http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnj7MYyWr-0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-vVPKV5wbQ

Bow Thayer - Spend It All (www.crookedroot.com)
Besides some ace musicians, Bow Thayer features Levon Helm (The Band) on drums, who leans hard on the rhythm section. Together with lead singer Bow Thayer (guitar/harmonica), they breath fire (sometimes hot sparks, or a four-alarmer), into these ten countrified rockers, while the rest of the band beats up on some tough blues and country licks.

They rummage through roots music ("Wingless Angels") for inspiration that leads them down ragged roads ("The Way That it Swings") finding magic in the music. One thing is made clear throughout the album. Bow Thayer has their shit together. They don't stand in the shadow of The Band, but they do draw some amazing inspiration from them, and artists like Tom Petty, Wlico or Emmy Lou Harris, via Gram Parsons.

These searching lyrics morn the consequences of bad judgment and celebrate life's precious moments of sheer joy- lyrics deepened by how much fun the band is having.
- Phil Rainone

Bow Thayer
"Spend It All"
Even if you strip away the superb vocals, the precise country-tinged guitar playing, and the I-wish-I-had-written-that plain-spoken songwriting there is one element of Spend It All that should hook even the most top-40-enslaved listener: legendary drummer/singer and general colorful personality Levon Helm plays drums on nine of the 10 tracks, providing an unbreakable backbone to Bow Thayer's captivating leadership. Helm, who brought the Band to global prominence in the '70s, gives Spend It All metronome-perfect timing along with his signature bawdy roadhouse rhythm. From the driving acoustic intro of Spend It All's first track "Got My Attention," Thayer and his pro cadre of players provide a solid album full of head-bobbing, roots goodness that doesn't let up. From his days in the Boston bluegrass supergroup the Benders with Flag's own Nolan McKelvey (who also lends standup bass and vocals to Spend It All), to his current solo efforts, Thayer has put out consistently sublime, streetwise music. Spend It All continues Thayer's multi-layered sound with its roots firmly anchored in various bluegrass and folk traditions. But one of Thayer's trademarks is to wander through all types of styles whenever the mood strikes. Former Morphine sax player Dana Colley contributes to three tracks on Spend It All, as he did on Thayer's 2006 release Maintenance for Mood Swings. But have no doubts, Thayer's current offering is a straight-up rock record, occasionally including an acoustic ensemble ("Snake Bite"), Al Kooper-style Hammond organ ("Stoned Kid") or gloriously distorted Nashville-style electric guitar ("Nor Easter Snow"). Spend It All has every element necessary to be a modern roots-rock classic. Be sure to see Thayer's Web site, www.bowthayer.com.

It`s A Cracker!! 100% Guaranteed!!

Bow Thayer`s low-key, literate country-rock works against him if all the listener wants is atmosphere. The attentive listener will be rewarded with a very promising songwriter and musician. On Spend It All, Thayer uses wit and candor to tell tales of his life in Vermont. Musically, he draws on the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia`s bluegrass leanings. This is a gentle elegance to his music. Levon Helm gets "with" billing on this release. While Helm expertly handles the heart of the songs, his getting mention on the cover might overshadow Thayer who is worthy of solo billing on this excellent release. -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (Crooked Root)

Friday, January 19, 2007


RAVE REVIEW FOR BOW THAYER by JOHN BARRY

Friday, January 19, 2007
Musician gets little help from Helm on new disc
..
By John W. Barry


Bow Thayer's first name can conjure up images of those pretty, colorful things that adorn Christmas and birthday presents.

But there is nothing pretty about his music. His songs are grit and grime, simple strumming and singing, a tromp through the spring mud rather than a sleigh ride through the snow. Listen to Thayer's songs and you can feel the wind bite your face and the rain in your bones.

His singing voice sounds a little like Bob Dylan's. But Thayer doesn't sound like he's trying to sound like Bob Dylan. He plays the harmonica like Neil Young, raw and unrefined, taking the listener on a journey through his windpipes and the dirty, dusty roads of backwoods America with each exhale.

Thayer's latest album, "Spend It All," was released Tuesday and has everything you need for a front porch jam session or battle of the bands by bonfire — acoustic guitar, harmonica, mandolin, banjo, pedal steel and just to make sure you're paying attention — baritone clarinet.

"Spend It All" also boasts the drumming of Levon Helm, the longtime Woodstock resident and legendary stick and skins man for The Band. Helm has enjoyed a major resurgence thanks to his "Rambles," which are semi-regular Saturday night concerts at his recording studio, an event that on Saturday will feature Thayer and his band kicking the evening off.

The Alexis P. Suter Band will play second, followed by the Levon Helm Band featuring guitarist Jimmy Vivino from Late Night with Conan O'Brien. This week's Ramble is sold out.

On "Spend It All," Helm lends Thayer's original compositions that quick, spry, simple and soulful drumming that anchored some of modern music's most timeless songs, "Up On Cripple Creek" and "Ophelia" by The Band among them. ..> --> D(["mb","

Thayer has always ..nbeen a huge fan of The Band and the mystique that he said surrounds their legacy ..nand their music.

"They're unlike anything that ever happened in rock 'n' ..nroll," said Thayer, who grew up near Boston and now lives on the White River in ..nVermont. "They were in a class of their own."

..n
Rock superstars as client

..n
Helm isn't the only musical heavy-hitter to have taken notice of ..nThayer. Thayer's publicist is Elizabeth Freund, who also represents Ringo Starr ..nand The Beatles, and with a partner has opened Beautiful Day Media & ..nManagement in Brooklyn.

Listen to Thayer and it probably won't come as a ..nsurprise that he's receiving a lot of attention. He steers clear of the cliches. ..nHe also stays focused on his particular sound, but can also evoke the sound of a ..nband like Wilco.

Somehow, he seems to have applied his skills as a ..ncarpenter and artist — now he's building songs and painting pictures with lyrics ..n— to his song writing.

"It's just something that's in my blood and I ..nwould probably go completely insane if I couldn't do it,' Thayer said of writing ..nand performing songs. "It's just in my soul. I've got to do it. ... There are ..ntimes when I'm like, what am I doing this for. I've tried to stop.

It ..njust doesn't work. I get depressed."

For information, visit www.levonhelm.com or www.bowthayer.com.

..n
John W. Barry is the music writer for the Poughkeepsie Journal. Write him ..nc/o Poughkeepsie Journal, P.O. Box 1231, Poughkeepsie, NY 12602, call ..n845-437-4822, or e-mail jobarry@poughkeepsiejournal.com.

..n

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Thayer has always been a huge fan of The Band and the mystique that he said surrounds their legacy and their music.

"They're unlike anything that ever happened in rock 'n' roll," said Thayer, who grew up near Boston and now lives on the White River in Vermont. "They were in a class of their own."
Rock superstars as client

Helm isn't the only musical heavy-hitter to have taken notice of Thayer. Thayer's publicist is Elizabeth Freund, who also represents Ringo Starr and The Beatles, and with a partner has opened Beautiful Day Media & Management in Brooklyn.

Listen to Thayer and it probably won't come as a surprise that he's receiving a lot of attention. He steers clear of the cliches. He also stays focused on his particular sound, but can also evoke the sound of a band like Wilco.

Somehow, he seems to have applied his skills as a carpenter and artist — now he's building songs and painting pictures with lyrics — to his song writing.

"It's just something that's in my blood and I would probably go completely insane if I couldn't do it,' Thayer said of writing and performing songs. "It's just in my soul. I've got to do it. ... There are times when I'm like, what am I doing this for. I've tried to stop.

It just doesn't work. I get depressed."

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Bow Thayer featuring Levon Helm – Spend It All Review
Posted by Mitch Michaels on 02.01.2007

Alt country by way of Vermont takes the folk world by storm…

My Story
I'm a firm believer that a good song is one that can still sound good when sung with just a singer and an acoustic guitar. Though Bow Thayer seems to be the eclectic type, with musical projects ranging from alt country to punk, the artist seems to be of that same mindset. Does his most recent collaboration with The Band's Levon Helm measure up?

His Story
Bow Thayer has been simmering in the underground for nearly twenty years now, playing with acclaimed bands like Jethro and Elbow, but it was only a few years ago, while playing banjo for a band called The Benders, that Thayer began to really break out. Alt country juggernaut "No Depression" magazine picked up on The Benders in 2002 and Thayer himself became the face of the burgeoning roots rock revival in the Northeastern US.

Bow split with The Benders following their 2003 release, Mountain Music, and moved on to work on his first solo offerings. The following year saw Thayer release two albums, Maintenance For Moodswings and The Driftwood Periodicals, Vol. 1 on Vermont-based Crooked Root records. Both discs were well-received critically and bright things were predicted for the future of Bow Thayer.

Around the time he recorded his first solo albums, Thayer also spent some sessions with former Band drummer Levon Helm. These tracks were put together for release recently, as well. Thayer is currently doing shows in New York City and the surrounding area in support of the new album.

The Album
On January 16, 2006, Crooked Root released Spend It All, the third solo album by ex-Benders frontman Bow Thayer featuring drummer Levon Helm, formerly of The Band. The album is available through CDBaby.com, as well as other outlets.


The Band: 8.0
Bow Thayer: vocals, guitar, electric guitar, harmonica, banjo, resonator ukulele
Levon Helm: drums

It's appropriate that this album is tied to The Band, because it's the sort of rolling, soulful folk-rock that has been sorely missing from the radio since that act took their Last Waltz. Bow Thayer is an inspired singer, delivering his songs with a matter-of-fact accent and a rural easiness. The background harmonies also recall folkies like The Band and early Eagles, so much so that you'll be singing along once you know the words.

Helm adds a levity to the proceedings that is palpable. His drums keep things steady-rolling at all times and you just have to fantasize about what other input he had hear. Not to say that this is a Band rip-off. Far from it. For one thing, the songs aren't near as pop-shiny as some of The Band's later efforts. Thayer keeps things entrenched in the front porch atmosphere, with upright bass, harmonica and mandolins so down-home wonderful, you'll swear you hear the rocking chair gently creaking along to the beat. Only the added organ and other keys give sign that this was, in fact, recorded in a studio.

In the end, this CD comes across as friendly and warm. Benders fans may be hoping to hear Thayer on banjo a bit more (he only busts out the instrument on two tracks here), but that's a minor qualm. The backing musicians here are more than capable of keeping things interesting. This is a perfect album for driving or just a late weeknight. Rural route not included.

The Songs: 7.5
1. Got My Attention
2. Thinner
3. Wingless Angels
4. The Way That It Swings
5. Snake Bite
6. Stoned Kid
7. 10,000 Beer Cans
8. Nor Easter Snow
9. Road To Oblivion
10. Jewel

As a songwriter, Bow Thayer has really blown me away. His songs invoke a wistful nostalgia for country life without bowing to the jokiness of other "southern" fare. And, make no mistake about it: despite Thayer's status as a Vermont-er and his references to Calgary snow and nor'easters, this album is a southern man's delight.

Standouts on this album include the fun, medium paced opener, "Got My Attention", which has a great hook: "You got my attention/By breakin' my heart", and the backwoods creeper "Wingless Angels". The closer, "Jewel", is a gorgeous, dreamy number that features Thayer on ukulele. It will break your heart.

In the end, Thayer proves himself as very adept at creating true emotion in his music, a trait that will surely shine on several albums to come.


The 411: Spend The Night is Bow Thayer's third solo album and has the added boost of featuring a famous guest spot by Levon Helm. Helm surely adds a weightiness to the procedures, but Band fans that find their way to this disc may just walk out with a new favorite artist. Thayer is a hell of a songwriter, invoking country-style emotions and southern gothic imagery by way of the northern states. There's a low-key atmosphere on this album that works well to showcase Thayer's lyrics and also to add to the overall back-porch feel. If you have any interest in modern folk music (or even the greats of the past, a la Dylan and John Prine), give this CD a spin.

Final Score: 8.0 [ Very Good ] legend