Tracy Shedd performs with Howe Gelb at The Grey Eagle on Jan. 12

Press release


Tracy Shedd performs with Howe Gelb at The Grey Eagle on Jan. 12

Tracy Shedd opens for Howe Gelb on Sunday, Jan. 12. 7 p.m. doors. ALL AGES. Seated show. 8 p.m. $13 advance / $16 day of show.

Twenty years after taking her first steps recording vocals for Sella, a high school band from Jacksonville, FL, and twelve years succeeding the launch of a solo career with Teen-Beat Records, Tracy Shedd has delivered the most honest, forthright, and insightful album of her career. Arizona, Shedd’s debut with New Granada Records and fifth full-length recording, presents the slowcore songstress with guitarist, James Tritten, as an acoustic duet. As Shedd reports in the opening lines, Arizona is a walk “down memory lane” and “may take you by surprise,” but leaves you with a yearning to be “near the ones (you) love.” Tracy Shedd’s competence displays a wisdom far beyond her years, and is evidence to her growing popularity as an American songwriter.

Stripped of all things percussive, distorted, and nearly anything digital, Tracy Shedd’s Arizona is a first for the multi-instrumentalist on many accounts. Arizona is Shedd’s acoustic premiere, something fans have desired for years. The husband/wife duet not only delivered unplugged, they left the guitar picks at home and plucked away with bare hands for added simplicity. Arizona offers Shedd’s interpretations of work by two of her favorite artists for the first time on a full-length album (“Candy” by The Magnetic Fields and “Teenage Riot” by Sonic Youth) displaying Shedd’s keen sense of respect and ability to maturely employ such masterpieces.

Until now, Shedd has always managed her own vocal harmonies. Arizona features guest vocalists Ivan Howard (The Rosebuds), Denison Witmer, Naïm Amor, and Howe Gelb (Giant Sand) who had a recording session with Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) the same day he went to record with Shedd.

SHARE
About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.