Tangleweed
Encyclopedia
Tangleweed is a four-person acoustic Americana band from Chicago, Illinois. They have four full-length CDs, and were included on the "Old Town School of Folk Music
Songbook Series, Volume 2", on Bloodshot Records
. Their recording of the Ola Belle Reed
song "High On a Mountain" is featured in episode eight of the 2007 Roadtrip Nation
series on PBS.
The group performs approximately 75 dates a year, traveling as far as Hawaii, and has been featured at major festivals such as Wakarusa
, the Chicago Country Music Fest
, and the Folk and Roots Fest.
. The record was made as a modern field recording
in an empty Chicago two flat, capturing the band live to two-track analog tape, using vintage recording equipment. In stark contrast to most modern recordings, the CD was made without edits or overdubs. The album's tunes drew from old-time country (Train 45, Katy Kline), Blues (Spoonful
), Bluegrass (Orange Blossom Special
), and Jazz (Duke Ellington
's C Jam Blues
).The record received rave reviews from the music press in publications such as Sing Out!, Bluegrass Unlimited, and the Chicago Reader. Chicago Reader music critic Monica Kendrick also drew attention to the CD's humorous liner notes, written by Jazz critic Alexander Gelfand and mandolinist Kenneth Rainey.
Tangleweed's second full-length CD, "Where You Been So Long?", was recorded at King Size Sound Labs in Chicago, with engineer Mike Hagler (Billy Bragg
, Wilco
). The group expanded their source material to include traditional Irish ballads and tunes (the Leaving of Liverpool, the Musical Priest, and Whiskey Before Breakfast), folk ragtime
(Draggin' the Bow), and western swing
(I Found a New Baby). The CD was similarly well-received, garnering airplay in twenty countries and twice appearing on the Folk Music Airplay chart. The band's song "Wrap Yourself Around Me" was a semifinalist in the 2005 International Songwriting competition.
Tangleweed recorded an interpretation of the popular sea shanty
"South Australia" for the "Old Town School of Folk Music
Songbook Series, volume 2", on Chicago-based Bloodshot Records
. The recording is actually a medley
of two tunes, as the band inserted the traditional fiddle tune Fisher's Hornpipe
between verses. The Songbook Series sessions were engineered by John Abbey in a mobile recording facility at the school.
Their third CD, "Most Folk Heroes Started Out As Criminals," was released in October, 2008. Their fourth CD, "Please Punch Richard for Me" was released in July, 2011.
Old Town School of Folk Music
The Old Town School of Folk Music is a Chicago teaching and performing institution that launched the careers of many notable folk music artists...
Songbook Series, Volume 2", on Bloodshot Records
Bloodshot Records
Bloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois which specializes in roots-inflected indie rock, punk blues, and a Chicago brand of outlaw country...
. Their recording of the Ola Belle Reed
Ola Belle Reed
Ola Belle Campbell Reed was an American folk singer, songwriter and banjo player. Born in Lansing, North Carolina, Reed's songs often speak of Appalachian life and traditions. Her best known songs have been recorded by mainstream bluegrass and country artists...
song "High On a Mountain" is featured in episode eight of the 2007 Roadtrip Nation
Roadtrip Nation
Roadtrip Nation began in 2001 as an idea Mike , Nathan, Brian and Amanda, four friends fresh out of college, formed when they were not sure what to do with their lives...
series on PBS.
The group performs approximately 75 dates a year, traveling as far as Hawaii, and has been featured at major festivals such as Wakarusa
Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival
Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival is a four-day music festival held in early June at Mulberry Mountain near Ozark, Arkansas. The festival has been held annually since 2004....
, the Chicago Country Music Fest
Taste of Chicago
The Taste of Chicago is the world's largest food festival, held annually for ten days in Grant Park, in Chicago starting the Friday before the 4th of July and ending the Sunday after . The event is the largest festival in Chicago...
, and the Folk and Roots Fest.
Recordings
In 2004, the group recorded their first full-length CD, "Just a Spoonful (and other Folksongs of Rural Cook County)", with noted engineer Bob WestonBob Weston
Bob Weston is an American musician, producer, recording engineer, and record mastering engineer. Critic Jason Ankeny declares that "Weston's name and fingerprints are all over the American underground rock of the post-punk era, producing and engineering dates for a seemingly endless number of...
. The record was made as a modern field recording
Field recording
Field recording is the term used for an audio recording produced outside of a recording studio. The recording is typically recorded in the same channel format as the desired result, for instance, stereo recording equipment will yield a stereo product...
in an empty Chicago two flat, capturing the band live to two-track analog tape, using vintage recording equipment. In stark contrast to most modern recordings, the CD was made without edits or overdubs. The album's tunes drew from old-time country (Train 45, Katy Kline), Blues (Spoonful
Spoonful
"Spoonful" is a blues standard written by Willie Dixon and first recorded in 1960 by Howlin' Wolf. It is loosely based on "A Spoonful Blues", a song recorded in 1929 by Charley Patton , itself related to "All I Want Is A Spoonful" by Papa Charlie Jackson and "Cocaine Blues" by Luke Jordan...
), Bluegrass (Orange Blossom Special
Orange Blossom Special (song)
The fiddle tune "Orange Blossom Special", about the passenger train of the same name, was written by Ervin T. Rouse in 1938. The original recording was created by Ervin and Gordon Rouse in 1939. It is considered the best known fiddle tune of the twentieth century and is often called simply The...
), and Jazz (Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
's C Jam Blues
C Jam Blues
"C Jam Blues" is a jazz standard composed in 1942 by Duke Ellington and performed by countless other musicians, such as Dave Grusin and Django Reinhardt. As the title suggests, the piece follows a twelve-bar blues form in the key of C major....
).The record received rave reviews from the music press in publications such as Sing Out!, Bluegrass Unlimited, and the Chicago Reader. Chicago Reader music critic Monica Kendrick also drew attention to the CD's humorous liner notes, written by Jazz critic Alexander Gelfand and mandolinist Kenneth Rainey.
Tangleweed's second full-length CD, "Where You Been So Long?", was recorded at King Size Sound Labs in Chicago, with engineer Mike Hagler (Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
, Wilco
Wilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
). The group expanded their source material to include traditional Irish ballads and tunes (the Leaving of Liverpool, the Musical Priest, and Whiskey Before Breakfast), folk ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
(Draggin' the Bow), and western swing
Western swing
Western swing music is a subgenre of American country music that originated in the late 1920s in the West and South among the region's Western string bands...
(I Found a New Baby). The CD was similarly well-received, garnering airplay in twenty countries and twice appearing on the Folk Music Airplay chart. The band's song "Wrap Yourself Around Me" was a semifinalist in the 2005 International Songwriting competition.
Tangleweed recorded an interpretation of the popular sea shanty
Sea shanty
A shanty is a type of work song that was once commonly sung to accompany labor on board large merchant sailing vessels. Shanties became ubiquitous in the 19th century era of the wind-driven packet and clipper ships...
"South Australia" for the "Old Town School of Folk Music
Old Town School of Folk Music
The Old Town School of Folk Music is a Chicago teaching and performing institution that launched the careers of many notable folk music artists...
Songbook Series, volume 2", on Chicago-based Bloodshot Records
Bloodshot Records
Bloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois which specializes in roots-inflected indie rock, punk blues, and a Chicago brand of outlaw country...
. The recording is actually a medley
Medley (music)
In music, a medley is a piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping. They are common in popular music, and most medleys are songs rather than instrumental. A medley which is a remixed series is called a megamix, often done with tracks...
of two tunes, as the band inserted the traditional fiddle tune Fisher's Hornpipe
Hornpipe
The term hornpipe refers to any of several dance forms played and danced in Britain and elsewhere from the late 17th century until the present day. It is said that hornpipe as a dance began around the 16th century on English sailing vessels...
between verses. The Songbook Series sessions were engineered by John Abbey in a mobile recording facility at the school.
Their third CD, "Most Folk Heroes Started Out As Criminals," was released in October, 2008. Their fourth CD, "Please Punch Richard for Me" was released in July, 2011.
Current Band members
- Scott Judd (guitar & vocals)
- Se-Il "Billy" Oh (fiddle & vocals)
- Kenneth P.W. Rainey (mandolin & vocals)
- Paul Wargaski (string bass & vocals)