You can't escape break-ups in life, but you can write great songs about. and that's what Ben Ceum did for his band Great Lakes, an album that is basically a collection of songs about coming to terms with the falling out with his former lyricist and Great Lakes co-founder Dan Donahue. No points for guessing who the protagonist is in songs like Ghost Brother and Chosen Enemy.
Crum found out that he could write the word to his songs, creating his own way of escape as it were. Donahue contributed lyeics to just one song, the melancholic, strings driven Summer Fruit. With a cover of John Prine's Sour Grapes it is obvious where Crum went to look for inspiration. And as a respected musician he had no trouble finding people to play with him. Put them all together on a stage and you have a dectet that can play up a storm.
Great Lakes:
Ben Crum: lead vocals and all guitars
Kevin Shea: drums
David Lerner: bass
Jay Israelson: piano
Joe McGinty: organ and electric piano
Phil Sterk: pedal steel
Linda Rosenbury: violin
Heather McIntosh: cello
Jon Natchez: bass clarinet, baritone and tenor saxophones
Suzanne Nienaber: backing vocals
Ways of Escape is released on Orange Twin Records.
Tracks:- Rev War
- Ghost Brother
- Summer Fruit
- Chosen Enemy
- A Good Day to Die
- Wind Horse
- Sorrow and Woe
- Sour Grapes
- Old Ways
- Half Your Life Gone
- Ways of Escape
- 10/20 Philadelphia PA @ The Fire
- 10/21 Rosendale NY @ Market Market
- 10/22 Frederick Md. @ TBA
- 10/23 Washington DC @ The Velvet Lounge
- 10/24 Brooklyn NY @ The Rock Shop (CD release show)
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