Drum Birds

Something I Said – Heather Masse Sings Up A Sweet Storm On “bird Song”

Something I Said – Heather Masse

Twin Cities Daily Planet

Dwight Hobbes

St. Paul’s Red House Records just keeps on rollin’ along, making the world safe for quality, grassroots folk music. And it was a fine fit when the label pulled off a coup to sign Canadian velvet throats the Wailin’ Jennys a few years back. So no one needs to call the purity police on Red House for deviating with Bird Song, a solo album by the Wailin’ Jennys’ moonlighting alto Heather Masse. So what if it’s not dust-bowl-dry fare, way off the beaten track? So what that it’s straight-ahead country music with—gasp!—a little jazz and pop thrown into the mix? The world will not come to an end.

Wonderfully backed by Jed Wilson (piano, Hammond B-3), Lyle Brewer (guitar), Karl Doty (bass), Joel Arnow (drums), and Aoiefe O’Donovan (vocals), Heather Masse sings up a sweet storm. The last time somebody combined this kind of quality rural roots and mainstream accessibility, Linda Ronstadt had just left the Stone Poneys to record her upstart triumph Silk Purse. Masse, of course, has not bolted from the Wailin’ Jennys and, in fact, is on tour with the group, as well as with the Heather Masse Band, even as we speak.

“Mittens” is a playful, tongue-in-cheek jaunt with Masse offering a little down-home seduction to a fellow who went outside in the winter air, forgetting to dress right. She matter-of-factly croons that she’ll warm his legs up so well he won’t miss them long johns for a minute. You get the distinct impression she’s telling the honest to God, no-brag-just-fact truth. “Chosen” is beautiful, bittersweet mood music, a portrait of an ill-at-ease lady that Masse delivers with haunting angst. You can’t beat “High Heeled Woman” for a rollicking hayride, featuring Patsy-Cline-style warbling that’ll raise your eyebrows and pin your ears back. When, after barreling along in fine, freewheeling spirits, the song finally comes to a rest, it’s hard to resist hollering “Yee-haw!” Don’t tell anyone I said that: I’ll get drummed out of the soul folk’s union and they’ll take back my secret decoder ring. “Our World” is indicative of most of the stuff here, thoughtful and heartfelt reminiscence set to rolling guitar licks and a pulsing beat as Masse airs out her crystal clear, powerhouse pipes.

There’s 13 cuts on Bird Song, all originals with Nicky Mehta of the Wailin’ Jennys helping out with the lyrics on the title song. Not a loser among the bunch.

About the Author

Coming: “Angels Don’t Really Fly” EP by Dwight Hobbes & The All-Star Hired Guns featuring Alicia Wiley. The crew: Me, Alicia Wiley, Stanley Kipper, Chico Perez, Jeff “Boday” Christensen, Aaron “Orange A.C.” Cosgrove and Yohannes Tona. Singer-songwriter Dwight Hobbes recorded the single “Atlanta Children” (BeatBad Records) and gigged 10 years in the Long Island/NYC area, including The Other End, Kenny’s Castaways and My Fathers Place. Fronted the Boston blues band Midlight. In Minneapolis, Hobbes opened for David Daniels at First Street Entry, James Curry at Terminal Bar, sat in with Yohannes Tona, Alicia Wiley at Sol Testimony’s Soul Jam, The New Congress at Babalu, Willie Murphy at the Viking Bar and Wain McFarlane & Jahz at Lucille’s Kitchen. Dwight Hobbes still drops in at the occasional open mic around town. Dwight Hobbes has written for ESSENCE, Reader’s Digest, Washington Post, Minneapolis Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, City Pages, Mpls/St. Paul, MN Law & Politics, Pulse of the Twin Cities, Twin Cities Daily Planet, Women & Word, San Diego Union-Tribune, The Circle, to Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (where he contributes the commentary columns Hobbes In The House and Something I Said. He’s spoken his mind over National Public Radio, Minnesota Public Radio and KMOJ in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Was regularly featured as guest commentator on NewsNight Minnesota (KTCA-Minneapolis/St. Paul) and Spectator (Minneapolis Television Network). His monthly column “Hobbes In The House” in MN Spokesman Recorder comments on domestic abuse and rape. His plays are Shelter – produced at Mixed Blood Theatre by Pangea World Theater, Dues – produced by Mixed Blood Theatre, University of Southern Illinois in Point of Revue, selected for Bedlam Theatre’s 10-Minute Play Festival and published by Playscripts, Inc. You Can’t Always Sometimes Never Tell – produced by Theater Center Philadelphia, Long Island University, reading at The Kennedy Center and published in the anthology CENTER STAGE, In the Midst – produced by Long Island University, starring Samuel E. Wright. Hobbes spoke on the panel “Farewell To August Wilson” at the Guthrie Theater, broadcast on Conversations With Al McFarlane (KFAI, KMOJ). Twin Cities Daily Planet articles archived at www.tcdailyplanet.net/dwighthobbes

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