Album Notes

Filisko & Noden

About Joe Filisko

His craftsmanship, musicianship, and knowledge of the instrument and its history are being acknowledged and praised by the likes of Howard Levy, Kim Wilson, Charlie Musselwhite, and even the M. Hohner Company

About Eric Noden

“The Chicago resident has not only a refreshingly unforced vocal style and a remarkable ability to pen genre-perfect additions to the canon, but a scholars’ knowledge of his instruments”
----Blues Revu



Diving Duck Records presents the debut recording of Filisko and Noden entitled Live. The disc features the harmonica wizardry of Joe Filisko and the renowned finger-picking guitar styles of Eric Noden. From the juke joints of the Mississippi Delta to the back roads of North Carolina, Live takes listeners on a breathtaking tour of American music. Joe and Eric were inspired to record this disc after receiving an overwhelming response to their performance at the 2005 Chicago Blues Festival. The result is a recording that captures the spontaneity and rhythmic power of these two brilliant performers. The CD was recorded on January 20th and 21st of 2006 in front of a live studio audience in Chicago, IL. The recording features 13 tracks carefully selected, mixed and produced by Joe and Eric along with engineer Jamie Wagner of Strobe Recording. Mastering was done at Pirate Alley Studios in Gulfport, Mississippi. A unique addition is the 10 page booklet detailing the history and musical styles presented on this CD. This disc is a true representation of the good time, foot-stomping performances for which Filisko & Noden are quickly becoming known.

Bio

Together Filisko & Noden create a rhythmic old-time blues sound using a vibrant combination of guitar and harmonica. The duo specializes in playing 20's and 30's blues and roots styles that aren't often heard these days. Joe and Eric capture the raucous, good time feel of early roots music while still staying true to the form. The musicians originally ran into each other while teaching at the Old Town School of Folk Music in the mid 90’s. However, it wasn’t until late 2004 that the two began performing on a regular basis and developing a large repertoire of blues and roots music. Since then they have traveled around the Midwest playing festivals, teaching workshops and working out material for their latest CD.

Joe Filisko has been known as craftsman, performer, teacher and historian of the harmonica for quite some time. He has been a featured performer at the Trossingen Harmonica Festival in Germany and the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. Joe’s knowledge of the harmonica has been praised by many of the worlds top diatonic harmonica players including Charlie Musselwhite and Kim Wilson.

Eric Noden’s command of early blues guitar and vocal styles has earned him praise from critics and fans alike. Sing Out Magazine said that Eric’s CD Midwest Blues was a “Deeply textured take on bare bones country blues” Blues Revue magazine said in a review of Eric’s 55 Highway CD "Eric Noden is a foot-stomping, guitar-banging acoustic bluesman whose disc is full of tasty licks and hearty vocals."