Heilewelt - a blog for music lovers

Some might say it is too much sadness to see William Fitzsimmons twice in just two days, I say it is just right. I have seen him on the 21. (sold out) and 22. December in Berlin - the last days of his long tour. I loved every second of both gigs. 

As always William had a very good support band. Slow Runner not only played before William but also with William. Drummer/Multi-instrumentalist/Producer of Williams latest record “Gold In The Shadow” Josh Kaler played with William during the last tours as well and now Michael Flynn (singer/piano) of Slow Runner has joined on backing vocals and piano - a role which was in female hands beforehand or I just saw women (that also how I felt in love with Laura Jansen and Laura DiStasi). And then there was the third one whose name I forgot, who played bass, some little electronic Korg thing and a little square guitar. He was or is according to William “the most handsome member of the band”. This is handsome guy with square guitar during William’s set.

I enjoyed Slow Runner a lot - the second night was even better than the first and both were more than good. I think the second night was better because it was more energetic (last day of the tour/2nd night in the same city) and I was kind of more relaxed. They make pop music - sometimes almost spheric and sometimes a little louder. I like this variety of their sound. And I like Michael Flynns voice. And I am amazed by Josh Kaler - I have always been amazed by him. He sits there in the back of the stage not only playing drums and glockenspiel and drum computer but he also plays guitar and pedal steel guitar (my new favourite instrument next to the theremin, people should use both more often). While most drummer just sit behind their set, he uses all the width of the stage nowadays. Well, I remember seeing him shuffling all sorts of stuff (also a banjo and so on) behind his kit a couple of month ago and now it just the whole back of the stage.

And you can see and hear that in Slow Runner, in its variety and also in the fine structured melodies. I can say much about the lyrics unfortunately (I didn’t had enough money for the CDs and even though they have the lyrics on their site, I am not sure which songs where played. And I almost never understand then while being sung.) The audience, especially on the second date, enjoyed Slow Runner a lot - I have seen some dancing from the corner of my eyes. Slow Runner also played with William. 

William played a couple of old and new songs. Even songs from what he calls his “worst” album “Until When We Are Ghosts” which I dearly love. It’s a very rough album, not polished or anything and that is what I love about it. It’s very boiled down. He played re-worked versions “Funeral Dress” and “Passion Play”. Of course he also played songs of “Goodnight”, “The Sparrow And The Crow” and “Gold In The Shadow”. He played “From The Water” from the deluxe edition of “Gold In The Shadow” - I remember how I heard it the first time in Kiel last year. I love this song - it’s still one of my most favourite from the latest album, along with “Beautiful Girl”.

On the first night I once again had to get used to see him with a band even though I have seen him with a band a couple of times. Don’t know why it is always like that. When he has a band with him, his music feels always a little less sad. It’s difficult to explain - it’s his gentle voice with the acoustic guitar that gets me every time and with a band it’s more than that. Don’t get me wrong, I love him with band just as much but it is a fully different feeling. t’s the fuller sound, more structures and these kind of things. And well, since William is not a screamer, his voice is a little less “hearable”. On the first night I stood right in front of the handsome guy with his accordion (he played that as well in some songs) and then it was partly too loud but the next night I stood somewhere else and it was just perfect. 

Michael Flynn on piano, looking very thoughtful:

On the first night he covered Rhianna’s “Umbrella”….well, he started to play a few notes and sung a few words out of a joke and the audience joined for a few words…some did. I didn’t but it was funny. I mean the song get probably 100 times better sang by William but it will never be mine. On the second night the band played “Sweet Home Alabama” and pretty much the whole Heimathafen joined in and handsome guy played accordion. That was funny. But the most hilarious thing was that the band came in checked shirts while William came in a plain jeans shirt. And on top of that the band put on fake beards. Amazing. They were so close to being a William double…. if only the beard would have stayed on. Damn you, double-sided tape for not working properly! 

The only thing I found a bit annoying was a photographer (press person/journalist/whatever you call yourself) on the second date who spend the first three songs or so taking photos with his super camera which made annoying click sounds every single time (mine doesn’t that’s why the photos are not so good). It would have been a little less disturbing if there was a loud band and not just a man with a guitar who sings and plays as gentle as William does when he is on his own. He is just not a very loud musician, he is a bit louder when the band is around tho’. But I have moaned about this before and will continue to moan about it because I will always be more a music fan and lover than a press person and therefore often have the view of a fan and not the press. But I got to see William twice, so I couldn’t be happier than that and one or two idiots won’t ruin that. I forgot to ask William when he will be back but I am sure it won’t be too long as I have seen him live almost every 6 month since May 2009 (calculated roughly). 

All of them, singing into one microphone (and one in the way), one guitar and a shaker. So, so beautiful. Words are in this case are not enough to describe how wonderful it sounded. 

To solve the equation in the title for you:

(William Fitzsimmons)² + (Slow Runner)² = (awesomeness at its best)to the power of four*

I have quite possibly forgotten to mention on thing or the other. You can as always find a few more photos on my flickr.

Thank you for reading,

Dörte

*How do you do “to the power of four” in html or whatever? &sup4; didn’t work? It would look to much better! 

Rosi Golan by MyBlackGuitar

Rosi Golan is making wonderful music. These are some tracks from her new and from her old album. The new one “Lead Balloon” was released not long ago and when you like heartfelt and well made singer-songwriter music with a Folky/Americana touch. And “Hazy” is performed with one of my most favourite sad music makers: William Fitzsimmons. The music fits this grey and rainy autumn Sunday morning…at least for me.  

Have a good Sunday,

Dörte

I stumbled over a lot of shiny videos on Monday and thought it would be nice to share them with you. One each day for the next days. Tomorrow is the last day. 

Number 6: A video I almost forgot that it was released! My favourite song of William Fitzsimmons “Gold In The Shadow”. Simply wonderful.

…are Tubelord and Shoes And Socks Off in town. I am waiting for it since September last year and got pretty excited by now. Should be all sorts of awesome. I am eager to see if they can keep my month of beards going. 

See here one of many reasons why:

Can’t even tell you how much like a fanatic I feel now (but I think so far it is under control. ha ha). It’s strange when look forward to something for such a relatively long time and then it is finally there! A thrill of anticipation (I hope that the right word combination, anticipation sounds rather negative) is with me since about a week.

And talking about being fanatic (it’s under control, I promise) and beards, here is a new bit from William Fitzsimmons. He is talking about his new album. His new album is so beautiful. Trust me, it is. I already love it to pieces.

And I finally asked one of the persons (well, his publicist) I wanted to do an interview with for years if it was possible. Maybe someday it will happen. I hope. So many unanswered question buzzing in my head. 

Time for bed. Thank you for reading.

Dörte

Yesterday was my 5. time I saw William Fitzsimmons live, the first time was in May 2009. I was surprised myself about it. I didn’t realize it was so often even though I remember every single concert. I never got bored on one of them. I have never felt less touched. I always stood there with tearful eyes because of sad songs and because William is incredible funny. He is clearly on of the most funniest people around. After the show I had a short talk with William (like he usually does with his fans after the shows) and it was rather funny. The first two times I saw him playing solo. And after I saw him playing with his band for the first time I felt a bit confused and told him that. He once mentioned how he had to get used to play with a band and having other people with him on stage. And yesterday he said how he is not used to be on his own on the stage anymore. It’s not that long ago that he played solo. 

He played a few new tracks yesterday. Among them were “The Tides Pulled Out The Moon” and “The Winter From Her Leaving” (listen here) and a song called “Beautiful Girl” which seems to be a beautiful song and I can’t wait to hear it being fully played (unfortunately he forgot half of the lyrics while he sang the song). On the first listen they already seem to be less sad but what can I say after hearing most of them once. Nevertheless it is his voice which sounds so incredible sad to me. He can probably sing the most happiest song on planet earth and it still sounds sad. I am looking forward to “Gold In The Shadow” and how he made it less sad and to see (=read) the lyrics. 

Everyone in the audience seemed to love his concert. And we all had a big laugh when William said that his music was on “I am a celebrity” when one of the celebrities ate a deer dick. All I can sad crying babies and sick puppies. We constantly had a big laugh when he didn’t sing. I have a not so good photo of his talking/thinker pose which is way too dark - it actually wasn’t allowed to take photos but since there was a magazine with their photographer who took photos and every single one had a click coming with taking it, I thought I can make one, too. And I am able to make photos without a loud clicking (man with guitar is often not very loud, William is not loud, shame on you oh so important press girls for disturbing the concert).

I think I’ve forgotten to say a lot about this wonderful evening. It was wonderful, lovely, sad and put me on a high and once more making everything better. As always. If you have the chance go and see him. 

And just as funny thing in the end: I something take photos with the artists I like when I get the chance and when I am not too shy to ask for it or feel too awkward. 

This is the first one taken at Fraanz Club in Berlin in May 2009 and note the red and black Lumberjack shirt:

The next one was taken by someone (and not the usual method: I hold the camera myself and forget to smile) last year in Kiel:

And this is the one taken yesterday at the Bergahin Kantine, Berlin, again and I took it myself (refusing someones offer to take it for me and developing a tradition here) and yes, I am probably a total fan but if thats not obvious I don’t know what is really (and note that shirt again. hihi):

I honestly hope he is coming back to Germany sooner than Autumn. And in case if you wonder if he changed during this time, he did. I think he seems more confident nowadays but his music sounds still as heartfelt and he still interacts with the crowd. Have you seen this little movie of the tour he did last year? You can find it over there: http://vimeo.com/9902740). Everything is going to be alright some day, even for me. I know that for sure.

Thanks for reading, I’ll continue riding on my high (can I say this? Is that somewhat cool? Help?).

 Dörte

P.S. Look here for an acoustic performance of William and the overuse of the word “love” which is clearly untrue since the words love and William and acoustic performance always belong together and therefore there is no overuse possible.

Yes, finally some new tunes of my most favorite sad music maker. I literally had tears in my eyes when I heard the first notes of “The Winter From Her Leaving” of his forthcoming album “Gold In The Shadow”. But I think this time they were tears of joy in the first place. This might happen when I see him in concert next week, too. The show is sold out which is no surprise at all. 

It was not long ago that a CD was released which William produced - it’s Lonesome Animals with their debut EP (read here). They are a music collective from Midwestern USA and I still wonder who they really are. 

I think “The Winter From Her Leaving” is a beautiful piece. A bit different but still very much William Fitzsimmons. It starts almost uplifting and fresh. His voice of course is the same (and probably one of the reasons for my teary eyes). I wish my ability to understand lyrics while they are sung was better. 

The song that was put out first by Nettwerk was “The Tides Pull Out The Moon”. It is a very beautiful song, a bit more the sad, sad William. Guitar, violin and piano go hand in hand on this track and another lovely female voice is backing him. 

I am very excited for the album. I think I’ll write more about it when I had some full listens but the outlook is very good. It sound like a step forward from his last one. A constant development since “Until When We Are Ghosts” from a more “lofi” (or simple) sound to this rather complex melodies he has now. 

And isn’t that cover kind of old school? Like a cover from the 70’s…the younger classic things…I hope the booklet has lyrics in it. I wonder if the change of his writing “style” - leaving the personal level and going to a non personal one - has an effect on album artwork. “The Sparrow And The Crow” and “Goodnight” had beautiful drawings by Jenny Ross inside (and outside). At the moment I can’t imagine how the booklet could look like inside. I hope he has some albums to sell in Berlin. :)

Thank you for reading.

 Dörte