For the past 7 years, people throughout the Midwest have fallen in love with the songs of Annie Capps. With her sweet, wry, perspective on things, Capps puts herself - and a host of other subjects - on a laboratory slide, peers in close, and makes discoveries that ring satisfyingly true. Her fourth album, One Big Show - beautifully crafted with husband and multi-instrumentalist collaborator Rod Capps - features 12 original songs (and one surprising but perfect cover) that explore relationships, war, religious fanaticism, and plenty of that tried and true self analysis perspective Annie is best at.
Annie Capps wrote her first song at age 11; she's been involved in music ever since, fronting a variety of Detroit-area bands. Her inexorable move toward a more stripped-down, introspective and masterfully musical take on the singer/songwriter genre has earned her a host of Detroit Music Award nominations and enchanted audiences in coffeehouses and festivals throughout Michigan and beyond.
One Big Show is just that - jam-packed with Annie-songs and emboldened by a cast of thousands. OK, not thousands, but a good-sized roomful of some of Michigan's finest singers and musicians who jumped at the chance to play on the record. Basic tracks feature the core band: Annie Capps on her magnificently, eloquent rhythm guitar; Rod Capps on guitar, banjo, mandolin and bass; Christine Schinker on drums/percussion and harmony vocals; and Greta Mae on fiddle.
Esteemed guests include Detroit-area bassist Pat Prouty (Jan Krist, Whit Hill and the Postcards, the Al Hill Band, the Bettye Lavette Band), C.J. and John Milroy (of the now-defunct Tangerine Trousers); renowned singer/songwriters, Whit Hill and Jan Krist; David Tamulevich and Michael Hough (of Mustard's Retreat); lap steel whiz Dave Keeney; Toledo drummer Tim Gahagan (also of the Postcards); and their own former drummer/percussionist, Greg Sauceda.
For all the rootsiness of the instrumentation, one would hesitate to call the Capps sound country or even alt-country - whatever those monikers even mean any more. Instead, One Big Show offers thoughtful, exuberant songs that have at their core a warm, funky groove and a soulful glow. And that one cover tune: it's the classic "Green, Green Grass of Home" - served up, Annie-style.
Read more...