Purchase now at https://thirdmanstore.com/tmr-live/bill-callahan-live-at-third-man-records

Bill Callahan, fka Smog, is simultaneously a staple of strange American country, lofi, folk, and independent music. His lyricism comes across as challenging and deeply autobiographical, equal parts “poetry leaning on true-to-life darkness” and “three chords and the truth.”

So, it is fitting that Callahan’s live set would command the same sense of friendliness-with-
difficulty that the recorded songs do. With brief, candid, and charming interludes between older and newer material, an outsider can hear that this performance was obviously a full-bodied (and multi-era) engagement, no space left for distraction. “Jim Cain” is a phenomenal song in any iteration, no doubt about it, but this live recording is unabashedly disrobed, tender, and saved for a sympathetic ear. The full album is an experience; make it one you look after.

Live at Third Man Records

Live at Third Man Records Jim Cain - Bill Callahan

I'm putting up new original material on my Spotify channel https://open.spotify.com/artist/2PtcG937rHfQWJwv0Zi4um?si=t1ppLngORgmuqz9qeoDOzw 
Mostly original tracks, a few covers here and there. Thank you for even getting this far. Thoughts, opinions, suggestions all welcome. It's pretty lonely out here toiling over every sound wave and grubby plugin. Any feedback is appreciated and if you've got a track you want me to hear send it over - what comes around goes around etc. A huge shout out to Len Rice for all his production suggestions on this and other tracks of mine - a true expert, check him out https://soundcloud.com/lenrice
One day I hope to get some collaborations going and a far off dream is to re awaken all these tracks in a live environment with a live band and maybe even a live audience. For now the dream keeps me going. Thanks for listening.

I'm trying to use as much real instrumentation as possible: a Taylor and a Norman acoustic guitars, a Fender Strat Roadhouse that goes out of tune if I even look at it, a cheap Vintage mandolin that hurts to play and listen to, an 80 year old zither banjo that screams 'I was never destined for this' and a borrowed Aria Pro II bass that a friend can never be bothered to take home on the bus. Synths are a plasticky Roland FA06 and a fun but dumb Korg minilogue. Throw in some Native Instruments software primarily for smoochy piano and strings, a £15 melodica full of tramp spit, some harps in impossible tunings, and a box of percussion and assorted prehistoric flints (are you really still reading this??). 

All recorded on Logic Pro X on an ancient iMac that is going to explode any minute and take my entire oeuvre with it. And most likely burn the house down.

Songwriter living in Brooklyn, NY

http://www.NickChristianMacDonald.com

http://www.nickmacsounds.com/