Drew Smith has new music, a new CD, and a new band. Well, two new bands. But he has a show coming this weekend when one of them - TED - gets all the attention. Indie Sounds found out what it is all about.
Indie Sounds: So, you have a new band, and a new release. What is, and who are TED? And how is it different from the Lonely Choir?
Drew Smith: I was travelling to New York City for solo shows to promote the Lonely Choir and one time I asked Brian Beken to come along and play some of his instruments. I loved playing with mandolin and fiddle - instruments I have used in recordings before, but not on stage. So I started writing songs with that instrumentation in mind.
Soon I had a batch of songs that easily could have been played with the Lonely Choir band, and some were, but it sounded real fun to try out some more stringed, acoustic instruments. So we started a band with me, Brian, Rob Hooper, and Ryan Bowman. I had always liked the name TED for a band, and finally I was able to talk some guys into it!
IS: The release of your TED Songs EP is this Saturday at The Cactus Cafe. What do you have planned, and what can people expect?
Drew: First, Seth Sherman is performing an opening set that I am excited for. He is my favorite songwriter I know, hands down - he has a John Fahey type of fingerpicking style with really moving melodies.
We just started rehearsals for the show and damn is this band fun. Unfortunately, Rob Hooper, the original drummer can't make it, but Kyle Thompson is stepping in - so there will be a couple familiar faces for Lonely Choir fans. Brian Beken will take a break from his Milk Drive recordings and touring with Bruce Robison to play the release. And I finally got up the guts to ask John Hagen, long time cello player for Lyle Lovett, to play with the band. Beyond that, you will just have to come see the show!
IS: As well as TED, you have another side project called All The Elements. What is that, and what kind of music results? Any music releases planned?
Drew: All The Elements is a true side project band - not a Drew Smith project, but rather a good old fashioned garage band, three piece rock 'n roll band. Joe Humel plays drums, and Brian Beken on electric guitar. I would say this was a project that was just for fun, but we are having so much fun that we are trying to find ways to take it seriously.
We don't get together too often, but not one rehearsal has gone by that we didn't write a new song. And we feel the songs keep getting better, so we keep writing. We have just begun recording some of these new songs that we want to finish and have ready for release by this summer. We aren't looking to record a concept album or anything, we just want a short collection of songs that really make you bang your head ... in the way you do when you listen to good rock 'n roll that is.
IS: So, is it the end of the Lonely Choir?
Drew: The Lonely Choir will record again, no doubt. There is plenty of new material, and when the idea of recording that band again becomes reality, I am sure a rush of newer songs will come along too. I have such a long time relationship with those guys. I have been playing with Matt Russell for coming up on 10 years now, and Kyle and Ryan for three or four years at least. Jake Owen joined the band right after the Lonely Choir album was recorded, so we want to get in and record with this exact makeup. We are gonna do that this summer.
IS: As a recap, what's the 360 plan for Drew Smith in 2011?
Drew: A TED release in February, an All The Elements release in summer, and then we'll cap it all off with Lonely Choir release in the fall. I wanna record music and as much of it as I can handle in 2011.
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