Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons - Old Believers Review

Brendan Benson’s name isn’t visible on the outside package of singer/songwriter Cory Chisel’s sophomore album, but as producer/mixer/multi-instrumentalist and label owner, he is the man behind the curtain largely responsible for its success. Chisel’s folk-rock dips its toes into pop, country and blues without fully submerging into any of those genres. Occasional mandolin, female backing vocals, strings, pedal steel, fiddle, flute, pianos, banjo, organ and a wide range of other sounds spice these already zesty songs whose ringing melodies are bolstered by Chisel’s emotive voice, often reminiscent of both Lennon and Petty. His opening slot for many of Norah Jones’ summer dates should bring much deserved attention to this talented up and coming artist with an old soul....full text Old Believers, the new album by Cory Chisel And The Wandering Sons, will be released on June 26th, 2012 on Readymade Records and distributed by Thirty Tigers. Cory Chisel released a timely music video for the album’s track, “Times Won’t Change” which addresses today’s recall election of Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin.

Old Believers was produced by Brendan Benson and recorded at Welcome to 1979 in Nashville, Tennessee. Chisel will be on tour throughout the summer and fall, including support slots for GRAMMY winning multi-platinum artist Norah Jones and gothic Americana band Murder By Death. Chisel will perform at festivals and record release shows to be announced in the coming weeks and is slated to appear on Late Night with David Letterman on July 10th. Full tour dates are below....full text Chisel knocked out nine of the 11 “Old Believers” tracks over the course of the evening, but kept the more unfamiliar material tucked into the earlygoing. A steady helping of “Death Won’t Send a Letter” favorites were sprinkled in, most of which were backed with five so-called Wandering Sons, as well as the delicate, smoky backing vocals of Chisel’s angelic sidekick Adriel Denae.

“This song makes me think of you guys,” Chisel later told the onlookers before taking a trip back a few years for “Home in the Woods.” Shortly after, the backing band headed offstage, leaving the duo of Chisel and Denae to run through a stellar, face-to-face rendition of “In the Deep End.”

It takes a special something for an act to pull off both a memorable “shots for everybody!” club show at a joint like Cranky Pat’s and also keep a larger audience inside of a historic, seats-only venue like the Lawrence Memorial Chapel in hand. Chisel has that something. ...full text