June 07, 2008
Okemah, OK, Hibbing, MN and Freehold, NJ – all rather random places throughout the country that have spawned some of America’s most inspired singer-songwriters (Woody Guthrie, Dylan and Springsteen, respectively). So it really shouldn’t come as a surprise to find that one of the new voices of Americana music should hail from the unlikely city of Milwaukee, WI.
With a deep, well-aged voice that belies his twenty-seven years, Hayward Williams has been traversing both this fair nation and Europe for the last year in support of his remarkable sophomore effort, Another Sailor’s Dream.
For this session Williams’ was joined for two tracks by Machine Records label mates CABIN – the sumptuous folk-rock of “Devil’s Lament” (from Another’s Sailor’s Dream) along with the explosive roadhouse-rocker “Toe To Toe” (from his 2005 Trench Foot ep). Williams also opted to do two mesmerizing numbers alone, which showcased not only his stout performance ability as a solo artist, but also at his own songwriting skills (“Problem With Hemingway”). Perhaps the most intoxicating song of this session, however, was his cover of Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen’s “One for My Baby (and One More for the Road),” originally performed by Fred Astaire in the 1943 film The Sky’s the Limit before it was to be immortalized as one Frank Sinatra’s signature songs. On it, Williams’ lonely and harrowing delivery conjures up the scent of stale beer and spent ashtrays in the wee hours of the morning as he plies the bartender for the evening’s final round.
Only time will tell, but with the undistilled spirit, talent and drive that Williams displays both on record and stage, there’s a helluva good chance that this young troubadour may just put Milwaukee on the same map as Okemah, Hibbing and Freehold. If in doubt, just down these four rare shots… on the house. Set ‘em up, Hay.
- Tony Bonyata
LISTEN TO THE SESSION
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FREE DOWNLOADS:
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Hayward Williams - Devils Lament [download]
Hayward Williams - Problems With Hemingway [download]
Hayward Williams – For My Baby (and One More for the Road) [download]
Hayward Williams – Toe To Toe [download]
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VIDEO
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PHOTO GALLERY
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For more info on Hayward Williams go to:
http://www.myspace.com/haywardwilliams
To purchase Hayward Williams music go to:
http://www.machinerecords.com
This Basement Tapes session was recorded at Woodland Audio/Video in Spring Grove, IL. Engineered and mixed by Mike Manthei. Video shot by Georgia Rinda and produced by Gordon Rinda. Photos by Phil Bonyata.
For more info on Woodland Audio/Video go to:
http://www.woodlandaudio.com/ |
