Gill Landry in studio 6-21-07

Louisiana-based troubadour Gill Landry has traveled his fair share of musical miles over the past decade or so. He's busked in the streets of New Orleans, fronted the old-time sounds of the Kitchen Syncopators, and played banjo for the Old Crow Medicine Show. His 2007 solo debut, The Ballad of Lawless Soirez, seems to incorporate all of those experiences and then some, and his gritty writing and world-worn style have drawn comparisons to the likes of Tom Waits and James Ellroy-- call it southern gothic meets urban noir. We're joined in the studio by Landry and violist Annie Ford, and we talk about recording the album in Portland, and also attempt to get to the bottom of this Lawless Soirez character.

Recording engineer: Steven Kray

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Audio from the session: