Chris Bathgate is a leading player in what is apparently a rather prolific folk scene in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His version of folk music features him on his guitar or piano, with backing instruments ranging from banjos to horns. There is something cozy and familiar about his voice that pulls me into his songs and makes it feel as though he is singing to me, and me alone. Most of the time, I find that singer/songwriter folk albums tend to have 3 or 4 strong tracks and then a large collection of tracks that will never make it to the iPod. There really aren’t too many tracks on the self-released Throatsleep that I can say will not be making the move from CD to iPod.
Hopefully, overall Bathgate awareness will increase in the coming future. He recently hooked up with Quite Scientific to put out A Cork Tale Wake, his newest album, which was released on July 26. Hopefully he will get on the road and begin to show the rest of the country why The Detriot Free Press named him “Best Solo Artist in Michigan”.
Chris Bathgate – Creak, Cure, Dawn
Chris Bathgate – Buffalo Girl
Chris Bathgate – We Die
Chris Bathgate’s Official Site, Chris Bathgate on myspace, Buy Chris Bathgate’s music
Autopsy IV
Part time blogger. Full time hater.
Check out his bud Matt Jones! More genius, even less press.
http://www.myspace.com/mattspainting
Matt Jones is indeed amazing as well, as Kevin mentioned. As for more from the “apparently a rather prolific folk scene in Ann Arbor, Michigan” (and neighboring cities… and broader genres… yeah, it’s burgeoning lately):
Frontier Ruckus
Misty Lyn
Jim Roll
Great Lakes Myth Society
Canada
The Mighty Narwhale
…for starters.
For starters is right. There\’s about three dozen more great artists in the area who aren\’t lucky enough to benefit from a close friendship with the two previous comment leavers.
Agreed that this record is a gem.
Matt Jones and Chris Bathgate: both brilliant. And you can buy your throatsleep CD here: http://www.foxonahill.com/store/ (And Matt Jone’s album when it’s done).