10/29/09
Hometown: Toronto, CA

Raine Malda and Steve Mazur of Our Lady Peace dropped by the studio while promoting their 2009 release “Burn Burn”. The guys talked about releasing the album themselves, complications with recording their final major label record, and baseball… of course.

9/4/09
Hometown: New York, NY

Despite his beloved Mets being in the dumper, New York singer/songwriter Kevin Devine dropped by Relay Recording August 4th to play tracks from his latest “Brother’s Blood.” Devine may be the most affable person we’ve ever met in music. Later that week he rejoined his “God Damned Band” for a well received set at Lollapalooza in Chicago.

6/16/09
Hometown: Springfield, MO

With their debut “Buckle In The Bible Belt” Springfield, Missouri’s Ha Ha Tonka explored the dark side of their Ozarks home; economic hardship, racism, ignorance, and drug abuse are all tackled with dark humor and intelligence. The centerpiece of the Ha Ha Tonka sound is their generous four-part harmonies. The vocal parts pay homage to their region’s proud musical heritage. Those vocals are set off by inviting roots rock, funky keyboard runs, and sometimes snarling guitars.

With their second album, 2009’s “Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South, ” Ha Ha Tonka delved into broader southern gothic themes, experimented with Tom Waits style “found sounds” and pulled back on the harmonizing just a bit. The result was no less compelling.

4/23/09
Hometown: Martha’s Vinyard, MA

Rock history is filled with American artists taking the long way around, building an audience overseas and then attempting to translate that success at home. Some make it, and some don’t. The jury remains out on Willy Mason.

Born to folk singers on Martha’s Vineyard, Mason knocked around that island with an assortment of local bands before recording his own material. Mason’s music was heard on a local radio show by a friend of Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes fame. Oberst signed the still teenaged Mason to his Team Love imprint. An e.p. and touring followed with Mason forging a sizable cult audience in the UK. His first album “Where Humans Eat” also appeared on Team Love in America and Virgin in Great Britain.

Willy continued to concentrate his efforts overseas, gaining notoriety for his tour of homes throughout the UK. Fans could request Mason for a show at their house. Those performances created great word of mouth, and the album sold well into the six figures.

Astralwerks stepped in stateside for “If The Ocean Gets Rough” in March of 2007 and Mason shared the stage with Pete Townshend at South By Southwest that month.

Mason has left Astralwerks and is mulling plans to release future titles independently. He joined us at Relay Recording as he was passing through Ohio on his way to a gig in Louisville. We’re glad he stopped.