington DC August 2012.jpg
Playing resonator guitar with Old Crow Medicine Show at 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., August 2, 2012
Background information
Birth nameGilbert John Landry
Also known asFrank Lemon
Born (1975-12-10) December 10, 1975 (age 48)
Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Guitar, banjo, steel guitar, resonator guitar
Years active1998–present
Labels Loose, ATO
Website gilllandrymusic.com

Gilbert John Landry (born December 10, 1975), also known by the stage name of Frank Lemon, is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist born in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is a former member of Old Crow Medicine Show and a founding member of the Kitchen Syncopators. [1] In March 2015 he released his third album, [2] the self-titled Gill Landry, and in October 2017 came Love Rides a Dark Horse released by ATO Records [3] and Loose Music. [4]

Contents

Biography

Early days

Gill Landry got his first guitar when he was 5. [5] After spending many years busking the streets of New Orleans, the Northwest, and Europe, he started The Kitchen Syncopators with his friend Woody Pines in 1998. As he tells the story:

The Kitchen Syncopators came out of a Vaudeville show that Me, Felix Hatfield, Woody Pines, and Huck Notari were doing called The Songsters. It was a Bread and Puppet—inspired cardboard theater which featured a lot of early American music we were picking up off of our friend Baby Gramps. [5]

Those songs would come in handy later when they'd moved to the Pacific Northwest. Landry recounts:

We'd been starving in shacks in Eugene, Oregon, when me and Woody went to the Oregon Country Fair one day to try busking. I think we made $300 bucks that day, which to us was a fortune at the time. [5]

The Kitchen Syncopators recorded seven self-released CDs:

Old Crow Medicine Show

Gill began to fill in for Critter Fuqua, lending vocals, banjo and steel guitar for Old Crow Medicine Show, joining them on tour in Europe in 2005 and appearing at the Cambridge Folk Festival. [6] As Landry tells it:

Our mutual friend, Sam Parton, suggested I give Ketch a call. So, I did, and he...asked me how my clawhammer and dobro playing was, and I said it was rusty but good. I didn't even own a banjo at the time and hadn't heard of clawhammer before. I was a guitar player."

Recovering quickly, he "went to a place called The Folkstore in Seattle, and bought a Goodtime banjo." He got a five-minute lesson from the store owner, then "practiced it for two weeks before I went to meet the boys. I played it on the Opry and at Doc Watson days. I must have just been god awful (sic)." Something must have worked, because "they kept calling me back. [5]

When Old Crow co-founder Chris "Critter" Fuqua officially "went on hiatus" from the group in 2007 [7] to pursue "recovery from a longtime alcohol addiction", [8] the group looked to Landry as a replacement. " [5] He toured and recorded with the band until 2015, appearing on Tennessee Pusher (2008), Carry Me Back (2012), and Remedy (2014), for which they won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. [9]

Regarding his third solo album, released March 2015, he says: "This album, though holding to a few similar influences as Old Crow, is very much a departure as it is more of a personal journey, musically and lyrically." [2] Landry left Old Crow Medicine Show following the release of this record. [10]

Solo albums

In 2007, Landry released a solo album titled The Ballad of Lawless Soirez on Nettwerk Records. [11] "Coal Black Heaven" from this album was hailed by one reviewer as "something of a hobo haiku to the national collapse and depression looming over every hollowed-out and rusted-through US river town." [12]

In October 2011, he self-released his second solo album titled Piety & Desire — featuring the Felice Brothers, Brandi Carlile, Jolie Holland, Ketch Secor, and Samantha Parton (of the Be Good Tanyas) — where he "creates a whole film and stereo hi-fi noir milieu" by realizing "a dozen rootsy, ambient and mostly catchy hardscrabble southwestern tinged originals." [13]

"Recorded in a south Nashville apartment and produced by Landry himself, the album pitches its tent in the four-way intersection between Dylan-inspired folk-rock, atmospheric Americana, dusty cowboy songs and street busker ballads." [2]

Rolling Stone

His third, self-titled album was released by ATO Records on March 3, 2015. [14] Leaving the "relative security of the popular roots band Old Crow Medicine Show" and suffering a "tough breakup with a one-time fiancée," forced a reevaluation of Landry's life helping to generate the "introspective, generally dark songs that pour out of him' on this album. Landry says of his "map out of the darkness": [15]

The characters in the songs – some living, some dead – are all pulled from my life. Some are very specific, and others relate to the wide range of both good and bad hearts I've had the pleasure of meeting over the years. I tried to write from a perspective in which there was no blame. These songs are searchers looking for some semblance of truth in a shifting and messy landscape. [2]

Love Rides a Dark Horse (2017)

Love Rides a Dark Horse was released by ATO Records [16] & Loose [17] in October 2017. Landry says of the impetus for the album: [3]

I’d like to believe love always wins coming down the stretch – it just might not be the way you envisioned it. In my experience love often isn't what I expected and wouldn't be half as good as it was. That basically is what I wrote this album about.

The album includes contributions from Ross Holmes on fiddle (Mumford & Sons, Bruce Hornsby), Skylar Wilson on keyboard (Andrew Combs, Rayland Baxter), and Logan Matheny on drums (Roman Candle, The Rosebuds). American Songwriter notes "Landry’s looming yet subtle baritone — somewhere between Leonard Cohen, Kris Kristofferson and Dave Alvin — unspool (sic) stories of broken hearts." [15]

Festivals and tours

Landry shared stage at Americana Music Festival in September 2015 with acts such as Loretta Lynn, Steve Earle, Pokey Lafarge, and Gillian Welch. He opened for Warren Haynes and The Wood Brothers on tour in Fall of 2015.

After touring Sweden in 2016, Landry performed at Twisterella (2016) and both the Latitude Festival [18] in Suffolk, England and Longitude Festival in Ireland in 2017. [19]

In 2017 and 2019 he performed concerts with singer Dianna Agron at the Café Carlyle in New York. [20] [21]

Film/Video

Landry contributed music for the Run Away Dog (2017) soundtrack. He appeared in Austin to Boston (2014), which chronicled four bands riding in five Volkswagen buses across three thousand miles, and featured: Ben Howard, The Staves, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Bear's Den. Landry appeared in Big Easy Express (2012) with his former band, Old Crow Medicine Show. He also appeared at the end of Be Good Tanyas video "The Littlest Birds".

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Rawlings</span> American singer-songwriter

David Todd Rawlings is an American guitarist, singer, and record producer. He is known for his partnership with singer and songwriter Gillian Welch. He and Welch were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 91st Academy Awards for "When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings" from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. In 2020, Welch and Rawlings released All the Good Times , which won the 2021 Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Crow Medicine Show</span> Americana string band based in Tennessee

Old Crow Medicine Show is an Americana string band based in Nashville, Tennessee, that has been recording since 1998. They were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on September 17, 2013. Their ninth album, Remedy, released in 2014, won the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. The group's music has been called old-time, folk, and alternative country. Along with original songs, the band performs many pre-World War II blues and folk songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wagon Wheel (song)</span> 2004 single by Old Crow Medicine Show

"Wagon Wheel" is a song co-written by Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show. Dylan recorded the chorus in 1973; Secor added verses 25 years later. Old Crow Medicine Show's final version was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in April 2013. The song has been covered numerous times, including charting versions by Nathan Carter in 2012 and Darius Rucker in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pledging My Time</span> 1966 single by Bob Dylan

"Pledging My Time" is a blues song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan from his seventh studio album, Blonde on Blonde (1966). The song, written by Dylan and produced by Bob Johnston, was recorded on March 8, 1966 in Nashville, Tennessee. Dylan is featured on lead vocals, harmonica, and guitar, backed by guitarist Robbie Robertson and an ensemble of veteran Nashville session men.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dianna Agron</span> American actress and singer (born 1986)

Dianna Elise Agron is an American actress and singer. After dancing and starring in small musical theater productions in her youth, Agron made her screen debut in 2006, and in 2007, she played recurring character Debbie Marshall on Heroes and had her first leading role. In 2009, she took the role of the antagonistic but sympathetic head cheerleader Quinn Fabray on the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee. For her role in the series, she won a SAG Award and, as part of the cast, was nominated for the Brit Award for Best International Breakthrough Act, among other accolades.

<i>Old Crow Medicine Show</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Old Crow Medicine Show

Old Crow Medicine Show, or sometimes known as O.C.M.S., is the first studio album released by the acoustic quintet, Old Crow Medicine Show. Songs include obscure traditional tunes and original compositions by group members. The album features their signature tune, "Wagon Wheel", written by frontman Ketch Secor using a Bob Dylan chorus. The album was produced by David Rawlings. Gillian Welch plays drums on two tracks.

<i>Tennessee Pusher</i> 2008 studio album by Old Crow Medicine Show

Tennessee Pusher is the third studio album by folk/country/old time band Old Crow Medicine Show. Released on September 23, 2008, the album was produced by Don Was. The album reached #1 on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums Chart. The album is the band's first with Gill Landry, who replaced founder member Critter Fuqua. Fuqua provides only backing vocals on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mumford & Sons</span> British folk rock band

Mumford & Sons are a British folk rock band formed in London in 2007. The band consists of Marcus Mumford, Ted Dwane, and Ben Lovett.

<i>Carry Me Back</i> 2012 studio album by Old Crow Medicine Show

Carry Me Back is the fourth studio album by folk/country/old time band Old Crow Medicine Show, released on July 17, 2012. It was the group's first release on ATO Records, and their first album produced by Ted Hutt. The album was the band's last to feature founding-member Willie Watson, and the first to feature multi-instrumentalist Cory Younts.

<i>The Music Is You: A Tribute to John Denver</i> 2013 studio album by various artists

The Music Is You: A Tribute To John Denver is an album consisting of songs originally performed by country and folk singer-songwriter John Denver. It was released on April 2, 2013 by ATO Records. Denver died in October 1997 when the single engine plane he was piloting crashed off the coast of California. The album has been praised by some as a way to help Denver's catalogue reach a new, younger audience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winston Marshall</span> British musician (born 1987)

Winston Aubrey Aladar deBalkan Marshall is a British musician. He is best known as the former banjoist and lead guitarist of the folk rock band Mumford & Sons. Prior to this he was in the bluegrass sleaze rap group Captain Kick and the Cowboy Ramblers. With Mumford & Sons, Marshall won multiple awards, including a Grammy and two Brit Awards. He has performed music with different supergroups and collaborated with Baaba Maal and HVOB. After leaving Mumford & Sons, Marshall started an interview podcast with The Spectator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Not the Only One</span> 2014 single by Sam Smith

"I'm Not the Only One" is a song recorded by English singer Sam Smith from their debut studio album, In the Lonely Hour (2014). It was written by Smith with Jimmy Napes, who also produced the song along with Steve Fitzmaurice. Capitol Records released it to digital download on 31 August 2014 as the album's third single in the United Kingdom and on 24 September 2014 as the album's second single in the United States; an alternative version with American rapper A$AP Rocky was also released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Watson (musician)</span> American singer-songwriter

William Currie Watson is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, banjo player, actor and founding member of Old Crow Medicine Show. His debut solo album Folk Singer, Vol. I, was released in May 2014; its follow-up Folksinger, Vol. 2 was released September 15, 2017 on Acony Records. He has appeared at the Newport Folk Festival and other major music festivals. He currently resides in the Woodland Hills district of Los Angeles.

<i>Remedy</i> (Old Crow Medicine Show album) 2014 studio album by Old Crow Medicine Show

Remedy is the fifth studio album by folk, country and old-time music band, Old Crow Medicine Show. The album, produced by Ted Hutt, was released on July 1, 2014. It won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Folk Album. The album is the band's first to feature Chance McCoy and their last with Gill Landry. Remedy also marks the return of founder member Critter Fuqua to the band's line-up.

<i>McQueen</i> (play) 2015 play by James Phillips

McQueen is a play by British playwright James Phillips and directed by John Caird. It received its world premiere at the St. James Theatre, London, in May 2015. Starring Stephen Wight and Dianna Agron, the story is set over the course of one night. It focuses on the visionary imagination of the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen, about a girl who breaks into the designer's home to steal a dress and is caught by McQueen.

<i>50 Years of Blonde on Blonde</i> 2017 live album by Old Crow Medicine Show

50 Years of Blonde on Blonde is a live album by Old Crow Medicine Show. It is a track-for-track tribute to Bob Dylan's landmark 1966 double album Blonde on Blonde.

<i>Volunteer</i> (Old Crow Medicine Show album) 2018 studio album by Old Crow Medicine Show

Volunteer is the sixth studio album by folk band Old Crow Medicine Show. It was released in April 2018 by Columbia Nashville. The album is the band's only one to feature Joe Andrews, who plays on every track and subsequently became a full band member. It is the last album to feature founding members Kevin Hayes and Critter Fuqua as well as Chance McCoy, all of whom departed the group prior to the release of their next album Paint This Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woman (Mumford & Sons song)</span> 2019 single by Mumford & Sons

"Woman" is a song by English rock band Mumford & Sons. It was released as the third single from their fourth studio album, Delta, on 10 May 2019. The song was written by Marcus Mumford, Winston Marshall, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane.

<i>Paint This Town</i> 2022 studio album by Old Crow Medicine Show

Paint This Town is the seventh studio album by old-time folk band Old Crow Medicine Show. Conceptually, the album aimed to shine a light on the darker aspects of the American experience, with character-driven songs underpinned by the band's vision for a more harmonious future. Released on April 22, 2022, via ATO Records, it marked their return to the label which released 2012's Carry Me Back and 2014's Remedy. It was preceded by the singles "Paint This Town", "Bombs Away", "Honey Chile" and "Gloryland".

References

  1. ↑ Hahne, Jeff (May 9, 2007). "Dark inspiration". Creative Loafing Charlotte. Retrieved April 4, 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. 1 2 3 4 Leahey, Andrew (January 13, 2015). "Listen to the New Single From Old Crow Medicine Show's Gill Landry 'Just Like You' paves the way for self-titled, genre-jumping solo album". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 11, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Interview: Gill Landry on New Solo Album, Freedom After Old Crow Medicine Show". The Boot. November 3, 2017. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  4. ↑ Aird, Author Jonathan (December 11, 2017). "Gill Landry "Love rides a dark horse" (Loose Music, 2017)". Archived from the original on April 4, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2020.{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Chris, Mateer (December 13, 2011). "Gill Landry Reflects On His Work With The Kitchen Syncopators & Old Crow Medicine Show, While Delivering His Own "Piety & Desire"". Uprooted Music Revue. Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Gill Landry". The Post and Courier . October 11, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  7. ↑ Comaratta, Len (July 26, 2012). "Interview: Critter Fuqua (of Old Crow Medicine Show)". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  8. ↑ Dickens, Tad (August 14, 2012). "Old Crow Medicine Show's new chapter [podcast with new member Chance McCoy]". The Roanoke Times. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Grammy Awards 2015: The Complete Winners List". Rolling Stone. February 8, 2015. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  10. ↑ Scott, Craig (July 23, 2015). "Interview: Gill Landry. I'm Putting My Own Boots On And Taking A Walk". Rock Shot. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  11. ↑ Danielsen, Aarik. "Gill Landry: The Ballad of Lawless Soirez". PopMatters . Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  12. ↑ Ritter, Mitch (March 19, 2011). "Mitch's Monthly Mix: Aguas de Marḉo (Waters of March)". Driftwood Magazine. Archived from the original on June 12, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  13. ↑ Ritter, Mitch (October 18, 2011). "Feature Review: Gill Landry, Piety & Desire". Driftwood Magazine. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Gill Landry Pre-Order". Atorecords.shop.musictoday.com. March 3, 2015. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  15. 1 2 Horowitz, Hal (October 5, 2017). "Gill Landry: Love Rides a Dark Horse « American Songwriter". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Gill Landry announces new album "Love Rides A Dark Horse" – ATO RECORDS". atorecords.com. August 15, 2017. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Loose | Gill Landry's New Album 'Love Rides A Dark Horse' Is Out Today". Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  18. ↑ "2017 Line Up". Latitude Festival. April 2, 2014. Archived from the original on July 20, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Line up". Longitude Festival 2017. February 1, 2013. Archived from the original on July 25, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  20. ↑ Frisby, Troy. "BWW Review: Dianna Agron Nails the Songs But Loses the Thread at Cafe Carlyle". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Music Review: Dianna Agron breaks loose at Cafe Carlyle with Gill Landry". Theater Pizzazz. September 20, 2017. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.