Twangville Review- Bad Nights/Better Days

TWANGVILLE

Ryan Adams. Gillian Welch & David  Rawlings. Conor Oberst. Cory Branan.  These are names that are thrown around a  lot when you are talking about modern day  singer-songwriters. What if I told you there  may be someone not just like them, but better?  Anthony da Costa might just be.  About 3 hours ago, my brother handed me  his new record, a duo album with Abbie  Gardner entitled Bad Nights-Better Days. I  was instantly blown away. After about  twenty minutes, my brother dropped back in  to tell me, casually, that da Costa was just  17 years old (cue Conor Oberst reference).  This is his seventh record (cue Ryan Adams  reference).  Da Costa got his start at the age of 13 doing  Bob Dylan and Neil Young covers at local  open mic nights (not a bad way to start if  you ask me). He gradually began writing his

own material and recording. Local producer/songwriter/performer Fred Gillen Jr.  took da Costa under his wing as both a  mentor and a producer. Da Costa’s won a  passel of awards last year including  â€œEmerging Artist of the Year” at the Folk-Alliance festival. However, he seems to  have remained grounded and plans to attend  college….ahem….after finishing his  last year of High School.

The other half of the duo is Abbie Gardner.  A member of Red Molly as well as a solo  artist, Gardner’s dobro is a perfect match  for da Costa’s songs. Her voice, both in  her own songs and accompanying da  Costa, is a subtle blend of Emmylou Harris  and Gillian Welch. Their duets though are  more of the Dylan-Baez variety with da  Costa’s rough voice (think Dylan) being  sweetened by Gardner’s achingly beautiful  harmonies. Gardner also writes and sings  her own songs on the record, creating a  great give and take with da Costa that adds  to the drama of the record.  Oh, by the way, the record was recorded in  3 days.  Music with a touch of twang.  Alt-Country, Americana, Indie, Rock, Folk & Blues  as therapy for mind and soul.

By Eli Petersen, July 9, 2008