Cary Ann Hearst (Spill! Archive)
The below interview appeared on Girl About Town on 4/24/2008, announcing Cary Ann Hearst would be playing one of our blog sponsored parties, and was written by PGAT contributor, Amy Williams. This is just prior to Hearst beginning to perform as Shovels & Rope.
Girl About Town is STOKED to introduce Cary Ann Hearst to Philadelphia this Thursday for our Spring Fling (9 PM at the Khyber). Cary’s a southern country girl full of soul and charisma. As the Charlestonians (as Cary likes to call people from her hometown of Charleston) will tell you, seeing Cary and the Gun Street Girls live is a twangy, feet-stomping, REAL southern experience. It’s not the modern country or alt-country that you are used to now. It’s the emotional performing and songwriting that Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash were known for; delivered by a sultry, raspy, little spitfire of a gal. Girl About Town caught up with Cary to get some info on her inspiration and to find out how she likes to spice up her live shows.
Girl About Town: Your sound plays a great ode to classic, whiskey-soaked country (when country was at its best with the likes of Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash). Do you strain your influence from those roots? What inspires your style and songwriting process now?
Cary Ann Hearst: I am deeply stoned on the intoxicating effects of that kind of music. I grew up with it and despite all my resistance as a punk kid in Nashville, TN, I was inevitably captivated. I have a hard time pulling loose of those apron strings when I write, but I find inspiration where ever someone leaves it around. I am currently obsessed with the Shangri-Las and I hope they influence me, though I would not have wanted to be lumped into their girl gang.
You have been playing the Charleston music scene for over a decade. What part has Charleston played in molding your sound?
We are pretty isolated over here. We Charlestonians spend all our time with each other, stealing from each other's ideas and changing it up enough to turn into flattery. I am constantly making self righteous commentary on my peers, so if it weren’t for the debauchery of the average Charlestonian, I wouldn’t have much of a schtick. I suppose. HA!
You are signed with Taylor Shults of TKO Artist Management who represents Toby Keith, among other big names in country. How did you connect?
On a musical level, we don’t connect. Me and TKO that is, although they are all wonderful to me and he does my business the way I would want it done. I have nothing to do with commercial country music and I want nothing to do with it for the most part. I met Taylor at a gig and I was SO VERY RETICENT to trust anyone out of Nashville. I pretty much wrote him off when I found out who he works for. I was afraid he would wanna put me in pink lipstick and tell me my music was too country or not country enough or whatever it is everyone likes to say to an artist who can be easily classified. He swore up and down after much persistence that I ought to give it a shot. Schults rocks and he gets done that which I can not. Now I make no apologies. Hell, Toby Keith’s having a nice career.... maybe these guys know what they are doing. Hell, he's my own personal Albert Grossman.
We came across some interesting information about you producing a rock & roll Burlesque/Cabaret show a few years ago along with a Rock n' Roll Rejects Prom...tell us about that! Are you still involved with putting on these shows? Also, when can we expect a new album; what's in store this summer?
Since I play Charleston pretty frequently, I try to mix in some other visual or thematic aspects to show productions to keep it interesting and fresh for the folks (and for the band too). My interests are 'schitzo' so it works out that I can do whatever I want and everyone goes along with it... "That Cary Ann, she's just so capable!" That’s what they say! (Laughs at own joke here.) Summer time has more of the same... country band practices on Sunday. Rock and roll on Monday. Cabaret KIKI in May, Gun Street Girls tour in July. Shovels And Rope record will be coming out, hopefully one from The Gun Street Girls, and somewhere in there I am gonna find myself. "We haven’t located our selves yet....," gratuitous Wes Anderson reference.
Last but not least, what's your favorite thing about Philadelphia?
Freedom and Hoots and Hellmouth. Honestly, that’s all I know about Philly. Perhaps this will be the beginning of a hot romance with the city of Bro-Love. If you will have me back that is.
Don't forget, you can catch Cary Ann Hearst and the Gun Street Girls THIS THURSDAY (5/1/2008) at Girl About Town's Spring Fling!
Cary Ann Hearst - band site / myspace
