Victor Mecyssne
HUSH MONEY
Sweetfish - 0008
avaliable on amazon
This has the style and cool of the urban hipster, the twinge of the country sensibilities, the intelligent lyrics and story lines of some one used to having to tell a coherent story. Put together with a refreshing twist, that has you taking a pause and giving a longer listen to what is said and how it presented. If you want comparisons think Lyle Lovett of the big band sound, tangling up with the jaded twisted wit of Tom Waits, and for kickers you have the smoky down and out flavor of the taverns and characters of Charles Butowski, told with a sense of humor. The songs and essence of this disc are in a definite laid back style and they are varied enough to never become boring or the least repetitive. It is a good exploration into this tarnished and pretentious side of the universe. It doesn't seek to explore an underworld of William Burroughs' characters, but Victor Mecyssne's world is people by those that haven't yet sunk that far, or are too afraid to totally let go. They are reviling in their tawdry lives. This is a true showcase for these tunes and the tales they have to weave. I am happy to say it is one of the more literate discs I have run across in a very long while. These are the songs of a craftsperson whose craft is important. It is the styling of a lyrical poet who cared about his form, in every way, as opposed to those of a poet who decided to stick music behind his songs and call himself a songwriter. The music backs the mood of the songs in all nuances. The musicians here do an excellent job of letting the mood and lyrics shine through and staying out of the way of the song while still supporting its every turn. The sound quality is clean and sharp, letting your ear take on the journey instead of forcing or hindering the sojourn in any way. Of the 12 songs Victor wrote or co-wrote 10 of them.
Songs, writers, and musicians - All songs written by Victor Mecyssne unless otherwise noted.
1. A GIRL THAT'S HIP - Tim Carroll and Duane Jarvis
Victor Mecyssne - vocal
Rick Gordon - electric guitar
Jeff 'Stick' Davis - upright bass
Rick Lonow - drums
Eric Holt - piano
Phil Madeira - Hammond B3 organ
Jeff Coffin - tenor saxophone
Tim Carroll and Duane Jarvis - harmony vocal
2. THEY WERE PLAYIN' THE BLUES - Victor Mecyssne and Tom Mitchell
Victor Mecyssne - archtop guitar and vocal
Rick Gordon - electric guitar
Jeff 'Stick' Davis - upright bass
Rick Lonow - drums
Eric Holt - piano
Jeff Coffin - soprano saxophone
Pam Atha - harmony vocal
3. DRINKIN' ON A DOLLAR -
Victor Mecyssne - archtop guitar and vocal
Rick Gordon - electric guitar
Jeff 'Stick' Davis - upright bass
Rick Lonow - drums
Eric Holt - piano
Jeff Coffin - tenor saxophone
Pam Atha & Eric Holt - harmony vocal
4. UMA'S BLUBIRDS -
Victor Mecyssne - mandolin
Andy Smith - guitar
Calvin Minner - banjo
5. LOWER BROADWAY -
Victor Mecyssne - National guitar and vocal
Rick Lonow - percussion
David Jacques - tuba, trombone, trumpet, euphonium & petite pornophone
Steve Conn - mouth trumpet
Jeff Coffin - tenor saxophone
The Salvation Chorus - Steve Allen, Pam Atha, Steve Conn, Eric Holt & Lucinda Williams
6. YOU'RE GONNA KNOW
Victor Mecyssne - archtop guitar and vocal
Rick Gordon - electric guitar
Jeff 'Stick' Davis - upright bass
Rick Lonow - drums
Eric Holt - piano
Jeff Coffin - tenor saxophone
Bill Fanning - flugel horn
7. REGISTER ONE -
Victor Mecyssne - archtop guitar and vocal
Charlie Chadwick - upright bass
Kami Lyle - vocal
8. THAT GOOD THING -
Victor Mecyssne - National guitar and vocal
Jeff 'Stick' Davis - upright bass
Rick Lonow - drums
Eric Holt - piano
Kirk 'Jellyroll' Johnson - harmonica
Pam Atha & Eric Holt - harmony vocal
9. SMALL TOWN GRAPEVINE - Victor mecyssne & Steve Allen
Victor Mecyssne - vocal
Allison Moorer - vocal
Steve Allen - electric guitar
Jeff 'Stick' Davis - upright bass
Rick Lonow - drums
Eric Holt - piano
Jeff Coffin - tenor saxophone
10. RELAX - Victor Mecyssne & Steve Allen
Victor Mecyssne - vocal
Allison Moorer - vocal
Steve Allen - electric guitar
Jeff 'Stick' Davis - upright bass
Rick Lonow - drums
Eric Holt - piano
Jeff Coffin - tenor saxophone
11. APRE'S COUCHER DU SOLEIL - Victor Mecyssne & Rick Plant
Victor Mecyssne - archtop guitar and vocal
Rick Gordon - electric guitar
Jeff 'Stick' Davis - upright bass
Rick Lonow - drums
Eric Holt - piano
Jeff Coffin - tenor saxophone
Steve Conn - accordion
Pam Atha & Eric Holt - harmony vocal
12. GOING TO NEW ORLEANS - Walter Hyatt
Victor Mecyssne - acoustic guitar and vocal
Jim Hoke - harmonica