#danblakeslee

[independentartistbuzz]

Indie 5-0: 5 Questions with Dan Blakeslee & The Calabash Club

With a suitcase of songs, Maine folk troubadour Dan Blakeslee ventured into the subways of Boston in 1995 to practice his craft. He has been making music and art throughout New England ever since, leading him to tour the U.S. performing with The Low Anthem, David Wax Museum, The Lumineers, Liam Finn, Brown Bird, Joe Fletcher, Jonah Tolchin, Will Dailey, Death Vessel and Kimya Dawson. Dan is unafraid to bare his very soul on stage, emptying a loaded cache of emotion and passion onto the stage for all to witness, explore and devour. We had the chance to catch up with Blakeslee for a very special Indie 5-0 you’ll find below.

1. Your new album, The Alley Walker, comes out August 18. Which song best personifies where you are in life right now?

The song that comes first to mind is "A Golden Turn". I have worked hard for my entire life with little to show financially, though I am wealthy in terms of happiness (very). I don't cut corners. And when it comes to my music and art I don't let anything out of the gate that I am dissatisfied with. They say the grass is always greener on the other side... I am looking to get somewhere in the middle. For decades I have wanted to tour overseas in Europe and other foreign lands and this is the album that will bring this dream to reality as a tour is in the works! 2. How long have you been playing with The Calabash Club & how does this album differ from your solo work?

The Calabash Club are Mike Effenberger, Nick Phaneuf and Jim Rudolf. We have been playing together for eight years. I used to follow them as they were the backing band of other NH area musicians. I would listen and watch them completely enamored with what they brought to the music. Years ago, after a performance, I was approached by these cats asking if I would ever need accompaniment... the answer was Y-E-S! I was overjoyed and I thank my lucky stars every day for them coming into my life--musical and otherwise! Our collaboration through the years has added such dynamics to my sound. I feel electricity coursing through me when we take the stage together and it happens to this day, each and every time. 3. Favorite Place You've Ever Played?

As you might imagine, there are many after performing 25 years. The stand out is Dream Away Lodge in Becket, MA -- It's a bohemian art-filled paradise in the Berkshire Mountains... shhh. Down low please. 4. Do you write music or lyrics first?

For the most part I generally write music first and then the words slowly take shape. Though there really is no distinct pattern, I never force lyrics or the music as I prefer to let everything flow organically, sometimes over weeks or years. I never put anything to paper unless I am overcome by a full body sensation. Then I stop whatever it is I am doing and get it down to a visual and audible form.

5. Since you split your time between making music and making art -- if you had to choose only one artist and only one painter that have had the biggest influence on your life, who would they be?

It's hard musically, there are so many stand outs and I'm a genre mixed person, but I'm gonna go with Michael Hurley. I first heard his music while I was staying with friends in Burlington, VT; they had his album "Blueberry Wine" on repeat the whole weekend. It sunk in... deep. I love Hurley's style of songwriting. He does whatever the hell he wants to do, doesn't catering to anyone, and his guitar work shows no boundaries. Visually, an artist I am hugely inspired by is Thomas Hart Benton. I first saw his painting "The Sources Of Country Music" about 20 years ago and was struck by the movement of the figures and the expressions. He captures emotion like no other. Spirited, longing, determined -- he somehow nails it with mere brushstrokes. I saw a documentary on how he created this mural and I was astounded by the amount of detail that went into this piece. Painstakingly making revisions, reworking sketches, and making 3D ceramic models before executing, it's definitely worth checking out!

Pre-order for the new album, The Alley Walker

https://danblakeslee.bandcamp.com/album/the-alley-walker

Find Dan Blakeslee and The Calabash Club Online:

Website:

http://danblakeslee.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/DanBlakesleeAndTheCalabashClub?sid=0.12434627115726471

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/DanBlakeslee

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/danblakesleemusic/

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/DanBlakesleeMusic

[themidwayjp]

#Repost @xtomrulesx with @repostapp ・・・ Dan Blakeslee! #danblakeslee #themidway #jp #midwaycafe #jamaicaplain

[jeremybursich]

This Saturday at Northtown Coffee come see me play alongside some amazing musicians. #fairlymodestrecords #northtowncoffee #danblakeslee #musicofjeremybursich #oldsoul (at Northtown Coffee)

[willdailey]

#regram from the eye of the excellent @cwjohnstonphoto from 2014 feature my brother from the trenches #danblakeslee #b&w

[folkitall]

[letsfancyfeast]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Keith O'Connor (@silver_beef)

@danblakesleemusic just made my evening infinitely better! #owedtothetanglinwind #danblakeslee

[billymackcollector]

Got my hands on a few copies of this cd today! #walkingtour #danblakeslee #imthesquirrel (at Tavern on Liberty)

[printchangedeverything]

A Dan Blakeslee original, aptly named 'Make way for Halloween'. I need to hang/frame the rest of the art I have from him. #DanBlakeslee #supportlocalartists

[brewstagram]

I am i talking with the folks at Alchemist Brewing ... Something new in the works! by danblakesleemusic http://ift.tt/1nP8S7m

[thecrossbones-blog]

#danblakeslee #revival2013 #thecrossbones (at Columbus Theatre)

[billbartholomew-blog]

After a wonderful brunch set at #javamadness in WakefieldRI, we are pondering tonight's set list for AS220 in providence from our spot. #billbartholomew +#gabrielarassi #danblakeslee #vudusister #birdcourage

[themidwayjp]

THIS SATURDAY NIGHT!!! #danblakeslee #thequahogs #iancatandthecrimsons #shotgunwaltz #jamaicaplain #jp #themidway #midwaycafe

[ninawestervelt-blog]

Dan Blakeslee

Hands down the sweetest peach around and by far my favorite musician I met at SXSW. 

Check him out and fall in love...

[onebeardandtwoshortthumbs]

#danblakeslee #jonahtolchin #sxsw #dyn #showcase

[unicornzzzzz]

Finally getting things framed and hung pt2. @danblakeslee #danblakeslee (Taken with Instagram at Spareoom)

[folkitall]

Dan Blakeslee is a true Renaissance man, having a self-described "equal and deeply rooted connection to music" as that of his scholastic pursuit, visual art.

In each discipline, Blakeslee is a storyteller. Whimsical, original gig posters (found here by the dozen) spin scenes of mythical creatures, fairy tale protagonists and instrument-wielding travelers not unlike Blakeslee himself. 

His songs capture these travels, illustrating memories from his storied career and mosaic of experiences. In one such song from his newest record Owed to the Tanglin' Wind, Blakeslee recounts a true story he overheard at a gig, of a man who received a white horse, Valentino, as a gift (track 4, "My Lightning Valentino").

I implore you to listen to the whole album*, enjoying the uniqueness of each song and how they work together to create a winding, cobblestoned narrative journey. The album features The Low Anthem, one on a list of many well-known groups that have shared a stage with Blakeslee.

Other notable tracks:

"Picture in my Wallet" and the album's title song, "Owed to the Tanglin' Wind"

For more, find Dan Blakeslee on Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp. And, if you're so inclined, check out this lovely Boston Globe feature story.

* Yesterday, Red Line Roots named Owed to the Tanglin' Wind "Album of the Year" in its Big Red Recognitions. Congratulations to Dan and all involved in the making of the album!