Latest / Unsigned518 / Unsigned518 - Episode 206 - Ryder Cooley (of Dust Bowl Faeries)

Transcript

Unsigned518 - Episode 206 - Ryder Cooley (of Dust Bowl Faeries) · Unsigned518

• 0:01
  Speaker A: He was born on a Saturday in 73 he loves punk rock music fighting the 13 cabin in the dazzle Jazz on the beat Guitar with the short with radio back his motherfucking envy Scrolling look at motherfucker, cuz here he comes.
• 0:22
  Speaker B: Andy Scrolling wearing his orange hat welcome to unsigned 518. I am here with Ryder Cooley of Dustbowl Fairies. And when I say here, you know, we're not in the same room because technology allows us to do, to do this, but I'm here virtually. So how's it going?
• 0:44
  Speaker C: It's going all right. It's. What a crazy winter with so much snow and so cold, but we're getting through it. The lights coming in a little bit.
• 0:56
  Speaker B: Yeah, it has been really, really exceptionally cold this winter. And, you know, not to get off subject immediately, but I, I heat with wood. And we have, we have gone through almost twice as much wood this winter as we did last year.
• 1:11
  Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, I know. I ran out of oil like a week or so ago and I think I just. I wasn't used to going through it so quickly, so I didn't, I didn't check, you know, I thought I had enough for a few more weeks. So. Yeah, yeah, it's been crazy, ridiculous.
• 1:31
  Speaker B: But we're not here to talk about how we're freezing up here in the Northeast. We're here to talk about something a little warmer, I guess, which is music. And we spoke, I guess, maybe a couple weeks ago for a show that you had coming up at Cafe Lina that actually got postponed due to this lovely weather. So we'll get a chance to talk about that a little later in the episode. And then you've got another show coming up this week. But I think we'll start based basically where I start most of my conversations, which is just a very vague question of kind of how did your relationship with music begin?
• 2:12
  Speaker C: Well, yeah, going way back, my parents loved music. They had a, you know, huge record collection. And we. They also had a lot of music friends and we, we might. We played a lot of folk music. My dad played a little guitar and so we were always like singing and we had a. We were hippies, so we had a van and we'd sing folk songs in the van to pass the time. So it's really been a part of my life forever. And then one of my big influences was my grandmother. She was a piano player and a singer, and I just loved her so much. And that's how I ended up playing the accordion was before my grandmother had the, the piano she had an accordion, which is considered the working person's piano. If you, you know, if you had a small apartment or you couldn't afford a piano, you would have an accordion. Back in her days. So, so at some point when I was getting more into playing music as like a young adult, my mom got me an accordion and it sort of took over and it's been my main instrument ever since.
• 3:39
  Speaker B: And is that, you know, because I don't know a ton about accordion. I know a little bit about keyboard, you know, because I play a very, very, very small amount of piano. But how is that different? You know, like, different. I know it's got like the keys on the left hand and the right hand, and then you need, you know, you need the air to control it. Like, how much different is that than just like your standard keyboard?
• 4:07
  Speaker C: It's really different and also very similar in that, you know, you have the keys. So if you can, if you can play a piano, you can play an accordion. On the key side, the, the buttons take some time to get used to. There's. On the full, full button accordion, there's 120 buttons, and they're laid out in the circle of fifths. So. And then there's rows that are like the root note, the major chord, the minor chord, the seventh chord, the diminished chord. So it's really fascinating, but it takes a while to be able to figure it all out and navigate the button side.
• 5:00
  Speaker B: And when you move it to control the air, is that something that you're chambering air to play with, and that's why it constantly has to go, because you'll run out of air.
• 5:15
  Speaker C: Exactly. So the accordions are reed instruments. So it's like, it's like a whole bunch of clarinets.
• 5:24
  Speaker A: Wow.
• 5:25
  Speaker C: So it has re. It has reeds for all of the notes. And most of the accordions will have like double reads. Mine has double reads. So it has a, like a clarinet, I guess you would say. And then what is the other one there? There's like basically an oboe or something like, or maybe a bassoon. And then you can combine the two, and that's like the double read setting. But you can kind of switch between the different settings. So some of the really big accordions, you'll see there's like a bunch of buttons, and those have like many different read settings. I. Those instruments are so heavy that I, I have a pretty condensed version of the accordion, but it, it does have the full 120 buttons. And so because it's a reed instrument, it needs Air, but instead of like a clarinet where you're blowing into it, you're using the bellows to blow the earth, to blow the air through the reeds.
• 6:31
  Speaker B: And you know, with like a clarinet and like a saxophone, you know, other reed instruments. I know the, the reed is very delicate and needs to be changed a lot. Is that kind of the same in an accordion? Do you have access to the reeds on the inside or is it a fixed thing?
• 6:48
  Speaker C: Yeah, it's not the type of reed where you change them, fortunately. I mean, you do every once in a while have to. They can go out of tunes, but it's not something that happens very often. And so it's like a fixed. They're metal and they have little like flaps. But yeah, not. It would be not a good idea to have to open up the accordion and change the reeds all the time.
• 7:20
  Speaker B: You know, it's interesting because I talk to a lot of musicians, but it's very rare that I'm talking to someone who plays an instrument that I'm like fascinated with and know nothing about. You know, usually it's guitar or drums and I'm like, yeah, I get it, you know, but I'm like, how does an accordion work?
• 7:37
  Speaker C: Yeah, yeah. And then the other instrument that I've been playing for quite a while is the musical saw. So that's, that's another like old time instrument that was played in like Appalachian music and in a lot of like Eastern European music. So that was considered the working person's violin. Like if you couldn't afford a violin, you would play a saw. And that instrument is. I play it with a bow and you bend the, the tip of the saw to make the different notes. So yeah, I've played weird instruments. I always kind of liked being like doing the, doing the weird thing. So here I am.
• 8:31
  Speaker B: And do you think like, you know, the style of music that you've kind of curated like those traditional sounding instruments or as you just said, like kind of the weird instruments. How important do you think those are to, to creating your sound?
• 8:49
  Speaker C: I, I mean they're definitely a big part of the dust bowl fairies sound. I have done some projects where I've played some guitar or some. I have a six string ukulele that I really love. And you know, I sometimes I miss the string instruments because they are, they're just, they're fun to play and they're. And it's really like pretty. You know, it can like with. When you get into finger picking, I, I miss that sometimes because the, the Accordion is just like not a very subtle instrument. But I decided to really focus on accordion just to, I don't know, like, hone it in and commit to a sound, I guess. So. Yeah, I've just been. I've been pretty focused on the accordion for Dust Bowl Fairies since the. Since we started the Dust Bowl Fairies a little like 11 years ago. So it's been my main instrument for 11 years.
• 10:04
  Speaker B: That's awesome. So, you know, I guess we can kind of roll into how Dust Bowl Fairies came about. Like, you know, let's go back 11 years ago or so when, like when, when the idea came about and when it really started to form. And like, at what point were you like, this is. This is it, you know, this is. This is the band, this is the name, this is the outfit. And I know it's changed a little bit, you know, over the years, but I guess how did that really get started?
• 10:36
  Speaker C: Yeah, so it did get started because I had been playing. I had a project called the. It was an extinction cabaret. It was songs about extinct animals and I really. But it was like a big stage show. It was a big production and it. And it was just. It was fun, but it was. I couldn't, you know, it wasn't something I could do forever and. But I really loved the songs and I wanted to keep playing the songs. So Dust Bowl Fairies kind of came out of that project and a friend, you know, helped me figure out the. The musician. So it started out as a trio with three. Three, you know, femme identified people. And we played as the trio for maybe a couple of years and then we lost the keyboard player. And then, you know, there's been different musicians and I think, you know, the other musicians in the band also in. Have informed the music. You know, whatever. Whatever they bring to the band is a big part of. Of our sound. So like we started out with electric guitar and then we transitioned to acoustic guitar, which has been really fun because John plays a lot of like sort of flamenco sounding. He does a lot of like intricate strumming that. That has really brought so much to our sound. And then we have the lap steel played with an Ebo. So that gives it a kind of a psych fol found. And the lap steel has been there since the beginning, so that's been a. A constant thread. And now we have a new drummer and we have. We started out with like a. Almost. It was like a standing drum kit. It was a little more like percussive. And now we just have, you know, a full on A kit. So it's a bigger. A bigger drum sound these days.
• 12:56
  Speaker B: And, you know, we. I do want to talk about. There's a couple of shows coming up. One this week and one that. That got rescheduled from a little bit ago. But before we do that, is there a dust bowl fairy song that you'd want to play for the folks?
• 13:13
  Speaker C: Yeah, definitely. How about if we play film noir double feature?
• 13:21
  Speaker A: Okay.
• 13:22
  Speaker B: Yeah, cool. So let's take a quick break. We'll listen to film noir double feature, then we'll be right back to talk some more.
• 13:28
  Speaker A: Dark night, no moon, White house, boardroom. Yes, ma'. Am. CEO. Money comes, money goes, Pay more. Jones calling the shots at gunpoint. What's kitty? Who's a creature? It's a film. New feature. Big cats. Out of mind, out of sight. All right. Manslaughter raised tear and all your fears. Can I believe you can't stand? Cuz it's not hard to kill a man. Just remember if you do Black cat's going to hold you. Put your hands on your head, bang bang, now you're down, hanging from underneath whistle Good guy, lose a creep, get all the you can stand. Cause it's not hard to kill a man. Just remember if you do Black cat's crown on hold you earth ship sinking fast Radiation, it's blast. Plastic coffins man made last forever. Never fails, time to take the world a break. Names dressed up, follow the step, Ransom before our handsome face. Just a warning, global warming. Come on, kids, join the party. What's a hitch, Mr. Smarty? We're going for a little ride. Come in, no place to hide. See you later, operator. See you soon, Typhoon. What's a skinny? Who's the creature? It's a film you are. What's a skinny? Who's the creature? It's a film, you are. Double feature.
• 16:43
  Speaker B: All right, so that was film noir, double feature. Dust bowl fairies. And you know, we want to talk about. There's a couple shows. One. You know, originally when we met a couple weeks ago, we were talking about the Cafe Lena show that got rescheduled due to the weather. And we will talk about that, but there's another show coming up this Friday. So tell us a little bit about that one.
• 17:05
  Speaker C: Yeah, this Friday we are playing at Park Theater in Hudson, New York. It's our nightmare before Valentine's Day. Dark cabaret show. And Melora Krager is opening on cello. So Melora is the cello player from Rasputina. And we're so excited that she's playing. She hasn't played out in. In quite a while. So this is a very special night that I'm just looking forward to so much. And Melora played in the film noir song, so you just heard her cello playing. She's recorded on several of our albums over the years. And we can have an emcee, Cardinal Majesty, who's quite a character. And there will be tarot readings available. So it's going to be a magical night. Friday the 13th of February.
• 18:10
  Speaker B: And you know, originally when, when I interviewed you for the Cafilina show, that was going to be your first show with your new drummer. But I'm assuming that this Friday is now the first show with your new drummer and you're not making it sit out or anything.
• 18:27
  Speaker C: No, he'll be there. Ryan Delmalino. So, yeah, we're really excited to be doing our first show with Ryan.
• 18:39
  Speaker B: Yeah, that is exciting. So I guess one more time, what are the details of that show?
• 18:44
  Speaker C: So it's Friday the 13th of February, Dark Cabaret at Park Theater in Hudson, New York, with Melora Krager of Rasputina opening on cello.
• 18:56
  Speaker B: Nice. And tickets are probably available now online.
• 19:00
  Speaker C: Tickets. Yeah, tickets are available through Dust Bowl Fairies. You'll find it on all of our pages and website. And Dustbowl Fairies is spelled. The fairy part is spelled. F, A, E, R, I, E, S. That's the old English spelling for fairies versus the Disney spelling. So you can. Yeah, you'll find the ticket link on our website or Instagram or Facebook. You can also get the tickets through the venue, Park Theater, Hudson.
• 19:34
  Speaker B: Perfect. And. And then let's talk a little bit about Cafe Lena because this is a return to Cafe Lena. And you know, we had, we had, when we had talked, we couldn't quite pin down exactly when you had played. And I don't have it in front of me. But if you go to the Metroland and look at the article, I did pinpoint the date that, that you played.
• 19:56
  Speaker C: That's amazing. I'm glad that you figured that out.
• 19:59
  Speaker B: Yeah. And I think it was actually 2016. I might be mistaken. It was 2016 or 2017. Again, it's in the article. I looked it up through Cafe Lena's website archives and found out exactly when it was. So this is your return. And so much has changed at Cafe Lena since the last time you were there. So I guess what can people expect from this show?
• 20:26
  Speaker C: Well, the show is on March 6, Friday. And this show will. Well, the space is just so beautiful. It's going to be live streamed as well as an in person concert and will be a quartet. And it's such an intimate space that I think it's a really good, like a good listening room. We'll probably play some of our quieter songs at least at the beginning of the night. We're playing two sets with a little short intermission between. So it'll be a full night of Dust Bowl Fairies and. And just like a very intimate room with beautiful acoustics. So we look forward to seeing everybody there and chatting at the intermission and. And just playing in Saratoga because we haven't played in Saratoga in quite a while. So this will be a real treat.
• 21:33
  Speaker B: And you know, I know you were saying when we were talking a couple weeks ago how important the crowd and the, you know, the being able to connect with the audience is to the band. Like a venue such as Cafe Lena where it's like a not a bad seat in the house type of thing. How does that change? Or maybe not even change, but what kind of charge does that give you to have a venue that's almost like perfect for what you do, you know?
• 22:04
  Speaker C: Yeah, I know now that we have the. We're playing with the full drum kit and even the snare drum, which I didn't allow snare drum for the longest time, but we have the snare drum now. And I'm like, I hope we're not going to be too loud for Cafe Lena, but they told us to bring the drummer. So I think they're. They're into it, they're ready for it. And I think it will be a really nice listening experience for people to be able to really hear the lyrics and hear the nuances of the songs. We have such an interesting sound and this will be a great opportunity to be able to focus on that. Since it's a concert venue and it's not like a noisy bar, it'll be seated and yeah, I think that this, the Cafe Lena will just be a great opportunity to. To really get to know the songs and the music and hear what's going on.
• 23:16
  Speaker B: Yeah. And when you say, you know, like how it's a listening room, it is like one, you know, where everybody is quiet, everybody is paying attention, everybody is absorbing the music. And there is something different about being in the room and hearing the songs like that than there is to even sitting and listening to them, you know, on, on CD or through the stereo. Like there's such a connection to the words when you're seeing them come out of the human being right in front of you, you know, like there's just something about it that cannot be replicated no matter what.
• 23:54
  Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, exactly. And people are always really curious about our lyrics and they can't hear all the words. They're frustrated. So we have, like, little lyrics books that people can get at our merch. But I think at this, at Cafe Lena, I know the sound is so good there, so it will. It will be like a journey together with everybody in the room. And our. Our lyrics are a little bit on the dark side, but we. There's also a lot of, like, light in them and a lot of. We have a lot of songs about animals and sort of like mystical experiences. So there's a little bit of everything for everyone in the Dust Blue Fairies songs and especially in the lyrics.
• 24:47
  Speaker B: That's great. Really. That's going to be a great show. And the fact that it's live streamed too, is, you know, because not everybody can make it out or, you know, not everybody is local and it'll. It'll allow, I mean, basically anybody. Anybody with an interconnect Internet connection on the planet to. To have that experience with you.
• 25:09
  Speaker C: Yeah, I know. I love. I love it so much that they do both. And I mean, I. I don't really, as we discussed before, I don't really enjoy doing a live stream only show because I really love a live audience in the room. And we. We just need that. That dust will fairies really respond to audience. So we. We love a live audience in the room with us. But I also like it when people who can't be there can listen from wherever they are. So this is like the best of both worlds.
• 25:48
  Speaker B: Yeah, it's gonna be great. So, you know, before we go, I was hoping that we could maybe get another Dust Bowl Fairies song in.
• 25:58
  Speaker C: Yeah, let's do it. Let's play Ringlets Roulette. That's different sound and a good way to end the show.
• 26:09
  Speaker B: All right, well, let's listen to Ringlets Roulettes and then we'll be right back to wrap it up.
• 26:14
  Speaker A: Don't let the sun tug at your face Weeds are the crime Queen Anne's lace Roses have thorns Lavender's gay pockets are full of posies today Another show on the road Difficult to prepare I like the ringlets the ringlets in her hair Another show on the road it's difficult to repair I like the ringers. Does she love me or does she k n o t if she loves me forget me not she makes me call me crazy Now I'm in Daisy feeling kind of hazy she makes me kind of crazy she makes me kind of crazy Now I'm in daisy Feeling kind of daisy she makes me kind of crazy the moon is a portal in the sky I like to go there when I, when I die the moon is a portal.
• 28:34
  Speaker C: Oh, what sweet fools you and I.
• 28:40
  Speaker A: Watching the portal in the sky oh, what sweet fools you and I Watching the portal in the sky she makes me kind of crazy Now I'm in a daisy Feeling kind of hazy she makes me kind of crazy she makes me kind of crazy Now I make me crazy Feel kind of crazy she makes me kind of crazy she makes me kind of crazy Now I make me lazy Feeling kind of lazy she makes me kind of crazy she makes me.
• 29:43
  Speaker B: All right, that was ringlets, roulettes, Dust bowl fairies, and Rider on a. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to do this with me. It was really great, a cool conversation and. And I get to talk to you twice in two weeks. So, you know, that. That, that was really fun. So. But like I do with all my guests, before we go, I want to give you a chance to say what I refer to as your gratitude. So the microphone is all yours.
• 30:07
  Speaker C: Thank you so much. Well, number one, gratitude is to you for. Yeah. Having these conversations so close in a row, I feel like we really getting to know each other here. So thank you. Thank you. And we're. We're really grateful to most, most of all the people who listen to dust bowl fairies and who have supported us over the years. There's so many people who have, you know, come. Come to our shows, danced with us, laughed and cried with us and supported us. And without that, we just would not be still playing music as a band. So thanks to everyone out there who have been hearing us over all these years, and thanks to any new listeners who come out to the shows and we'd love to get to know you, so please come see us. Also, another shout out to Melora from Rasputina. She has been a wonderful friend and collaborator, and we're so, so grateful that she has played on many of our recordings and. Yeah, see. See you all out there in 2026 at the shows.
• 31:36
  Speaker B: Awesome. Well, thank you, Ryder Cooley of Dustball Fairies. I am Andy Scullin, this is unsigned 518 and I'll see you on the road. Unsigned 518 is produced and hosted by me, Andy Scullin. New episodes are available every week wherever you are. Stream podcasts. If you'd like to help support the show, please like and subscribe wherever you are. Listening. Or you could buy me a coffee@buymeacoffee.com unsigned 518 if you would like to advertise on the show, send me an email@unsigned518mail.com and to be a guest on the show, reach out to me through Instagram signed 518 take care of one another and I'll see you next week.