It's an in-studio visit tonight from Canadian singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards, who joins opbmusic's David Christensen for an interview and performance of songs from her new album Asking For Flowers. Edwards has built a reputation over the course of three releases based on honest, tell-it-like-it-is songwriting, and a no-frills delivery that often manages to sound at once tough and vulnerable. It's that earthy fortitude that sets her apart from so many others in her genre, and she's unafraid to pair a well-placed expletive or an uncomfortable truth with a gorgeous melody- whether she's talking about the guy that's failing her, or, in the case of one of her new songs, the country. Her latest takes that further still, revealing a playful side that nevertheless explores the depths of an uneven relationship -- in this case through contrasts and comparisons (Fogerty/Elvis in the '70's; Ford Tempo/Mazerati; etc.) in the cheeky "I Make the Dough, You Get the Glory." She even manages to work a hockey reference into the chorus, big fan that she is, by dropping in a Wayne Gretzky/Marty McSorley comparison. Edwards talks about balancing the creative and touring sides of her profession, the personal nature of much of her songwriting, and her musical beginnings studying the classical violin.

Also tonight, Bettye LaVette, Marcia Ball, and Shemekia Copeland begin a three night run at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland. They're billing the triumverate's trio of shows as "Women in Blues," and it's technically part of the Oregon Symphony's Pop Series even though the symphony won't be part of the performance-- and with pipes like these ladies have, who needs a backing symphony? Also on In House tonight, we'll hear new music from DeVotchka, Bon Iver, She & Him, and local blues duo Hillstomp, who join us in-studio on tomorrow night's show.

Comments? Questions? Requests? What's on your minds?

Posted by jpetersen on Saturday, March 15 at 9:11pm