Post by fogcitygal on Dec 1, 2004 19:18:12 GMT -5
Union Station kicks off second tour here
By JACOB BENNETT
Courier & Press staff writer (812) 464-7434 or bennettj@courierpress.com
December 1, 2004
The career path of Alison Krauss & Union Station resembles a steady climb up an Appalachian mountain, but the band is on top as it prepares to kick off its new tour in Evansville.
"Restless," the lead single from its upcoming album, "Lonely Runs Both Ways," became its first No. 1 song last month. "Whiskey Lullaby," a duet with band frontwoman Alison Krauss and solo artist Brad Paisley, just picked up two Country Music Awards. Krauss performed songs from the "Cold Mountain" soundtrack at this year's Oscars.
It took only 15 years for the world to notice. Bassist Barry Bales likes it that way.
"That's been the nice thing about our career: It hasn't been an overnight thing," Bales said. "It's just been gradually building every year. I'd rather have a long, steady career rather than skyrocketing to the top and consequently falling back down."
The band has long been praised for its bluegrass-tinged music, and it's something of a country supergroup. Bales and guitarist Ron Block are award-winning instrumentalists.
Life Magazine named Dobro player Jerry Douglas one of the top 10 country musicians of all time. Paisley told The Associated Press he asked Krauss to sing on "Whiskey Lullaby" because, "If I'm lucky enough to hear angels sing in heaven someday, I'd be disappointed if they sounded anything less than Alison Krauss."
But rarely has the band been this high-profile.
"People make a point of getting and listening to things that catch their ear," Bales said. "It would seem that there's so much potential; the lines are not as cut and dried as they used to be between different kinds of music. People (who) listen to us listen to everything from Dave Matthews to Kenny Chesney to anything. It's so across the board."
Bales said the songs on the new album reflect that diversity. They range from standards to new tunes written by contemporary artists. Bales said he struggles to define the type of music on "Lonely Runs Both Ways," which was released last week. "As far as we can tell, (the music is) about as all over the map as it can be and still be going in one direction," Bales said.
Band members' side projects add to that diversity. Bales has been a session musician with Merle Haggard and Dolly Parton. Krauss performed with Sting at the Oscars. The band recorded a television special with pop/country star Shania Twain and had planned an episode of the Country Music Television show "Crossroads" with Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, but couldn't get schedules to line up.
But it was a standard, not the groundbreaking team-ups, that planted bluegrass in every state. Bales said Union Station was kind of the "house band" for the "O, Brother" recordings, which yielded "Man of Constant Sorrow." Station guitarist Dan Tyminski provided the vocals that George Clooney mouthed in the film. Bales didn't expect the song to be a hit.
"I have to be honest, I didn't think so at all," Bales said. "That's a song that's been around for years and years and years, and we've all heard it a thousand times. We were, I don't know if 'numb to it' is the right word, but when you've heard it for years, you don't hear it from the same perspective as people hearing it for the first time."
"Man of Constant Sorrow" is a likely candidate for the Evansville set list, which hadn't been ironed out when Bales spoke to the Courier & Press. He said "When You Say Nothing at All," "Oh, Atlanta" and many new songs will probably pop up.
"Whiskey Lullaby" probably won't, he said.
"Things like that, that are more another artist's song where Alison has guested, we usually don't add to the show," Bales said. "Brad's part is a strong part on that song. It'd be hard to perform that where people wouldn't miss him."
The band has just 15 dates finalized, but Bales said he expects to tour most of next year. This is the second year in a row the band has kicked off a tour in Evansville. Bales wasn't sure if that is a coincidence.
"You want to go somewhere, especially starting a tour, where people are forgiving and friendly and let you work the kinks out."
IF YOU GO:
What: Alison Kraus and Union Station
When: 7:30 p.m. today
Where: The Centre
Cost: Seats are $40.50 and available at The Roberts Stadium Box Office, The Centre Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling (812) 423-7222. Handling fees will apply.
By JACOB BENNETT
Courier & Press staff writer (812) 464-7434 or bennettj@courierpress.com
December 1, 2004
The career path of Alison Krauss & Union Station resembles a steady climb up an Appalachian mountain, but the band is on top as it prepares to kick off its new tour in Evansville.
"Restless," the lead single from its upcoming album, "Lonely Runs Both Ways," became its first No. 1 song last month. "Whiskey Lullaby," a duet with band frontwoman Alison Krauss and solo artist Brad Paisley, just picked up two Country Music Awards. Krauss performed songs from the "Cold Mountain" soundtrack at this year's Oscars.
It took only 15 years for the world to notice. Bassist Barry Bales likes it that way.
"That's been the nice thing about our career: It hasn't been an overnight thing," Bales said. "It's just been gradually building every year. I'd rather have a long, steady career rather than skyrocketing to the top and consequently falling back down."
The band has long been praised for its bluegrass-tinged music, and it's something of a country supergroup. Bales and guitarist Ron Block are award-winning instrumentalists.
Life Magazine named Dobro player Jerry Douglas one of the top 10 country musicians of all time. Paisley told The Associated Press he asked Krauss to sing on "Whiskey Lullaby" because, "If I'm lucky enough to hear angels sing in heaven someday, I'd be disappointed if they sounded anything less than Alison Krauss."
But rarely has the band been this high-profile.
"People make a point of getting and listening to things that catch their ear," Bales said. "It would seem that there's so much potential; the lines are not as cut and dried as they used to be between different kinds of music. People (who) listen to us listen to everything from Dave Matthews to Kenny Chesney to anything. It's so across the board."
Bales said the songs on the new album reflect that diversity. They range from standards to new tunes written by contemporary artists. Bales said he struggles to define the type of music on "Lonely Runs Both Ways," which was released last week. "As far as we can tell, (the music is) about as all over the map as it can be and still be going in one direction," Bales said.
Band members' side projects add to that diversity. Bales has been a session musician with Merle Haggard and Dolly Parton. Krauss performed with Sting at the Oscars. The band recorded a television special with pop/country star Shania Twain and had planned an episode of the Country Music Television show "Crossroads" with Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, but couldn't get schedules to line up.
But it was a standard, not the groundbreaking team-ups, that planted bluegrass in every state. Bales said Union Station was kind of the "house band" for the "O, Brother" recordings, which yielded "Man of Constant Sorrow." Station guitarist Dan Tyminski provided the vocals that George Clooney mouthed in the film. Bales didn't expect the song to be a hit.
"I have to be honest, I didn't think so at all," Bales said. "That's a song that's been around for years and years and years, and we've all heard it a thousand times. We were, I don't know if 'numb to it' is the right word, but when you've heard it for years, you don't hear it from the same perspective as people hearing it for the first time."
"Man of Constant Sorrow" is a likely candidate for the Evansville set list, which hadn't been ironed out when Bales spoke to the Courier & Press. He said "When You Say Nothing at All," "Oh, Atlanta" and many new songs will probably pop up.
"Whiskey Lullaby" probably won't, he said.
"Things like that, that are more another artist's song where Alison has guested, we usually don't add to the show," Bales said. "Brad's part is a strong part on that song. It'd be hard to perform that where people wouldn't miss him."
The band has just 15 dates finalized, but Bales said he expects to tour most of next year. This is the second year in a row the band has kicked off a tour in Evansville. Bales wasn't sure if that is a coincidence.
"You want to go somewhere, especially starting a tour, where people are forgiving and friendly and let you work the kinks out."
IF YOU GO:
What: Alison Kraus and Union Station
When: 7:30 p.m. today
Where: The Centre
Cost: Seats are $40.50 and available at The Roberts Stadium Box Office, The Centre Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling (812) 423-7222. Handling fees will apply.
