Bio, Sort Of

I hate writing bios. I’ll likely never be able sum myself up with a back-story and complementary mystique. I’m just a working guy, making music on a computer, trying to record when the downstairs neighbors are out, trying to mix on headphones (don’t do it), hoping the phone doesn’t ring during a take.

For what it’s worth, my dad was always playing tapes of 60’s music, and I liked most of it, but occasionally I’d get floored by something like the intro to Good Vibrations or the changes in Bernadette. I didn’t realize anyone felt otherwise until the only two songs on the radio were Rock Me Amadeus and That’s What Friends Are For. All my friends thought I was lame for digging on Dionne Warwick so much. In my mind though, it wasn’t the type of thing one had a choice about.

The Name and the bird on the logo

Born in 1811 in Ireland, John Rutter Carden took over the family castle when he came of age. The estate had been neglected and the tenants were accustomed to living rent free. Landlord killing was common in those days, so when Carden decided to charge rent, his tenants often tried to kill him. He got the nickname “woodcock” because like the bird, he was hard to hit.

In his forties, Woodcock Carden became an unlikely folk hero – because of a girl. Eleanor Arbuthnot was only eighteen, and an heiress. Carden fell in love. He was also under the delusion that she loved him back. Carden believed that she secretly wished to declare her love, but couldn't because her family was “holding her prisoner”.

He pursued her in Ireland, England, and abroad. He tried to “rescue” her - he kidnapped her. For that he was tried and convicted. Meanwhile, he impoverished himself. His Irish tenants approved of his passion, and folk songs about him became quite popular.

Neither Eleanor nor Woodcock Carden ever married.

Influences

Perennial

Counting Crows, Coldplay, Radiohead, Richard Buckner, Billy Bragg

Foundational

The Royal Guardsmen, The Beach Boys, Lovin’ Spoonful, Jim Croce, Simon & Garfunkle, Chicago, Peter Paul & Mary

Formative

R.E.M., The Smiths, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Cure, The Connells, Tracy Chapman, Jimi

Supplemental

Al Green, Otis Redding, Levi Stubbs, Marvin Gaye, Brian McKnight, Anthony Hamilton

Peripheral

AM Cassandre, Van Gogh, Roman Loranc, Adolph Gottlieb, Sigmar Polke, Pollock

Ingenious

Tom Waits, Randy Newman, Can, Miles Davis, Leonard Cohen, Deltron, Blind Willie Johnson, Talking Heads, Keith Jarrett