Analog Son Discusses 'Black Diamond", Album Release Show [Interview]
New Songs to Debut at Bluebird Theatre, Friday Jan. 27
By Eric Frank
January 25, 2017
COjam's January, 2017 Featured Artist Analog Son has been on a funk tear lately, which continues this week as the band debuts new material here in Colorado. Analog Son's newest effort Black Diamond is an impressive collection of tunes that features an even more impressive lineup of guest musicians. The self-titled song 'Black Diamond' featured The String Cheese Incident's Jason Hann, while "Sunshine", the second single released from the album, featured the living legend Ivan Neville of Dumpstaphunk.
Ahead of the band's album-release show at The Bluebird Theatre on Friday, January 27th, Analog Son has released a third single, this one featuring Corey Frye of The Main Squeeze. Check it out below.
COjam recently caught up with Analog Son co-founder Joshua Fairman to discuss Black Diamond, their upcoming Colorado run and what the future holds for the fearless funksters...
COjam: So tell me about the new album, Black Diamond...
Joshua Fairman (JF): So the new record was mostly recorded during Jazz Fest in New Orleans. We booked an amazing studio called The Parlor [Recording Studio]. It is one of the coolest studios I've ever been in. Jordan and I sent word to a number of people that we knew would be in NOLA and the session started off right with Alvin Ford Jr. (Dumpstaphunk), Oteil Burbridge (Aquarium Rescue Unit, Allman Brothers Band, Dead & Company) and Nigel Hall (Lettuce) coming in to the studio. We laid down "Blue Nile", a song written by Jordan in New Orleans after he saw Oteil play a show with Adam Deitch at The Blue Nile on Frenchman Street. We were later joined by Joe Tatton (New Mastersounds) and Terrence Houston (George Porter's drummer). The sessions were magical and we ended up having The Shady Horns of Lettuce come in to finish up. Then we took everything we did back to Scanhope Sound in Colorado where we finished the record. We had Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident) come in to crush some percussion. We had all the players in our band lace up the tracks and finish them off. I'm stoked on the massive amounts collaboration that we had. There are over 20 world class musicians on this record!
COjam: Analog Son has made a lot of friends in the music biz around the country. How have some of those relationships come about?
JF: We have been cultivating a lot of amazing relationships! Joe Tatton of The New Mastersounds has been featured on all three of our albums. In fact, he was part of the original session that started Analog Son. Joe and I have been friends for a long time. I've opened for New Mastersounds with various groups for years, but we really bonded on a tour I did with Fox Street Allstars (now simply Fox Street). By the end of the tour I was sitting in, it was crazy! Working with the New Mastersounds guys has been one of the great pleasures of my musical life. Eddie Roberts is actually producing our fourth album, in the works now. Ivan [Neville] has also been featured on all three albums. Having someone like Ivan come in is really an honor. He is a real funk legend and the fact that he has taken time to be on all the albums brings me great joy. I think a lot of our relationships have been made through the studio or playing shows with them. Just being in the scene and trying to funk hard. The other guys recognize that and are down to collaborate.
COjam: Can you tell us a bit about the album-release show on Friday, January 27th at The Bluebird Theatre. Guest-musicians? Casey Russell's Sould Shack is slated to open... what can we expect?
(JF): We are stoked on this Bluebird show! We will be performing a lot of new music [from Black Diamond]. Ashley Niven of Tiger Party and Ladamion singing with Devon [Parker]. So watch out, the vocals are gonna be hot! Casey Russell from the Magic Beans has put together a great line up featuring our percussionist Will Trask on drums, Sean Dandurand on bass from The Other Black, Matt Flaherty from Malai Llama, Nick Gerlach on sax from Turbo Suit, Matt Wilcolak on trumpet from Lady and the Gentlemen, and Ashley Niven with be singing lead with them as well. It's gonna be nuts. Starting off the night is the band, Home. They bring a great energy and will be getting the vibe started of nicely.
COjam: What separates Colorado's music scene from others around the country? In what direction is Colorado's music scene heading?
(JF): I think one of the main things that separates the Colorado music scene from other cities is the love. Our community of musicians is so supportive. The competition for gigs is tough but in Denver it's all friendly competition. We push each other to get better and to crush harder. We collaborate constantly and everyone is in like, three bands with members of other bands. It's just so cool. Venues like Cervantes' [Masterpiece Ballroom] really enable these types of situations. Scott Morril [owner of Cervantes'] puts together so many amazing shows that feature local artists. It's great! Everyone is hoping for the best for each other while still vying for the same gigs and fans. Colorado love, son!
COjam: What's in store for Analog Son in 2017 and beyond?
(JF): We are looking forward to this year. The main thing we are continuing to do is to throw down funky-ass shows for the people. The other main objective is finishing our fourth album. We have been working on it already. Eddie Roberts from the New Mastersounds has been an incredible producer. The sessions have been the most fun I've ever had making music. The fourth record is different in the sense that instead of using the Steely Dan approach of hiring tons of different musicians and having them come into the studio, we have been writing more songs as a band using the core band on most of the tracks. Don't lament. We will be having some dope guests on the album, it's just that the core band makes up most of the record. We are committed to the funk and we can't wait to see what the year has in store.
ANALOG SON TOUR INFORMATION
Thursday, January 26, 2017 at Hodi's Half Note - Fort Collins, CO
Friday, January 27, 2017 at the Bluebird Theatre ** ALBUM RELEASE! ** - Denver, CO
Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Agave - Avon, CO
Sunday, January 29, 2017 at Ullr's Tavern - Winter Park, CO