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The
Good Sons -
Michael Weston King Speaks to Old Weird Americana
The
possessor of as fine a pair of side burns as you are likely to see,
Michael Weston King is one of music's survivors. From cutting his
teeth in various post-punk bands of the early '80's, avoiding a
Tears for Fears makeover and wearing out the UK folk club circuit,
Michael got inspired by the mid '80's New Country movement featuring
the likes of Steve Earl, Nanci Griffith & Lyle Lovett and also the
Paisley Underground scene headed up by Green on Red and REM. These
bands shared Michael's own influences (The Byrds, Gram Parsons,
etc.) and it was at this time that Michael joined Gary Hall & the
Stormkeepers as guitar player. The band toured heavily for 4 years,
also managing to release 2 records for BMG before splitting in '91.
The split allowed Michael to pursue his own ideas and teaming up
with Stromkeepers bass player, Sean McFetridge he formed The Good
Sons - taking the name from the Nick Cave record. The so called
alt country scene was starting to have an influence in Britain and
The Good Sons were one of the first bands on the scene over there.
After tours around the north of England and also Ireland they were
eventually picked up by German label Glitterhouse, whose roster
was biased towards roots rock acts. 'Singing the Glory Days' their
debut album featured a duet with the legendary Townes Van Zandt,
who Michael had toured with in '94. "One of the biggest thrills
of my life" is how he described the experience. By '97 the band
had released a further two records, the folkier 'Kings Highway'
in '96 and 'Wines, Lines and Valentines' in '97- which was to become
their first release in the US.
Watermelon Records, a subsidiary of the famous Sire label, signed
the band after being impressed by their debut record. 'Wines, Lines…'
was retitled and repackaged for the US market (something to do with
the word Lines in the title!). 'Angels in the End' and released
in '98 and thus began The Good Sons annus horribilus.
Following a successful press tour and radio support for 'Angels…'
word got out that Watermelon were in trouble financially, eventually
declaring bankrupt before the end of the year. This resulted in
manager Raynor Jesson bailing to concentrate solely on Nick Cave.
During a tour of Italy guitar player Phil Abram fell in love and
decided to relocate to Turin, conversely Michael's eleven year marriage
was breaking down. Then, after playing a festival date in Germany
the band's bus was involved in a head on collision which left Michael
in hospital and their gear all over the Autobahn.
Michael left for Switzerland after getting out of hospital and wrote
what was to become his solo record 'God Shaped Hole'. Released by
Glitterhouse (who had kept him as a solo act) in '99, it was a hit
with the critics. Unsurprisingly given the events of the previous
year it was a sparse, very sombre record. He was to spend the next
18 months touring the record around Europe opening for the likes
of Ron Sexsmith, Nick Cave and Steve Forbert, "some of my personal
heroes".
In '99 The Good Sons had only done one gig so the following spring
they put together a small tour, which went well and brought them
to the attention of Floating World, a small London based label.
"They gave us some money to go and do a record, so we said OK let's
do it and it was back on from there", he explains. By July the band
were ensconced in a residential studio in Wales, which was recommended
by Scottish singer songwriter Jackie Leven. They had never recorded
in a residential setting before and as he says, "we had been apart
for a bit, so I thought we could focus on the record and it's the
better for it. It was our Big Pink kind of thing."
'Happiness' was to be the result of these sessions, however don't
be fooled by the title. Michael says he took it from the film of
the same name, an unrelentingly bleak comedy which is anything but
happy. "I just thought it was such an appropriate title. A lot has
changed for us in the past…I'm not sure if we're any happier…yet".
He had a very clear idea of how the record would sound. "Compared
to previous records, we wanted to make it less of a country rock
record". Ironic then, that it features pedal steel on three of its
tracks. "I know, I was trying to write more kind of straight 'pop'
songs. Rather than doomed country ballads which I've been writing
for a while."
Listening to 'Happiness' it's obvious that it is less country, particularly
on the Costello inspired 'Heartless Thing' and 'Happy Infidels'
and also 'Beyond the Faith' which has a Daniel Lanois / JJ Cale
swamp blues thing going on. "It's the oldest track on the record"
he says of 'Beyond the Faith', "it was all done in one take, although
not at the same time." The lyrical themes of 'Happiness' are unsurprisingly
very personal with family relationships being the subject matter
on two thirds of the record. As Michael says, "there's a lot of
references to the domestic things that happened."
So, what of the future for The Good Sons and Michael Weston King?
"When this tour finishes my partner Lou, her piano player and myself
are doing a week at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Doing a show
called 'They Call Her Natasha' based on the songs of Elvis Costello.
Then I'm doing another 'Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman' tour
in the autumn." Featuring Andy White and Jackie Leven they've done
shows in England, Spain, Holland and Germany in the past year and
the forthcoming tour will see Leven replaced by Rab Noakes due to
Leven's commitments to his own new release.
A
solo record is also in the pipeline. Provisionally titled 'Live…in
Dinky Town' it will be an official bootleg of shows from around
Europe and he hopes to get it out for October. Featuring 14 songs
from the band and solo records, all stripped down to just acoustic
guitar the record will contain one new track 'Easy' and a cover
of the Townes Van Zandt classic 'Lovers Lullaby'.
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