Acclaimed singer-songwriter Michael Feuerstack brings his beautiful new record Tambourine Death Bed to New Brunswick for a pair of shows this weekend. He performs tonight (Thursday August 22) at the free Shivering Songs BBQ at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre (732 Charlotte Street) at 7:00 p.m. before shipping off for a performance in Grand Manan on Friday August 23 at the Summer’s End Folk Festival.
Michael Feuerstack spoke with Here Magazine last week about the challenges of competing with mechanical bulls among other topics:
Your newest record Tambourine Death Bed marks your first effort released under your own name after numerous releases under the Snailhouse moniker. Why the decision to abandon the Snailhouse name at this point in your career?
It was a long time coming. I guess I just felt I had grown out of it. I got tired of telling people my band name and no longer liked the sound of it, phonetically. Now it is much clearer; I am a singer songwriter, regardless of whatever good and bad pre-conceived ideas people might have about what I do as a result of it.
How has the name transition been for you?
It’s not like I’m Madonna or something so I would say that the transition has been smooth. There have been a few people that really liked the Snailhouse name while I assume there could be a few people who got on board because my name has a “new” ring to it. Something felt different about this record and so it felt like a good time for a switch up.
You’ve done an extensive amount of touring through Europe. What are some of the similarities and differences that you’ve noted between European and North American audiences?
There are more arts-focused spaces across Europe, where people go out to listen to a show and maybe have a drink. In North America, there is sometimes a reversal of that. A lot of venues are bars primarily that offer music as well. The priority is switched. I know there’s a demand here for ‘listening’ rooms but you have to make an effort to find them. I tend to try to steer my booking into quiet spaces where my music can translate best. It’s quiet music and doesn’t compete well will TV screens and mechanical bulls.
Article published in the August 22, 2013 edition of Here Magazine
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