Crowe keeps up
Cohen connection
Islander's new album includes her take on Chelsea Hotel
By Adrian Chamberlain, Times Colonist August 5, 2010
Vancouver Island musician Allison Crowe.
Photograph by: Billie Woods
IN CONCERT
What: Allison Crowe solo concert
When: Saturday, 8 p.m.
Where: Fairfield United Church
Tickets: Door $17/$22, advance $15/$20 (Lyle's Place, Larsen Music, Ivy's Bookshop, allisoncrowe.com)
Info: 250-537-1286
- - -
If Allison Crowe somehow doesn't make it to Victoria, the culprit will likely be a flat tire -- not a volcano.
Crowe performs a solo concert here Saturday. The 28-year-old singer/pianist plans to give her audience a taste of her new album, Spiral, as well as older favourites.
In September and October, Crowe will undertake a tour of Europe, playing in France, Germany, Italy, Austria and Holland. The Nanaimo native is especially keen to go, given that the tour was originally to take place in April. Those plans were postponed after billowing ash from an Icelandic volcano clogged the skies, grounding international flights for weeks.
"It was super last minute. The volcano erupted about two days before we were supposed to go," Crowe said.
Her sole disappointment is that this time her boyfriend will be unable to accompany her. He was slated to go on the original trip, but his schedule will no longer allow for it.
"That's the most heartbreaking part," she said.
Spiral contains eight of Crowe's original compositions. Her music, with introspective lyrics, is influenced by such artists as Sarah McLachlan, Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell. The album also includes interpretations of Cohen's Chelsea Hotel No. 2 and Annie Lennox's Why.
One of Crowe's greatest successes to date is her version of Cohen's Hallelujah. While it was more famously covered by Jeff Buckley and Rufus Wainwright, her emotive YouTube performance has attracted more than 5.5 million views over the past four years.
Her Cohen connection includes Crowe's interpretation of his song Joan of Arc, part of a 2008 tribute CD distributed by the British music magazine MOJO. When Crowe listened to the disc, she was struck by Josh Ritter's version of Chelsea Hotel No. 2. It was the first time she had heard the song.
Her own decision to cover Chelsea Hotel No. 2 is unorthodox. The composition, said to be inspired by Cohen's brief fling with Janis Joplin, reflects a distinctly masculine point of view. The protagonist, for instance, notes his lover prefers a "handsome man."
Crowe's version, backed by moody cello, retains this phrase. She said she respects Cohen's lyrics too much to change a word. "And I like turning things around a little bit like that," she added.
In Oceans, a self-penned song from Spiral, Crowe writes of having "a heart that's torn between two oceans." It's a literal reference to her real-life situation. She divides her time between homes in Nanaimo and Corner Brook, N.L., where her boyfriend lives.
When the couple are together, they like to cook. Crowe said they are "obsessed" with the online website Foodgawker, which contains food photos and recipes. "You just go and stare at food," she said with a laugh.
Crowe's interest in cooking spurred her parents to buy her a high-end KitchenAid mixer, which she uses to make bread. She has even started a recipe blog (7thumbsup.wordpress.com). Fans can get the lowdown on such delicacies as Crowe's pulled-pork sandwiches.
The blog reflects Crowe's healthy attitude toward food. In high school she wrestled with an eating disorder. The battle inspired her song, Disease. Singing it used to take an emotional toll, she said. Now Crowe finds performing it is cathartic and "almost fun."
She added: "I still deal with those [eating disorder] issues somewhat. But now it's just not the same. It used to be very intense and it controlled your life a little bit."
Crowe's confessional lyrics reflect her personal joys and struggles. In performance, she tries to tap into the powerful emotions that inspired each song.
"You try to go back to that place a little bit, which can be a bit weird, sometimes. You don't want to go there .... [But] it's a good way to get stuff off your chest."
achamberlain@tc.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
Islander's new album includes her take on Chelsea Hotel
By Adrian Chamberlain, Times Colonist August 5, 2010
Vancouver Island musician Allison Crowe.
Photograph by: Billie Woods
IN CONCERT
What: Allison Crowe solo concert
When: Saturday, 8 p.m.
Where: Fairfield United Church
Tickets: Door $17/$22, advance $15/$20 (Lyle's Place, Larsen Music, Ivy's Bookshop, allisoncrowe.com)
Info: 250-537-1286
- - -
If Allison Crowe somehow doesn't make it to Victoria, the culprit will likely be a flat tire -- not a volcano.
Crowe performs a solo concert here Saturday. The 28-year-old singer/pianist plans to give her audience a taste of her new album, Spiral, as well as older favourites.
In September and October, Crowe will undertake a tour of Europe, playing in France, Germany, Italy, Austria and Holland. The Nanaimo native is especially keen to go, given that the tour was originally to take place in April. Those plans were postponed after billowing ash from an Icelandic volcano clogged the skies, grounding international flights for weeks.
"It was super last minute. The volcano erupted about two days before we were supposed to go," Crowe said.
Her sole disappointment is that this time her boyfriend will be unable to accompany her. He was slated to go on the original trip, but his schedule will no longer allow for it.
"That's the most heartbreaking part," she said.
Spiral contains eight of Crowe's original compositions. Her music, with introspective lyrics, is influenced by such artists as Sarah McLachlan, Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell. The album also includes interpretations of Cohen's Chelsea Hotel No. 2 and Annie Lennox's Why.
One of Crowe's greatest successes to date is her version of Cohen's Hallelujah. While it was more famously covered by Jeff Buckley and Rufus Wainwright, her emotive YouTube performance has attracted more than 5.5 million views over the past four years.
Her Cohen connection includes Crowe's interpretation of his song Joan of Arc, part of a 2008 tribute CD distributed by the British music magazine MOJO. When Crowe listened to the disc, she was struck by Josh Ritter's version of Chelsea Hotel No. 2. It was the first time she had heard the song.
Her own decision to cover Chelsea Hotel No. 2 is unorthodox. The composition, said to be inspired by Cohen's brief fling with Janis Joplin, reflects a distinctly masculine point of view. The protagonist, for instance, notes his lover prefers a "handsome man."
Crowe's version, backed by moody cello, retains this phrase. She said she respects Cohen's lyrics too much to change a word. "And I like turning things around a little bit like that," she added.
In Oceans, a self-penned song from Spiral, Crowe writes of having "a heart that's torn between two oceans." It's a literal reference to her real-life situation. She divides her time between homes in Nanaimo and Corner Brook, N.L., where her boyfriend lives.
When the couple are together, they like to cook. Crowe said they are "obsessed" with the online website Foodgawker, which contains food photos and recipes. "You just go and stare at food," she said with a laugh.
Crowe's interest in cooking spurred her parents to buy her a high-end KitchenAid mixer, which she uses to make bread. She has even started a recipe blog (7thumbsup.wordpress.com). Fans can get the lowdown on such delicacies as Crowe's pulled-pork sandwiches.
The blog reflects Crowe's healthy attitude toward food. In high school she wrestled with an eating disorder. The battle inspired her song, Disease. Singing it used to take an emotional toll, she said. Now Crowe finds performing it is cathartic and "almost fun."
She added: "I still deal with those [eating disorder] issues somewhat. But now it's just not the same. It used to be very intense and it controlled your life a little bit."
Crowe's confessional lyrics reflect her personal joys and struggles. In performance, she tries to tap into the powerful emotions that inspired each song.
"You try to go back to that place a little bit, which can be a bit weird, sometimes. You don't want to go there .... [But] it's a good way to get stuff off your chest."
achamberlain@tc.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist
