IMAGINARY BOATS REVIEW
LEO WEEKLY: 04/15/09
By JONATHAN ASHLEY
....Alanna Fugate’s new release, Imaginary Boats, harkens to an earlier folk tradition that many modern balladeers have forgotten, that of Joan Baez and early Dylan. A Virginia native living in Louisville, Fugate seems to have stepped right out of Greenwich Village circa 1965. With guitar picking reminiscent of Joni Mitchell and a gravelly Joplin-esque voice, Fugate rattles off unexpected rhymes naturally and gracefully. While the songs might get repetitive to some, I found the consistency refreshing and at times revealing. The album flows well, fluidly in fact. The playing also needs not be neglected. The accompanying instrumentation by Fugate’s backing group, The Yarn Novels, is subtle and well orchestrated, nothing to distract us from Fugate’s lyrics and vocals, a wise decision in production. Overall, I would call Imaginary Boats an above-par release.****************************************************
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....Hailing from the town of Ewing VA, outside the Cumberland Gap. Where
trailblazers such as Daniel Boone and Woodie Guthrie made their mark,
it's no surprise that from those mountains a modern day Troubadour
was born.
....Pushing the pen in a poetic fashion began around the age of 10.
As notebooks and journals started to fill, more of a creative outlet
was longed for. Her Father, Alan Fugate, also a musician, bought
her 1st guitar at the age of 13.
....Open Mic's, school functions, and living rooms began to fill with
this budding songwriters talents. Lucky for her, she never got
caught sneaking out of the house during the summers, when she would
drive an hour and a half away to play the Open Hoot at the historic
Down Home in Johnson City TN. That stage and bar room is where
she found her love for live performance.
....By the age of 23, Fugate had been married and divorced. Her
ex-husband was in the military and served over seas. Many aspects
of this relationship didn't leave room or allow the creative
ventures or touring needed for her to really get her foot off
the ground as a musician. Even though she supported her husbands
decision to be over seas, politically she didn't agree with the
tactics and policies the US Military and Government childishly
grasped. These conflicts were the most of what ended this
relationship.
....Fugate after, moved to Louisville KY, where she now resides. In
2007 before recording her 2nd album 'Lost A Little', she tour
managed the group, The Sparrow Quartet, which features Abigail
Washburn, Ben Sollee, Casey Dreissen, and Bela Fleck. With this
experience at hand, She went in the studio to record 'Lost A
Little' (released February 2009) and began extensively
self-promoting and touring on her own in the south and northeast.
....Now 12 years after picking up the guitar for the 1st time, Fugate
at 25, has her own record label, Folkedup Entertainment, 3 albums
under her belt, and recently 'Imaginary Boats', her most current
album, was just added to over 200 AAA radio stations across the
country.
....She's graced the stages and likes of the Exit/In,the Prestigious
Blue Bird Cafe (Nashville TN), The Down Home (Johnson City TN),
John Gage's KY Home front Radio Show, and the Cover of the
Louisville Music News.
....There are many musician's who she's been honored to have played
along side or shared a stage. Ben Sollee (who is also featured
on her 2nd album 'Lost A Little'), The Duhks, Jimmy Wayne,
Rootie Wooten (The Wooten Brothers), Ray Rizzo (Dawn Landes &
Days of The New), Jackie Valasquez, Chas Justus (Red Stick Ramblers),
Greg Martin (The Kentucky Headhunters), Marco Benevento,
Todd Hildreth (squeeze-bot), Songwriter Mickie Clark, Kristen
Andreassen (Uncle Earl), Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, and
Louisville's Great Tim Krekel.
....Every Tuesday you can find this Acoustic and Tenor Guitarist propped
electrically against her Fender Vi bro-champ and SWR strawberry Blond
at the HideAway Saloon in Louisville KY, where she draws crowds
weekly.
....In July Expect the release of Her new EP 'Left, Right, Left'.
A collective recollection of her personal experience on the
home front of war.
....She is currently booking and touring for now until the end of 2009
to support Her Latest Release 'Imaginary Boats'.
....Imaginary Boats will be released digitally MAY 19th 2009 on itunes and many other digital download sites..... For now if you would like to mail order a copy of the new album please send a $10 check or money order per cd to :
....Alanna Fugate / P.O BOX 4753/ louisville KY / 40204
....Thank you for your support, by purchasing a cd. It helps with touring and promotion, keeping them on the road doing what they love to do!!!
....FOR BOOKING: If you are a venue or festival that would like to have Alanna Fugate & The Yarn Novels, please send all booking inquiries to: [email protected]
www.folkedupentertainment.com*******************************
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