Ian & Alisa McFeron, Live at the Rumor Mill

Friday, February 17, 7:30 pm, The Rumor Mill, Friday Harbor

— from Ian McFeron —

Ian McFeron releases his eighth studio album Radio, produced by Grammy-nominated producer Doug Lancio (John Hiatt, Patty Griffin), and recorded at Studio G! in East Nashville, TN. In addition to guitarist Doug Lancio, personnel on the album include pedal steel player Russ Pahl (Ray LaMontagne, Kings of Leon, Elton John), drummer Marco Giovino (Robert Plant, Nora Jones), bassist Chris Donohue (Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Ben Folds), pianist John Dedrick (Patty Griffin), and harmony vocalist Alisa Milner.

McFeron has recorded with Doug Lancio in the past (Time Will Take You, Summer Nights), but this is the first album project together where Lancio produced, engineered, and mixed from beginning to end. Lancio was the primary decision maker throughout the project, including choosing the track list from McFeron’s demos and advising an acoustic sound over an electric. The latter was particularly interesting considering Lancio’s primary instrument is the electric guitar.

The end result is an album featuring live performances of musicians playing together. “As a general rule, we chose to value immediacy and character over ‘perfection’, feeling that snapshots of true moments communicate the narratives best, and that authenticity is what stands up best over time,” says McFeron. The songs for Radio drew inspiration from McFeron’s travels and from his favorite singer-songwriters of the 60’s and 70’s, but the musicians and Lancio brought a more modern approach to the songs, creating a sound similar to the works of Buddy Miller or T Bone Burnett.

The theme of authenticity prevailed through the recording process and even into the album artwork design. Local Seattle artist and designer Josh Schramm lent his talents and hand carved the album logo out of print-high linoleum for use with a vintage mechanical letter press to create a one of a kind cover.

McFeron continues to perform over 180 shows per year and travels extensively throughout the country. He will be joined on stage by long time friend and musical accompanist Alisa Milner on fiddle, cello, electric guitar, and harmony vocals.

“By diligently listening to Ian McFeron’s 7th album, it is a mystery that he is not signed to a major label, although he is mentioned in the same breath as both Bob Dylan and John Lennon…..” –Hans Bloom, Dalademokraten

“…You don’t have to know about Ian McFeron’s background to know that these songs were all probably written in cheap hotels in the middle of the night, and history tells us that’s where the best ones come from…” — Alan Harrison, Maverick Magazine, UK

“Seattle duo pays frequent calls to S.A. That’s a good thing because McFeron is a fine singer and songwriter, an alt-folk/rock/Americana performer who strikes a cool balance between the mellow and the edgy.” — Jim Beal, San Antonio Express

“Singer-songwriter Ian McFeron has a surprisingly diverse musical palate, shifting from alternative country to acoustic rock and blues.” — Gene Stout, Seattle PI