I am so grateful to find out that my CD “Hope” landed at #15 on the 2011 Folk DJ Chart!  Red Molly landed at the #10 spot and snagged the #5 artist of the year slot too! For me, 2011 was the year for recording and releasing new material, both with the band and on my own.  2012 will be the year to practice my buns off, learn new techniques, practice, write a slew of new songs, and practice some more.  Let’s get to it!

Reso-summit was the perfect inspiration to setup a regular practice routine at home.  I’ve been working on ear training, scales all over the neck of my Dobro, figuring out melodies of my favorite songs, and trying to make my Dobro sound like a real voice.  Today I even got back in the saddle for a little writing.  Though I think I may have to write a dozen or more clunkers before the good ones come along.

I’ve got a few really fun solo shows coming up in January- including an unplugged NYC house concert that is always a blast (with Pete Kennedy and Craig Akin!), opening for Lori McKenna up in Franklin, MA, and doing my part at Winterjam 2012 in Westchester, NY.   Hope to see you there!  Happy Holidays everyone!

I’ll mark the end of my touring season with one final solo show at Perks & Corks in Rhode Island, the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  Marc Douglas Berardo and I split this show last year and had so much fun we decided to make it a tradition!  Craig Akin will be joining us on upright bass this time and I’m hoping our favorite squeezebox player will show up too!  I’ll never forget playing “Too Soon” with him last year- it gave me chills.

Abbie

In other fun news, my solo CD Hope is now on Pandora!  I hope you’ll add my name to your station there.  Just for fun, I made a station with just my name, to see what other kinds of artists out there have similar music.  It’s really amazing what those Pandora people come up with and I’ve already found several albums I need to get my hands on (like Kevin Welch’s You Can’t Save Everybody).  How they manage to keep it free, I have no idea, but I’m grateful.

Abbie

We can’t list Abbie Gardner in the local section any longer – she’s fast becoming a national treasure. Here’s yet another bluesy, soulful original set featuring her mellow yet terse vocals, amazing, world class dobro and lapsteel playing, and true roots sensibility. Gardner has used her time with Red Molly well, and she’s every bit as edifying on her own; the best part about this artist’s personal style is that she seems to not give a care about album deals or pop trends; she’s her own woman, making music that pleases her – and in turn, pleases everyone else in the process. That’s the very definition of soul. Don’t miss “Liar,” the type of bluestorch song that could send a priest out for bottle of scotch – it’s that joyously depressing.

– Bob Smith

http://www.goodtimesmag.com/

Abbie Gardner- Hope

by Eli Petersen in Reviews

5 Years, 3 Red Molly records, a duo record with Anthony da Costa, and a passel of tour dates have passed since Abbie Gardner’s last solo record, the comparatively sparse Honey On My Grave. Hope represents the maturation of one of the best artists in Americana music today. With a confidence that can only be earned, Gardner bursts out with a national steel guitar and a ballsy blues on the opening cut “Break It Slow.” It’s an unprecedented romp, fully of gnarly guitar lines and lyrics reminiscent of Lucinda Williams or Bonnie Raitt.

An engaging rhythm section and frequent cameo’s by Herb Gardner (Abbie’s jazz piano playing father), propel Hope forward at a roaring pace (in comparison to most “folk” records). Gardner herself claims virtuoso status with not only the dobro, but lap steel and national steel guitars (can you spell badass?). With her ability to write lines like “forget the mistletoe, because you’re the whole damn Christmas tree” (“Its Always You) and a pop sensibility that is frequently uncanny, Gardner displays a range and flexibility that stretches from old school folk, to jazz, to pop, to rock ‘n’ roll.

My favorite track on the record, however, is the title cut and its classic Gardner.

“my hope is a floosie/ she’s drunk and unruly/ dancing up on top of the bar/ she falls like a hammer/ and glasses that shatter/ like broken little pieces of stars/ I can’t stop/ I can’t choose/ I love/ I lose/ clear my head/ clear my sight/ it’s a curse/ it’s a fight/ I got no cause to believe/ but my hope just won’t leave/ oh I know I can’t win/ I give up/ I give in”

The song is a killer and recalls her best ballads with both Red Molly and Anthony da Costa. Featuring some gorgeous fiddle and the kind of subtle backing from the rhythm section that is simultaneously riveting and barely noticeable, “Hope” is a tour de force.

Abbie can be caught touring with Red Molly, pretty much everywhere in the U.S., so keep your eyes open and on this site. Also, check out Gardner’s solo site as well.

http://twangville.com

It’s great to have a day of rest here and there.  Things are really gearing up for the release of Red Molly’s latest CD Light in the Sky on October 4th.  We’re planning a big CD-stuffing party at my place to get copies out to about 450 of our favorite DJs around the country and abroad.  The new stickers arrived last week and new T-shirts are on their way.  Every Tuesday until the release, we’re sharing something fun with our fans via Facebook and our website.

Later this month we’ll head down to North Carolina, to play shows in some of the areas most most hard-hit by hurricane Irene.  I truly hope we can give those good folks a little break from the stress and work they’ve been dealing with.

Until then,

Abbie

Friday was the U.S. release of the Indian blockbuster film Aarakshan.  Unlike most Indian film music, this score includes sweet sounds of the Dobro and banjo (as well as acoustic guitar) by yours truly.  I have yet to hear or see the whole thing, but I’m quite excited to make my film music debut!

On the T.V. front, my song “Break it Slow” (the first track off my latest CD Hope) has been chosen for the pilot of new show on A&E called “Fishmongers.”  It is sort of like Deadliest Catch, meets Hard Core Pawn, meets Goodfellas with humor that feels like it is ‘live from the Borscht belt’.  Holy cow.  How could this show not be a huge hit?  I might actually have to buy a television.  (Just kidding)

Reviews for Hope keep rolling in and making me jump up and down with happiness.  People in the biz tell you not to read your own press, but sometimes it’s nice!

And finally, at the home front, I’ve started reading music again.  In high school it was my dream to become a classical flutist.  That dream has changed shape over the years, and I never thought reading music would ever be something I do again.  Dobro music isn’t ever really written out (except with TAB) and I don’t have any Dobro player friends who read music or find any need to.  But as I was looking for creative ways to learn my instrument better, Craig (my bass player) suggested I try sight-reading my old flute books.  I gave him every excuse and reason it would be too hard- I mean you have to look at the Dobro, how can you read music at the same time?  Well after all the excuses, I went ahead and tried it.  He was right.  It’s amazing.  I’m learning so much and at the same time I feel like I got a little bit of that dream back.  I LOVE reading music.  It’s incredibly fulfilling.  And yes, I’m learning the notes all the way up the fretboard too, but at this point that’s almost an afterthought because it’s just so FUN.  Thanks Craig.  :)

Abbie