January 31 ~ Double-Bill: In Honour of Ani
Both Hands
Today, as pioneering musician Janis Ian is joined in
a march forward by such high profile recording acts as Radiohead and
Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), Ani DiFranco's DIY beacon
shines ever-bright.
Asked, "Why music?", Allison Crowe responds: "Why
breathing?"
Just as naturally, the Canadian musician embraces DiFranco's truth:
"If you are disgustingly sincere and terribly diligent, there are ways
for any serious artist to operate outside the corporate structure."
Which makes it really about the music. Best-known for her piano music,
one of the first guitar songs Allison Crowe performed on-stage was the
Ani DiFranco song "Both Hands". Fortunately, Nanaimo, B.C.'s
Scott Littlejohn was on hand to record this moment live (in 2004).
"The one person who really knows me best says I'm like a cat..." ~ 'Virtue',
Ani DiFranco
+ 32 Flavors
Ani DiFranco ~ "songwriter, musicmaker, storyteller,
freak".
In 1989/90, years before digital/online technology helped light up the
terrain, Buffalo-based DiFranco was showing us how DIY is done. In
creating her own label, Righteous Babe Records, and charting
a path that includes loyalty and integrity as touchstones, "the little
folksinger that could" - did!
"I don't think the music industry is conducive to artistic and social
change and growth. It does a lot to exploit and homogenize art and
artists. In order to challenge the corporate music industry, I feel it
necessary to remain outside it. I could be selling a lot more albums.
Life could be a lot more cushy. But it's much more interesting to try
and hammer out an alternative route without the music industry and
maybe be an example for other musicians. You don't have to play ball,"
notes Ani DiFranco.
Major inspiration to Allison Crowe, who created her own label,
Rubenesque Records Ltd., (about to release a seventh CD/album
since 2003), the music of Ani DiFranco is a cherished feature of
Crowe's live performances.
Heres Ani's song "32 Flavors" performed by Allison (vocals,
piano) and Dave Baird (bass), and Kevin Clevette (drums) live at Lucky
Bar, Victoria, Canada in 2001. One of the earliest live recordings of
Crowe, it's first captured by Condor, and later engineered by Welsh
audio-tech David Powell.
The image of Allison Crowe is by the ever fabulous photog Billie
Woods.
Allison Crowe's music in digital + physical formats ~ click here
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