Leslie Alexander and Jenny Allen are looking forward to introducing their new music to Lethbridge, when they play the
Tongue N Groove, May 7.
The duo have been pretty much joined at the hip since deciding to work together a year ago after a Lethbridge show. They share producer John Ellis as well as add vocal harmonies on each others’ albums.
“We both have new CDs out, so it made sense to tour together,” said Allen en route to a show in Quesnel, B.C.
“We also had been singing the harmonies in the live show anyway,” she said, ducking the first wasp of the season.
They began the tour, April 14 in Kamloops and have been pleased with how well it is going.
“We played Leslie’s home town last night, so we had a full house. We had a couple ‘you guys are great,’ but it was late so we forgave him,” she laughed.
The duo play on stage together where add vocal harmonies as well as a variety of instrumentation like washboard and even a kazoo to each others’ songs.
The new music is a departure from the norm for both musicians.
Allen’s sound is rounded out by stand up bassist Rob Becker and percussionist Pat Stewart as well as John Ellis, who is all over the CD.
“He put everything including the kitchen sink on it. We were going to bring it on tour, but we couldn’t fit it in the truck. Maybe we'll find one in a thrift show. We’re hitting every thrift shop we can,” she continued.
“ It’s a bit of a departure for me,” Allen said of her CD “Blanket.”
“This one is very rootsy. There is a little bit of a country twang to it and Leslie sings harmonies on it,” she said.
“But down the pipe, there will be an Allen Alexander CD which we’ll record together. We’re thinking of calling it AA,” she laughed. But for now they are looking forward to playing the new Tongue N Groove.
“I did play the old Tongue N Groove. We love Lethbridge and it’s not just because it has really good thrift stores. It’s because the people are always so supportive,” she added.
Leslie Alexander’s new CD “Nobody’s Baby” is also a departure for her— but in the other direction.
“This one took three years to make. We recorded it when the songs were ready and I was recording it in between moving from Vancouver to the country and building a studio. Originally they were just going to be demoes, but they turned into tracks and then an album,” Alexander said.
“My last Cds were described as folk/roots. This one is quite a bit more rockin’,” she said.
“There’s quite a range. There’s everything from Tin Pan Alley to swamp rock. It’s more roots-rock though.”
Alexander is enjoying working with Allen as usual.
“We‘ve harmonized on each other’s stuff before because we’ve developed them in the live show,” she said.
Jenny Allen and Leslie Alexander play the Tongue N’ Groove, May 7. There is a $10 cover.
