Massy Ferguson - Photo Courtesy of Spark & Shine Records
The busiest and “hardest sweating band in showbiz,” Seattle’s Massy Ferguson (“MF”), just got back from Airwaves Music Festival in Reykjavik, Iceland and headlined Seattle City Arts Festival but before that, I interviewed MF’s front man, Ethan Anderson, about the band and their eagerly anticipated sophomore release, Hard Water, newly signed on label Spark & Shine Records, which dropped on October 19. I listened carefully, as always, trying to bring you the real skinny on local music.
Hard Water shows the band’s growth in talent and their newfound strengths up from their debut. It has an edgier essence (even with nearly half the cuts being ballads) than MF’s 2008 self-released indie debut, Cold Equations. Favored debut tracks like “The Ride,” “Powder Blue” and “Breathing In,” are fun, nostalgic and innocent in their undertones but Hard Water is definitely more grown up, deeper and grittier, with more alt-country twang and blues, but, thankfully, still not country. Note: Additional musician, Jason “J” Kardong, played pedal steel on this album. Speaking of the twang – Anderson assured me they will use twang for good and not evil.
These original songs and compositions were all written by MF except What You Decide and Freedom County, which were co-written with Johnny Sangster.
- Long Time, No See – authentic roots rock anthem, incredibly catchy tune with great hooks and guitar licks;
- Pretty Plain Jane – a bluesy ballad with enough twang in the pedal steel to get you by;
- What You Decide – a heartbreaking romantic ballad –crosses over to suit even rockers;
- Wenatchee Eyes – a slow dance love song that brings you close to home;
- Sparks & Shrapnel – cheeky, rocking little literary tune;
- Freedom County – stirring, edgy, political, in your face rock, with Jethro Tull flute impression – makes me want to pack heat!
- Idle Threats & Cigarettes – Straight up, gritty rock ‘n’ roll even with a twang;
- Dreams of St. Petersburg – a soft, pondering, soul-searching song;
- Good Enough – jamming, sweet bridge, awesome lyrics – the American experience;
- Aspartame – pedal steel calls out the fakes in this sing-songy ode to real rock
I suggest not only that you pick up this CD (and even their debut if you like) but that if you get a chance, get out to one of their shows. The energy is amazing. The audience truly connects with MF on a level I haven’t seen from too many groups lately.
MF can trace it’s incredible original sound to the very roots of rock and alt-county with influences of The Hold Steady, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and even The Jayhawks. Other times I hear a pinch of Jackson Browne, a smidge of Counting Crows, a sprinkling of Son Volt, and a dusting of Drive-by Truckers. With all these influences, one might think of Anderson’s fav quote – “Amateurs borrow, professionals steal” – (credited to both TS Elliot and Picasso – no one knows for sure who actually said/wrote it first) but make no mistake, with Anderson on lead vocals, MF definitely has its own distinct voice and the band puts it out there loud and proud.
A little background on the band itself: Anderson grew up in the small farming town, Marysville, Washington, about 35 miles north of Seattle. While still in high school, Anderson began the band, Vast Capital, and played with friend and current bandmate, Adam Monda, on & off for about eight years. When that band was finally laid to rest, Anderson realized his life totally lacked color and how beyond boring his life was without music.
After a time, Monda confessed he was also bummed at the lack of music in his own life as well so he sat upside down in a chair – literally on his head – to gain a new perspective on things. Apparently it worked. Because of that Eureka moment in 2005, they knew they were each destined to continue to create music and started a two-piece playing itty-bitty gigs like the Mukilteo Farmers Market just so they could get back into their beloved music and play. Their pay? Tasty organic fruit.
Becoming an adjunct instructor (teaching English Comp among other classes) at the University of Washington was the perfect setup for Anderson’s true calling — being a “Muso.” He explained that someone who is classically trained is a musician, but a Muso (an Aussie term) is someone whose entire life is irretrievably and inconsolably consumed by music – writing it, making it, eating, sleeping & breathing it. A Muso’s music, as their life, is gritty and real but, most importantly, authentic. Combine that with a Wild West mentality and guerilla tactics, they do whatever they can to advance their art.
MF came to be in late 2005/early 2006, when group rehearsals took place at a commercial building that was under construction in the Wallingford district of Seattle. Anderson and Monda added Dave Goedde on drums and Tony Mann on keys to round out the group to four. Then they needed an earthy, badass name to go with their badass sound. Since Anderson came from a farming community and their sound had a bit of twang to it without actually being country, they decided on Massy Ferguson after a tractor company. It is cool & cutting edge and at once intellectual and down-to-earth hearty and, let’s face it, waaaaay better than John Deere (definitely country).
In 2007, MF played an amazing array of shows beginning with ones for US troops in Germany. Then, they hit Holland, Australia, Costa Rica, Mexico and all over the US.
After all that touring, where they gained quite a following I might add, Massy Ferguson self-released its full-length debut album Cold Equations in 2008, which totally won over critics and fans. MF was even WXPN (Philadelphia) DJ Bruce Warren’s Download of the Day, calling Cold Equations “an impressive record.” The debut also made the grade by getting serious airplay in Seattle at commercial radio station KMTT “The Mountain” and worldwide on the non-profit radio station KEXP 90.3/KEXP.org. And speaking of KEXP, in November 2009, MTV.com featured MF in a short documentary film about the station and Skope Magazine named MF a “2009 Artist to Watch.”
Little know fact: The band is obsessed with the Cold War from the 60s, so if anyone knows anyone in charge of playlists on Russian radio, the band would like at least one of their songs played on Russian radio. They think that would be so cool.
So as you can see, these fellas have been incredibly busy since the band had its seminal start playing to organic vegetables (well, to folks buying organic veggies anyway). Now, they just need to hit Asia & Antarctica and then I think they’ve hit all the Continents on the planet.
For more information on the band, upcoming dates, etc…see their website, Facebook or MySpace at the links below:
http://www.massyfergusonband.com/
http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=36562790411&ref=pb
http://www.myspace.com/massyferguson
Final Word: Buy. Definitely buy this album, yes, and see the band live if you can.
PS: This album is dedicated to Tony Mann’s son, Lev, who “left us much too soon”.
October 26th, 2010
Categories: Music . Author: JanKeira . Comments: 1 Comment
