I am not usually one for folk music. To start with most of the modern folk music tends more towards the sixties and seventies style protest music rather than the older style folk music about life and love and family and thinking free. Once in a while an album makes its way into my collection that makes me think twice about my, admittedly, prejudice view of modern folk music. Drifter’s Church is one of those albums. If you are a regular ’round these parts you know that John Schnabel is the tree that Micah Schnabel didn’t fall far from and you know that we here at 9b are huge fans of Micah and Two Cow Garage. I probably would have never discovered John if I wasn’t a Micah fan but that alone isn’t enough for me to review an album. I started talking to John over e-mail when he was offering When The Stage Lights Go Dim as a pay it forward kind of thing. He sent me a bunch of stuff including some of his own work and while he and I are likely polar opposites on the political spectrum his music resonates with ideals that even I can relate to. The stories he tells on this album are not fantastical stories that will take you out of reality nor are the protest songs so far idealized that they lose sight of the real world. John takes emotions that we all feel and wraps them in simple rhythms and lyrics and comes out the other side with songs that are real, filled with emotion and conviction without becoming preachy.
Even the title track War At The Door, an anti-war song, is not like the modern protest songs I have come across. The song begs for an end to war without placing blame on the people involved while crying out for the protections promised by god. It seems that John doesn’t claim to cry out to any single person’s god but rather to any god who will listen for an end to the killing in the name of the same. Simple words show that John has lived a full life throughout this album and if you listen close on songs like the title track you can hear where his son gets some of his inspiration. My favorite track on this one has to be No Way In Hell with its story of one of the most messed up relationships, or series of them depending on how you read the songs, I have ever heard of. Overall this album is little more tame than I tend to drop on the iPod but there are exceptions to every rule and this one made it on there with the last re-load.
romeosidvicious
will this be available for purchase, donation, or download on 9b
I got alot of John’s stuff when he sent out to some board folks the “basement” like recordings of he and Micah. I liked it immediately. You cant fix crazy might be the one I relate to the best, but being a Two Cow fan and adoring Micah solo, you have to appreciate the musical love in that family.
willy: I linked John’s myspace profile up there. If you contact him you’ll get it, no problem.
Real songs about real people and places. A great listen by a powerful songwriter. Many thanks to John for his message.
On occasion I get the chance to accompany John around a campfire by the lake and no matter what cover songs we play, the songs people remember most are John’s originals. They ask for them everytime he plays.
Hey John, When I hear you on “War at the door” You sound like a music Icon!!! INCREDIBLE. Your writing is timeless!
If anyone’s interested in a download, send me an e-mail and I’ll get that out to you:
cledus56@adelphia.net
…thanks for giving a damn.
Man your music is great. I didn’t express everything in the review but it’s a breath of fresh air from the tripe that makes the airwaves a miasma of unlistenable noise. No need to thank us brother. Just keep making music. We should be thanking you!
Hey John, how did you get that great guitar sound in “War at the Door” You do indeed ride the wind my friend!
John joined 2CG on-stage in Buffalo a coupla years back. (Mohawk Place, where else?)
Helluva nice guy, and a none-too-shabby guitarist.
Here’s a link to download “Drifter’s Church” for free. If you like it, do what you can to support AIV, Ninebullets.net and the music information highway.
http://mwbe.romeosidvicious.com/mixes/drifterschurch.html