Album Notes

"Live on 11th Street" wasn't recorded on 11th Street. 11th Street is a state of mind. It's also a bar on the lower eastside of Manhattan where the drinks are strong and the company superb. This show by the Casey Neill Band was recorded at another downtown NYC music spot, the Living Room in October of 2003. It was the last night of a one-month residency in the place. It was also the last gig played with the late Johnny Cunningham (see www.johnnycunningham.com) - fiddler, raconteur, and producer extraordinaire. He is missed the world over by anyone that ever met him or heard him play. Johnny held court at the 11th Street and we'd often find ourselves singing around an out of tune piano and stumbling home with 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' in our heads.
In Olympia, Washington it rains. A lot. Casey Neill began playing music here in the early 90's writing songs blending post-punk ethos and traditional folk. Since then, he has released 3 CD's on the Appleseed label, toured all over the US, Canada, and british Isles. He busked with Pete Seeger in Grand Central Station, toured with Dead Kennedys visionary Jello Biafra, and worked with the A-List of Scottish and Irish musicians. Casey and Johnny Cunningham met at Portland, Oregon's East Avenue Tavern one night and Casey spilled a pint of beer in his girlfriends lap. Johnny began producing the records and eventually Mr. Neill left the Northwest for Brooklyn, NY. Mr. Cunningham pointed out that the songs were rock songs at heart, and that all Casey ever seemed to listen to was Springsteen and New Model Army. So a band was formed, new songs were added, old songs were amped up, and this is the result. A studio CD entitled 'Brooklyn Bridge' is on its way, but in the meantime there's this here live one.
There are 2 songs from previous recordings, a pile of new ones, a flaying of the old time standard "Raleigh and Spencer", and a Bruce cover. The CD travels in mood from drunk and tough to sweet and sentimental, and includes much quipping and a broken string. Jon Spurney plays guitar and piano, Nancy Hess plays the bass and sings, Chris Benelli plays the drums, Johnny plays fiddle and sings, and Casey plays guitar and sings. "Live on 11th Street" is a piece of our lives, its rock and/or roll music with that good rootsy thing happening, and it's a CD. Pull up a stool.