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by Michael Patronik
December 3, 2008
Alt-country pioneers Blue Mountain have been through it all in the nearly two decades since they formed in Oxford, Miss.: changes in lineup, underwhelming management, tough salad days, success and dissolution of both a marriage and the band. But while many thought the seminal bands days were done, 2007 was a lucky year for Americana fansand for Blue Mountain themselveswhen the band officially reunited in a series of shows that led to a new album, Midnight in Mississippi, released in August 2008.
Last week, Cary Hudson, Blue Mountains singer and guitarist, was on one of the bands micro tours, which last just a few days. He spoke to the Jackson Free Press from New York City about the bands new album, his professional reunion with ex-wife Laurie Stirratt and the state of the music business today.
Where are you touring right now?
Were in New York City playing a songwriters night. Weve got this new way of touring where we stay out for just four or five days. On this tour we hit Kentucky, D.C., Boston and New York.
Before Blue Mountain broke up, you had been based in Oxford. Where are you and Laurie based now?
Im based in Sumrall, Miss., which is about the size of the bookstore Im sitting in right now, and Laurie just moved from Chicago back to Oxford.
Hows the new album doing?
I think its going great. You know, it hasnt been out long enough to know from the distributor how its doing in stores. I dont have my hopes up too much because this is a terrible time for the music industry, but from being out on the road, its going great. The reviews have been really nice. And as far as what Ive been hearing from my fans, its really cool because theyve been coming up to me for, like, 18 years saying, I love your first record, Dog Days, and now theyre finally saying, I love this one as much as Dog Days or This is my favorite record from you guys. And thats nice to hear.
How is Midnight in Mississippi different from past Blue Mountain albums?
When we started making records, we were really just trying to capture the sound of the band playing in the roomreal stripped-down and simple. And as weve started making more records, adding more stuff in, we kind of got away from that a bit. I think the way this new record is different is that it kind of goes back to what we used to do, mainly capturing the sound of the band in the room. We cut most of the stuff live. We kind of stripped things back to the basics.
How long did it take to record?
We did it quick, within about two weeks. We recorded it in Dallas with (Grammy award-winning engineer) Stuart Sikes. Hes worked with the White Stripes and Cat Power. One of the reasons we wanted to work with him is that we knew he cut records live.
This is a new album, but also the first after Blue Mountain reunited. Is everything new, or is there any older material that just didnt find its way onto a past album for whatever reason?
There are two old songs from my solo records, and theres one song from a record that Laurie did with her brother John (Stirratt, bass player for Wilco), Shes a Wild One. That was an old one that we brought in and kind of reworked.
Blue Mountain broke up around 2000, and its impossible to speak about the band without mentioning your marriage also being a part of that. Whats it like now to have the band together again?
I think when we first got back together, we both felt like we were going to feel this out and see how it goes. Laurie and I were married for eight or nine years, so we had to feel out what that was going to be like. And it turns out that weve still got great chemistry. I love playing music with Laurie. And its turned out that were friends, too. So thats a good working relationship.
Weve certainly played well over a thousand gigs together, so its hard to replace that kind of relationship. Im not going to meet up with some other musician who Im going to be able to have that kind of chemistry with. The fact that we could be friends, and the musical thing is still there; its good business and still making decent money. Especially in this era when the whole countrys basically in a recession, were still okay. Were not getting rich, but thats OK.
Whats it like now for a touring musician with the American economy wavering?
It is a little bit tougher right now. People arent going out and spending as much money. Its not terrible. The fact that gas prices went back down helps us, since that was eating us up out on the road. You know, Im just glad Im a guitar player and thats my position in the music industry. A lot of my friends who did stuff like work at record stores and at record labels, they dont even have jobs anymore. Its nice doing what I do. The market might get smaller, it might get bigger, but you can always go out and play live and make money. I guess I would mark my attitude in that respect as grateful.
What do you have in store for Jackson?
Well be playing a gig at Hal & Mals at some point, probably in March. Then I have a solo gig at Fenians Pub. I graduated from Millsaps, so thats my personal connection to Jackson. Jacksons always been really supportive of Blue Mountain. We have a great fan base and a lot of friends there.
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Nov 12, 2009 - Come enjoy a special JFP "Creative Class" martini, free munchies and lots of fellowship (and maybe a touch of networking) with fellow Jackson creatives and progressives. more