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Grayson Capps



Last Updated: 11/8/2009

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Status: Single
City: New Orleans
State: Louisiana
Country: US
Signup Date: 7/21/2005

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Sunday, November 08, 2009 

 


Hailing from Alabama and spending over a decade in New Orleans, critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Grayson Capps has built a loyal following the world over. Nowhere is this more evident than in Holland where his shows draw impassioned fans who hang on every lyric from the Southern troubadour. In May 2008, Grayson headlined the legendary Amsterdam venue, The Paradiso, for a solo acoustic performance. Playing over two hours, he enthralled the audience with stories from his life and favorites from his repertoire, including "Get Back Up," "Poison," and "A Love Song For Bobby Long."

Track listing:
Back to the Country
Jukebox
Give It To Me
I See You
Fear Fruit Bearing Trees
Cry Me One Tear
Pop's Pond
If You Knew My Mind
Waterhole Branch
Mercy
Guitar
Barbara Allen
Love Song For Bobby Long
Arrowhead
Buckshot
Dawson's Story
Get Back Up
Ike
New Orleans Waltz
Lorraine's Song
Big Ole Woman
Washboard Lisa
Fox on the Run
Poison
Graveyard
Gotta Go


Preorder at Amazon.com:
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Friday, October 02, 2009 
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009 
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Sunday, September 20, 2009 
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Thursday, September 17, 2009 
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Saturday, August 15, 2009 

Listening to Grayson Capps and The Stumpknockers is like jambalaya for your eardrums

Grayson Capps and The Stumpknockers create a bitchin’ bluesy blend of Southern folk rock.  Capps is a bona fide blues-rock musician, but before anything else, he is foremost a storyteller -- and a masterful one at that.   As soon as he spoke his first few introductory words at World Café Live this past Sunday evening, every single set of ears in the audience immediately zeroed in on his voice like a radar missile homing in on its target.   If storytelling is an art form, then Grayson Capps is the Michelangelo of his craft.    

Grayson’s distinctive and full-bodied voice is an instrument in and of itself.  Reminiscent of Muddy Waters, he enunciates his sandpaper words with a strong yet comprehensible backwater drawl.  But similar to James Earl Jones, his low voice resonates from a place deep within his chest and commands attention. We obliged to this command as we willfully handed over our undivided attention for the entirety of the two-hour set. 

So aside from his melodious set of pipes and booming voice box, what else makes Grayson Capps an extraordinary storyteller?   

It is nearly impossible to clearly define the greatness of great art.  Because if something is exceptional enough to mesmerize us, then its magic works in a cunningly covert manner – all of a sudden we realize we’ve become spellbound, yet we can’t recall the process of actually falling under the spell.  So whatever captivating combination it is that makes a great storyteller “great” – a uniquely appealing tonal quality of the voice, the ability to effortlessly seize an audience’s attention, a musical rhythm of speech -- Grayson has it.     

But not only does Grayson have the vocal qualities of a storyteller, he also has the stories of a storyteller.  He sings them in the lyrics of many of his songs, and if you’re lucky enough to see him live, you’ll be treated to spontaneous tales that you won’t find on his albums. 

One such example of an impromptu story occurred somewhere in the beginning of the set when Grayson introduced the song “Ike” from his fourth and most recent album Rott ‘N’ Roll, which was released in 2008 on the independent label Hyena Records.  Leading up to the song, Grayson told us about a trip down the Mississippi River that involved (among other things) a bad mushroom trip, timber wolves, a rusty “gold” tooth, and two kids named Skooter and Bear.  In retrospect these tidbits don’t seem to have any connection at all.  But sure enough, during the show Grayson spun his storytelling magic and somehow arrived logically at “Ike,” a sad and sleepy song about a man who runs a brothel of five-dollar-women from his floorless shack.  

A highlight of the night was the opener of the set, “Back to the Country,”** which is also the opener of Rott ‘N’ Roll.  In this raucous romper Grayson emphatically extols the state where he was born and raised.  By the end of the tune we know he loves debauchery, Alabama, and debauchery in Alabama. The rollicking nature of this country-lovin’ song set the tone for the entire evening, just as it sets the tone for the entire album. 

On a side note, some naughty-minded people (including me) originally thought “stumpknockers” was a provocative innuendo.  Grayson assured us that a “stumpknocker” is an innocent nickname for a type of fish that inhabits muddy-bottomed bodies of water.  But frankly, I am still not completely convinced that the term “stumpknockers” isn’t Southern slang referring to the bulbous parts of a man’s nether regions. 

And speaking of Southern regions, the Dirty South should feel honored to have its rich musical tradition carried on so superbly and authentically by Grayson Capps and The Stumpknockers.  Because for the entire night these guys were smokin,’ especially so on “Big Black Buzzard,” a guitar-riffin’ and percussion-poundin’ carnival of sounds that grooves like old-timey swing on speed.   

But close to the end of the night, the band showed off their expert chops at length with a fifteen minute instrumental jam session containing a smorgasbord of solos and improvisation.  Amanda Shires, the opening act, was called to stage and got down and dirty with her fiddle. It was striking to watch such a petite and dainty girl hold her own against the big boys, proving that regardless of size, she is an equally impressive knocker of stumps.  At this point, the complete performance was absolutely red hot.  What was cooking all night was brought to a spellbinding boil.   

And while under the spell, you get the feeling that Grayson has invited you into his country home and is serving you a hearty dish of swampy secrets that have been simmering in a spicy and steamy Southern stew.

Beacause listening to Grayson Capps and The Stumpknockers is like jambalaya for your eardrums.

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Sunday, August 02, 2009 
http://www.visnat.com/entertainment/music/blueswax/feature.cfm

BluesWax Spotlight On Grayson Capps
From the Alabama Country To Your Computer Screen

By Kyle M. Palarino

One of the beautiful moments in life is getting hooked on a musician you have not heard before. BluesWax has opened my ears to many such musicians. I had the pleasure of reviewing an album entitled Songbones by Grayson Capps. The beige cover with a silhouette in dirt brown of a male with long hair hunched over a guitar; that was my first vision of Grayson Capps.

The first sounds were stripped-down, lonely road acoustic pieces on guitar with either harmonica or violin accompaniment. The bare "songbones" were structures of songs, the beginnings, the foundation of what has appeared on Capps' other album, If You Knew My Mind. I was drawn in and started listening to other albums of his. Then I had the pleasure of seeing an advertisement for him playing in the northeast. I had to meet this individual who can create character sketches so vivid you know who he is singing about by the end of the song.

I sat down with Capps and learned more about this musician, this artist. There are musicians who play songs and there are musicians who create songs and time pieces, Grayson is the latter. He is a performer and an entertainer as well. His stage presence is that of Iggy Pop restricted by a guitar.

In the time we talked he shared quite a bit with me. He grew up in Alabama with no TV set. The entertainment was a cast of characters that would come and sit with his dad to visit. The household was the gathering spot for everyone to hang out, tell stories, sing some songs, and have a few drinks. Men with names like Frank Stokes and Bobby Long were two of the personalities. By the age of three he remembers hearing songs by Hank Williams, Tom T. Hall, Tony Joe White, and Jerry Reed. Some of these songs are still in his set to this day.

Come with me to the present for a minute. Well, okay, 2004. Hollywood comes knocking on the door to tell the story that Grayson lived. Grayson's father, Ronald Everett Capps, wrote a book about his life and friends. Through several channels, John Travoltaand Scarlett Johansson get cast to fill roles and here come the cameras to Alabama for the filming of A Love Song for Bobby Long.

Grayson said it was surreal to watch the story of his youth unfold before him. He gave pointers to Travolta on how to pronounce certain words, and also appears in the film a few times playing music. Of course the movie took some liberties on the book, but there are moments that make the movie worth the watch.

From Alabama, Grayson moved on to New Orleans to attend Tulane University. He has a very free air about him and his Theater major is fitting. We discussed some books and authors that inspired him. He loves the complicated simplicity of Dylan Thomas. There was a Charles Bukowski phase. The southern tales of Tennessee Williams enthused him. On the stage, playwright Eugene O'Neill, with his stories of despair, stimulated his thoughts. A more obscure reference that he spoke at length about was a book titled Lilith by J.R. Salamanca. Russian authors Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy are both well liked. Grayson loves the use of metaphors, which is part of his flame for Blues music. 

The use of Taoist texts brings him hope through life. The sayings from the Tao Te Ching have sparked his thoughts and encouraged growth within himself. If he had one book to take with him, it would be the Tao Te Ching. With all the texts he has read, that is quite a statement.

Today he is still close to his parents. They were married for over thirty years and then divorced. This seemed to please Grayson. His mother was always the stable one, while his father was the eccentric. Nowadays his father spends his time building wind sculptures or mobiles out of odd items such as the inside of a typewriter. He constantly has multiple projects going at once including painting and writing and through time gets them all done. His nickname in the area is "Bayou Bukowski." Some is due to the fame from the movie; some is due to his unconventional behaviors.

There is an out of the way place that is his favorite place to play called the Pirates Cove in Alabama. Most of the people who go there take a boat. Everyone shows up and lets loose. There are no cops to worry about since it is so out of the way and there is an understanding of what "Rott 'n' Roll" is.

After Katrina struck, Grayson and family left New Orleans and moved north to central Tennessee. He has two kids and balances fatherhood with touring and writing music. When he wants to get away he travels back to Alabama to 100 acres that his grandfather left him with nothing but a trailer on it. If he is heading out on the road he heads there to fish, play, and ease up before he hits the road.

As for the music that night, you can't rock Country 'n' Blues better than Grayson and the Stumpknockers. He brought the group up from New Orleans and Alabama to show their true glory. Tommy MacLuckie plays second guitar and has the deadpan delivery of the best comedians. I had no clue if he was joking or really pissed at me throughout the night, but there was never an awkward moment talking with him. Odd as he may be, his guitar solos soaked right into each song. I would say he and Grayson grown up together they played along so well.

Josh Kerin, originally from New Hampshire and now a New Orleans resident, played bass and also illustrated his talent at whistling throughout the night. I think even Bing Crosby would have been impressed. Kerin wanted a bigger music scene than New Hampshire had to offer, so he headed to New Orleans to see if he could make it in the circus environment, and here he was back in the northeast on tour with the southern windstorm named Mr. Capps. Kerin not only plays a solid bass, he has that perfect knack to lay back or just get nasty at the ideal moment.

Then, on drums is Alabaman John Milham. He is the quietest in volume when speaking, but he makes up for it with his cool grooves. And don't let his quiet demeanor fool you, he is just as crazy as the rest. He grew up in Mobile playing drums then went up to Berklee College of Music in Boston. He returned down south and toured with musicians of many different styles from Funk to Classical. He has a wonderful flare that accents each song.

Each of Grayson's albums has a slightly different sound. Obvious influences range from Waylon Jennings to Charlie Feathers toJunior Kimbrough to the Black Crowes to Wet Willie, but you have to see the songs performed live to really get the feel and experience of this little thing called "Rott 'n' Roll." That is how Grayson describes his music with the lyrics full of vagabonds, roustabouts, vagrants, and loose women. I hear songwriting in the vein of Tom Waits, Kelly Joe Phelps, Preacher Boy, or Guy Forsyth. But it's always a unique approach without trying to emulate any of the aforementioned.

The night winded down with Capps and the Stumpknockers quoting the Old Gregg routine they had watched on Youtube. They were just having fun on the road traveling in a mini-van. Grayson can get very deep on certain subjects or clown and act the ass in a heartbeat. This is the man whose best memory of New Orleans was having sex in the back of a van on a hot, humid southern day and his worst memory was getting out of college and the reality of having to find a real job. I think we all could relate to that.

These are the joys in meeting musicians who are people that we all could understand. Just sometimes they get to do what we wish that we could.

Kyle M. Palarino is a contributing editor at BluesWax. 
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Thursday, June 25, 2009 
Eastern Shore residents lost a well-known gathering place last December when a fire destroyed Fairhope's Bay Break convenience store.

The Bay Break building, which stands just across Scenic 98 from a city boat ramp, had operated in Fairhope since the 1930s under a few different names, including "Monk Green's." The store sold gas and food items, but was especially known for its unique atmosphere, T-shirts and handmade jewelry.
  
"The store had been around forever," Bay Break operator Laura Grady said. "Ever since the fire in December, people have been coming up to me saying, 'Please bring (the store) back.'"

According to Grady, there was no insurance on the building or its contents when the fire struck Dec. 4, 2008.

Customers will get their chance to help bring the Bay Break back to life on Sunday, June 28, with a benefit concert at Fairhope's American Legion. Grayson Capps, Fat Man Squeeze and Stimulus Package will headline the event, which will be held from 4 to 8 p.m.

For more information, visit www.savebaybreak.com or call Wade Wellborn at Dr. Music, 251-990-3412.

http://blog.al.com/live/2009/06/concert_to_benefit_fairhopes_w.html
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Monday, June 22, 2009 
WEDNESDAY 6/24 @ THE RITZ: GRAYSON CAPPS

I am so excited about this show. Honestly, I just assumed Grayson Capps would never come to Florida. BUT! Here he is and he’s bringing his full band, The Stumppknockers, with him.  If the sound of Southern soul mixed with back-country stomp with a little road-house blues sounds like something that might tickle your fancy, you need to get to The Ritz on Thurday night for this show.

When I last wrote about Grayson I said, “I find myself drawn to the drunks, whores and vagabonds that haunt Grayson’s songs. They’re like old friends you keep up with via letters in the mail, and with a new album comes new updates.” It’ll be nice to finally meet this motley crew of characters in person.

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Friday, June 05, 2009 
SING OUT!
SPRING 2009

GRAYSON CAPPS
Rott 'N' Roll
Hyena Records

No, it's not a typo, the album is truly called Rott 'n' Roll. And as you journey through the Alabama-born tO New Orleans to outside of Nashville resident's down and dirty statement on the southern condition, it all starts to make sense. Capps delivers his honest assessment with no holds barred content. Perhaps the back cover photo sums up the tenor of what you will find within the disc with a sign pictured saying, "Hot beer, lousy food, bad service - Welcome - Have a Nice Day." And with Rott 'n' Roll's title, Capps doesn't want to really mislead you. 

But, all that said, there are glimmers of sunshine laced throughout, as in the gently stated "Arrowhead," or the seemingly down and out bluesy "The Waltz," but perhaps it's a glass half-filled interpretation. There's some good ole southern humor in "Gran Maw Maw," or the rockin' "Big Ole Woman," which belies songs that deal with human desperation as in "The Sun Don't Shine on Willy," "Guitar" or in his first person description of "Ike." Capps' rough hewn vocals underscore the earthiness which he's shining his intentionally dim spotlight upon, yet there's enough to poignantly let us see what he wants us to. He can wake us to our senses in "Big Black Buzzard," or the five-word lyrics with the Marshalls turned up to 11 on "Sock Monkey."

Capps comes by his talent naturally. A friend of his fell in love with Capps' father's unpublished novel, and turned it into the film "A Love Song for Bobby Long," withJohn Travolta and Scarlett Johansson. Capps wrote four of the songs for the film, including the title track, and made a cameo appearance as well. The plot was based on his father's friends back in his native Alabama. Rott 'n' Roll, Capps' fourth album, accomplishes what it sets out to and more. Looking forward to what he'll deliver in No. 5! 

-KE

4:11 AM 
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