Maple Blues Lauds The Crooked Road

The December issue of Maple Blues Magazine had this to say about PBF’s latest recording…..
This quirkily named supergroup was formed by four close friends: Canadian Brass trumpeter Stuart Laughton, novelist Paul Quarrington, veteran drummer Martin Worthy & classically trained bassist Chas Elliott. Hanging out at the yet-to-be-renovated Gladstone Hotel, they performed songs that drew on their diverse backgrounds, calling themselves ‘a thinking person’s bar band’. Rebecca Campbell joined as a vocalist for the self-titled second CD. Meanwhile, Quarrington had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and, as was his fashion, went into overdrive mode, recording his solo CD among his diverse other projects. Many of his new songs were too personal for a Porkbellys album and most of them are outside the scope of this column as well, although you’ ll enjoy the fishing song, “Big Ol’ Bass”, with Colin Linden on dobro and “Hey Hollywood” will stay with you for days. Quarrington had been the lead vocalist for the band and wrote many of their songs. One gap has been filled by Worthy & Campbell, who now share vocal duties. As for the writing, Quarrington and his passing dominate the disc. Three songs were written by him, three were written with Worthy and another about him. The CD opens with Worthy’s rollicking tribute. He had been with Quarrington on the day the diagnosis was delivered. They were sitting in the back yard and Quarrington brought out a lot of wine. The song is “I Ain’t
10 MapleBlues December 2010
Leaving (‘Til The Wine Is Gone)”. Two of Quarrington’s are excellent rockers, “Nothing Costs A Nickel” had been on the set list for a long time but never recorded and “It Deals With You”, which came to him after watching a game show. Martin Worthy and longtime producer/ collaborator David Gray contributed “BooCatDo”, which all cat lovers will relate to. It and the opening song point to Worthy as the one picking up the torch. He has big shoes to fill. He does have help, though, and that includes the full band: Teddy Leonard continues on lead guitar and Chris Brown replaces the late Richard Bell on keyboards. The concluding song is by Quarrington & Worthy. “The Crooked Road” is the route to the journey’s end, gently & beautifully sung by Worthy & Campbell over a couple of acoustic guitars. No other song would have sufficed. There’s lots more at www. porkbellys.com.

James Reaney reviews Porkbelly Futures, London Music Club

Porkbelly Futures’ return to the London Music Club on Saturday night was an event  with the emotions & musical excellence admirably captured by good friend to JBNB (James’ Brand New Blog) A Face in The Crowd.

I, too, nearly wept during All The Stars, the song that (for me) came to represent the late Paul Quarrington’s cheerful, courageous passionate & poetic battle with cancer. His last gig with the Futures was on Dec. 5, 2009 at the LMC.

- JAMES REANEY

Yes, it has been almost a year since the late Paul Quarrington played his final show with Porkbelly Futures, and it was at the London Music Club. As he was then the principal writer and vocalist of the group, one wondered how the survivors would carry on without him. Thankfully, there has been no attempt to replace Paul but rather to rely upon their many musical strengths (5 members X 15 changes in instruments last night!).

… The band does sound different, with more flavours, from country, to blues, to reggae and even a little zydeco. There were special, quiet moments too. Paul`s song All the Stars, sung almost acapella had both Rebecca onstage and this writer holding back tears. There are studio versions of this song on both the new Porkbelly album `Crooked Road` and Paul Quarrington`s `The Songs. Seek out and buy both CDs – you`ll thank me. They’re the next thing to being there.

- A FACE IN THE CROWD

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THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE FULL REVIEW – FOR THE COMPLETE ARTICLE, PLEASE VISIT JAMES’ BRAND NEW BLOG on the London Free Press website.

Nicholas Jennings on Porkbelly Futures

It would be easy to call the Porkbelly Futures a roots-rock band, seeing as how the five-piece band draws from rock’s deep well of folk, blues and country music. But the Porkbellys defy simple categorization. There’s nothing straightforward about a band that sings about subjects as varied as heartbreak, hotels, fishing, trains, wrestling heroes and literary icons, or one whose members come from a variety of diverse backgrounds. This is a group with as much intelligence and wit as soulfulness and fun.

The Porkbellys are an engaging live act, with strong original material, exceptional musicianship (including an award-winning blues guitarist and two highly esteemed classical players) and a natural on-stage chemistry that comes from years of touring across Canada together, playing countless bars and summer festivals. The Porkbellys possess an enviable versatility, with two lead vocalists and several multi-instrumentalists in the group. It’s a powerful package that connects with audiences wherever they play.

Nicholas Jennings
- music critic and author of Before the Gold Rush

www.nicholasjennings.com

Crooked Road Song Notes – The Difference You Make

I was determined to have a few Q/W songs on this album. So I wrote this song with a view to collaborate with Paul. I played it for him and asked him to write a lyric for the second verse. We were in the studio doing a demo of it. It took him 5 minutes….and it’s the best verse. Rebecca sings this song so well!

Listen to an excerpt of the song >> The Difference You Make (Excerpt)

Performed on the CD The Crooked Road released by Cordova Bay Records (Oct 19, 2010)

THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE

Composers – P. Quarrington-M.Worthy
Publisher – Cordova Bay Music Publishing- Pork Belly Music
Rebecca Campbell-Lead Vocal- Ac. Guitar- Percussion
Stuart Laughton-Pedal Steel-Harmony Vocals
Martin Worthy-Drums-Harmony Vocals
Chas Elliott-Bass Guitar
Teddy Leonard-Elec. Guitar
Chris Brown-Hammond Organ

LYRICS

Funny how the rain comes every time you go
First I’m standing in the sunshine
Then I’m standing in the shadow
Of a cloud that seems to follow me
It’s one I’ve come to know
The temperature’s falling
And the wind, it blows…

And when it blows I bend and bend
Til I feel that I might break
Oh you don’t know
The difference you make

Funny how the sun goes down
And disappears from sight
First I’m standing in the sunlight
Then I’m underneath the streetlight
The skies so full of shadows and clouds
It can’t even hold the moon
Morning ain’t arriving
Any time soon

And when it does I bend and bend
Til I feel that I might break
You don’t know
The difference you make
And when the storm is raging round my door
And the ground begins to shake
You don’t know
The difference you make

Oh, I don’t need to know that you’re here beside me
It’s enough to know that you’re somewhere out there

And when it blows I bend…

(Pre) Purchase THE CROOKED ROAD CD from Cordova Bay now!

Crooked Road Song Notes – Crazy Rain

This next year will be a year of “firsts”. This song imagines myself up north on a perfect summer’s evening, fishing for the first time, forever without my friend. I tried to invest it with meaning without being too maudlin. Paul said that he thought it was impossible to cast your line into the water and be a pessimist. “It’s an act of faith.” For me, fishing is a metaphor for how Paul lived.

CRAZY RAIN

Performed on the CD The Crooked Road released by Cordova Bay Records (Oct 19, 2010)

Martin Worthy-Lead Vocal-Drums
Rebecca Campbell-Harmony Vocal
Stuart Laughton-Pedal Steel-Harmony Vocals Teddy Leonard-Elec. Guitar Chas Elliott-Bass Guitar Chris Brown-Hammond Organ
Composer – M.Worthy
Publisher – Cordova Bay Music Publishing- Pork Belly Music

LYRICS

Verse:
A perfect day sittin’ by the river
the sky’s a sea of blue
A gentle breeze blows across the water
I feel the ghost of you
The glory of creation is laying out in all it’s grace
But there’s this crazy rain
Runnin’ down my face

Verse:
I cast my line out into the water
Just like we used to do
An act of faith, that’s what you said
Can’t help but think of you
The sun in splendor sinking down
All that’s fine and good is in it’s place
But there’s this crazy rain
Runnin’ down my face, down my face

Bridge:
What’s gone is gone, what’s done is done
That’s some folks point of view
But when you think you’re done with the past
It’s not done with you

Verse:
Twilight falls along the shore
The stars they spark and wink
I’ll just sit a little more
And think and think and think
About the mystery of creation
How the days can disappear without a trace
‘Cept for this crazy rain, still this crazy rain, oh this crazy rain

(Pre) Purchase the CD from Cordova Bay now!

Crooked Road Song Notes – I Ain’t Leavin’ (Til the Wine’s All Gone)

After receiving his diagnosis, Paul and I drove home from the doctor’s in stunned silence. We sat in the back yard for a while and soon after, he vanished for a couple of hours. Just as I was getting concerned, he reappeared holding two very large bags with many bottles of Chateau Neuf, Amarone etc. He looked at me and said “No more cheap wine!!” This was written as the finale for his tribute this spring at The Opera House.

Listen to an excerpt of the song >> I Ain’t Leavin ‘Til the Wine’s All Gone (Excerpt)

I AIN’T LEAVIN’ (‘TIL THE WINE IS ALL GONE)

Performed on The Crooked Road CD released by Cordova Bay Records (Oct 19, 2010)
Composer – M.Worthy
Publisher – Cordova Bay Music Publishing- Pork Belly Music
Martin Worthy-Lead Vocal-Drums
Rebecca Campbell-Harmony Vocal-Percussion
Stuart Laughton-Slide Guitar-Harmony Vocals
Teddy Leonard-Elec. Guitar
Chas Elliott-Bass Guitar
Chris Brown-Hammond Organ
Megan Worthy-Harmony Vocals

LYRICS

I had a friend and he used to say
I ain’t leavin’ ‘til the wine is all gone
Seems like he told me just the other day
I ain’t leavin’ ‘til the wine is all gone
When the wine’s all gone, we’ll just open another
Keep the party rockin’ ‘til four
I think it’s high time, for drinkin’ only fine wine
Just promise me there’ll always will be more…..

You’d better be believing, this be no time for grieving
I ain’t leavin’ ‘til the wine is all gone
I ain’t gonna stop ‘til I’ve drunk the last drop
I ain’t leavin’ ‘til the wine is all gone
When the wine’s all gone, there’ll be a space at the table
An empty glass by the door
A few steps to the gate
And as it’s still swingin’ you might hear me singin’ for more

Pay no attention at all to that clock on the wall
I ain’t leavin’ ‘til the wine is all gone
The best epitaph is to hear you all laugh
I ain’t leavin’ ‘til the wine is all gone
When the wine’s all gone, we’ll just go to my neighbour
And we’ll knock knock knock knock knock on his door
We’ll tell the fella, (we’re) gonna raid his cellar
Then we’ll come back to mine and we’ll pour, more, more, more…..

(Pre) Purchase THE CROOKED ROAD CD from Cordova Bay now!

Porkbellys In Europe!

Wildflower Records released our first CD “Way Past Midnight” in Europe on August of this summer and has collected some kudos from some British music mags……

“Blues songs about Ernest Hemingway and Booker winner Michael Ondaatje? Given that the delta pioneers were mostly illiterate, this latest contribution to the current blues revival is an improbably highbrow affair that reflects the status of main songwriter Paul Quarrington as one of Canada’s leading novelists. Quarrington possesses a fine voice that sounds uncannily like James Taylor (remember his 12-bar homage “Steamroller” on Sweet Baby James?) and the band–complete with bassist moonlighting from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra–can choogle and boogie with the best.” Nigel Williamson, Uncut Magazine

“Pork Belly Futures play what they call “red eyed soul” and everyone else calls “12 bar blues”. Their music is muscular and rollicking, but what really makes them a little special is the bar room wit, such as Hemingway (“Hemingway always gets it right, With a simple syntax and a prose that’s right”) – a trucker style anthem for the thinking drinker.” Q4Music

Toronto Star Reviews Way Past Midnight

Gregg Quill writes…

“Their first CD, Way Past Midnight, is a masterful effort distinguished by some exceptionally colourful and unusual songs and an authoritative dedication to fundamental folk, roots and blues grooves.” …

Montreal Gazette Review

“As a unit, they’re tight and play like they really mean it, but it’s the songs that set this band apart. These are literary blues tunes for people who have read Hemingway and Atwood and who understand the futility of trying to get your love’s attention when she’s wrapped up in Michael Ondaatje’s In the Skin of a Lion.” PorkBelly Futures’ debut release “Way Past Midnight” was produced by David Gray, former guitarist with Parachute Club and Paul Butterfield. Assisting artists include award-winning Nashville guitarist Colin Linden (O Brother Where Art Thou?), Richard Bell (Janis Joplin, The Band) and The Canadian Brass.

Montreal Gazette

Best Folk/Roots Concert of the 2007

Here’s a nice review from the London Free Press Music Editor, James Reaney.

“Porkbelly Futures played The London Music Club to an appreciative audience and were as bloody great as you’d expect a band good enough to have somebody from the Canadian Brass playing guitars and harmonica, the double bassist from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra bowing away and a Governor General’s Award winning novelist supplying most of the lyrics….. When Porkbelly Futures come back, don’t you dare miss them.” …
London Free Press: James Reaney, Music Editor

Related show

• Artist: Porkbelly Futures
• Date: 06/27/09
• Time: 8:00pm
• City: Porkbelly Futures in London, ON
• Venue: London Music Club (The)
• Address: 470 Colborne Street
• Country: CA
• Age restrictions: All Ages/Licensed
• Notes: Porkbelly Futures return to London.
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