Karate Body » slight spell

Sloucher Q&A w/ The Ravenna Colt

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:18:35 +0000

The Ravenna Colt. A powerful name for a powerful band with an album full of pure emotions and reverberated atmospheres. We reviewed it quite recently and thanks to the very kind people of Karate Body Records, Tonan and Sam got to e-mail Johnny Quaid, who answered our questions post haste.

1. Why did The Ravenna Colt chose music to be its means to communicate to the world?
I’m a terrible painter and athlete, so music seemed like an obvious choice.

2. Your music has a high content of texture and detail, providing the listener with a multi-layered experience. What’s your philosophy when mixing your tracks?
I love simple music, but as an artist, I love to create texture and depth. My philosophy on mixing is to create layers that allow all of the sounds in the song to exist on their own plane but also be harmonious within the song, finding a home for each sound.

3. You have given to the world a spacey (as in trying to reach the skies), dreamy type of country like no other. In this sense and while writing songs, what’s your main driving force/inspiration? How do you complement your main idea/riff?
Thanks! I don’t think I can put a name on any specific inspiration or driving force, I guess just a love of music and similar therapeutic desires. I honestly think it’s a culmination of life experiences and growing up in such an amazing place as Kentucky, it exudes creativity.

4. Behind any piece of art there’s a story. From all your songs in Slight Spell, which one is the story you enjoyed telling to the world the most and why?
The first line in “South of Ohio” is “I lost my drawl in California.” People in California were surprised that I didn’t have a thick, southern drawl. I just started to tell people I lost it when I made a wrong turn in Albuquerque.

5. If it’s okay, could we talk about the lyrics in Slight Spell? They feel very heartfelt and I’m intrigued by ‘If Josie wails can fail’ (feels really heartbreaking), ‘Now to begin’ and ‘According to the Matador.’
Sure. That’s a very accurate observation. When I write lyrics, they are painfully personal. I just don’t know of another way to write. ‘Josie’ is heartbreaking and sobering. It’s the realization that your heroes are flawed and human and possibly not heroes at all. ‘Now to begin’, and ‘Matador’ are similar in message. They speak of time and its disappearance and of starting over.

6. Talking about music success and bands. What is more enjoyable for you, playing for a big venue or small auditorium?
I have been very fortunate in my career to perform at both. I love the thrill of a huge festival or theatre, but there is nothing like connecting to an audience in an intimate atmosphere. I love performing in a dark, cozy little club.

7. Can you tell us some history about Removador Records and your current plans? Really enjoyed The Fervor (we reviewed them in February).
Removador is just an infant in this musical jungle. Jim (James) and I really wanted a platform for artists that are near and dear to our heart. I like to think of it as a collective, a community of artists working together, introducing their friends and fans to each others’ music. The Fervor is some of Kentucky’s finest exports and possibly the hardest working band out there.

8. It feels like vinyl is becoming more and more the standard format of release for albums these days. What do you think of the format? On that note, it seems some bands are embracing tape cassettes too, would you consider them too?
Vinyl is amazing! I’ve heard records on vinyl that I’ve heard all my life digitally, and when I hear the vinyl, it feels like I’m hearing it for the first time. I don’t get too excited about just a digital release, my primitive mind refuses to believe it exists unless I can hold it in my bare hands. I’ve played in bands, in my youth, that released cassettes, and yes, I would love to see a resurgence in analog media! Maybe the next album will include a tape!

9. Any plans for touring, not only in America, but countries like Mexico or the United Kingdom?
Yes. I’ve done some selective touring in the U.S., and I plan to perform more next year. I would absolutely love to tour abroad again. I’ll keep you posted.

10. I read about your move to California and then going back to your studio, Above the Cadillac. What drove you back home?
Yeah, that was a great adventure for me. Well, to be honest, my brother and I took turns driving my 2000 Chevy Silverado. We ate ribs and BBQ and drank the cheapest beer we could find. It was truly a bonding experience, and highly recommend it. On a side note, we made the trip without and iPod; we only had a cassette player. I put all my cassettes in the back seat, and we just dug through them as we drove.

11. Last one, we’ve been keeping an eye on the Kentucky scene since February this year. Loads of great acts (The Fervor, Shipping News and a long etc.) there. Any other bands you’d like to recommend to us? How’s the arts scene in Kentucky?
Art is synonymous with Kentucky. In Kentucky, we create art the way some people create food or drink, and inherently it keeps us from eating and drinking too much. But sadly we somehow always drink too much. You HAVE to check out Wax Fang, and a band called the Debutantes a.k.a. Les Debutantes. They released a box set of 100 songs featuring every local musician in Louisville for their debut. I’m waiting to see how they can follow that up for the second record.

Thank you guys so much. Please come visit KY someday!

Sweden’s Chemical Mag on ‘Slight Spell’

admin — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:48:30 +0000

By Andrea Caccese / Chemical Magazine
The Ravenna Colt is the brainchild of former My Morning Jacket guitarist Johnny Quaid, introducing his new band with the debut album Slight Spell.
The groups brings a great sound to the table, in between folk and dream-pop, with a certain southern rock flavor to it.
The glowing texture of keys and slide guitars of “South of Ohio” makes for a great start, setting coordinates for the whole record to develop song by song: “Loner in disguise” has a “poppier” vibe, followed by the dreamy “according to the matador” and the ballad ‘If Josie Wails can fail’.
‘Now to Begin’ might get close to some shoegaze – post rock (it would fit perfectly in the soundtrack of “Lost in Translations”). The band chose to push on the accelerator for the last couple of tracks ‘prepare to be delivered’ and ‘forsake and combine’, that give a rockier twist to the album, still keeping the space-folk vibe alive.
Slight spell offers a great candle-lit sound: bright acoustic guitars are topped by glowing electric guitar walls, twangy riffs and Neil Young – style singing. A simple, but effective rhythm section definitely helps to push the dynamics of the record out.
Other than being a great debut album for The Ravenna Colt, this record is also the first release on Removador recordings and solutions, which was started by the group’s front man together with Jim James (My Morning Jacket).

‘Slight Spell’ marks ‘Return of the Southern Troubadour’

admin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:54:19 +0000

Sloucher UK
The sound of alt country has always been a good lure. It’s the mixture of the lush sounds you get from a lap steels, pedal steels and harmonicas, paired with the homespun philosophy that comes from lyrics deep rooted on the love of nature, folk, Americana and oral history. All of these elements then get topped up with some electric guitar (blues based sometimes but not always) that just adds an extra tinge of electricity to the already rarified atmosphere.
The sounds of The Ravenna Colt’s début album, Slight Spell, is full of slow paced, wistful songs. The mental scenery could be anything: a lone ballroom after a party, where the broken hearted are reminiscing of the missed opportunities of the night (“Loner in disguise”), a solitary walk through the mountains by the river (“Now to begin”) or a drive through the little unpaved highways by the fields (“Prepare to be delivered”).
Reverberation is the name of the game, whether on the ghost-like vocals of Johnny Quaid or on the guitar, you’ll find the effect heavily used, but not overtly so. “South of Ohio” starts our musical journey through the mauve and purple skies of a sunset while driving on a highway. The pain of loneliness might creep from time to time (“Loner in disguise”) while you drive, but, after a little head bobbing and humming to the radio, you accept your situation and continue your journey. From acceptance comes the realisation that sometimes you need to be alone for parts of this journey called life.
Heck, you might need a pep talk while fear and uncertainty play poker in your head. ‘According to the matador’ feels like that surge of security that comes from within to fight off your fears. The solo is magnificent and goosebump inducing. Even if for a few moments you might feel under the weather (“If Josie Wails can fail”), there’s always that inner strength to survive (“Now to begin”). “Now to begin” is a true gem in this album.
“Prepare to be delivered” is such a dreamy song, with those instrumental passages that let the music say what words sometimes just can’t pinpoint. Mind you, not all the album is slow and thoughtful, as you get a “bring the house down and have a beer after” with “Forsake and combine”, the rock track for the album. Again, the solo is pretty nifty and the ending is classic alt country, packing a great punch. Love the little lingering effect that seems to bleed into ‘That day at Point Reyes’, the introspective album closer. Feeling almost post-rock in nature (minimalistic and all), the fingerpicking adds that certain acoustic feeling that melts just right with the electronic elements of the song. Johnny Quaid’s voice is full of longing on that “If there’s just one moment / this is the one” refrain. The lap pedal contribution made me feel a little nostalgic about driving through Arkansas ages ago.
A pretty strong album by The Ravenna Colt, let’s hope they take this out on tour for a long while and get their message across. The very intimate feel (and longing) you get from this tracks could sound wonderful in a live setting. Do check the video for ‘If Josie Wails Can Fail’.

The Ravenna Colt / Record Dept.

admin — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 22:33:34 +0000

A brief review of The Ravenna Colt’s debut LP “Slight Spell” by J. Felton here.

Ravenna Colt / Southgate House / Brown Theatre

admin — Sat, 15 May 2010 23:00:34 +0000

Tonight, Johnny Quaid, a.k.a. The Ravenna Colt performs at Southgate House Parlor in Newport, before a hometown show Monday, May 17 at The Brown Theatre in Louisville with Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band. Ticket information for the Brown show is available here. The Colt’s debut LP, “Slight Spell,” is available now on limited edition hand-numbered vinyl with free download. CDs are available at the shows, and you can buy it digitally via Removador Recordings & Solutions.

The Ravenna Colt adds tour dates; LP pre-order begins Feb. 2

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:09:41 +0000

Photo: Linda Park

Beginning, Feb. 2, you will be able to pre-order Slight Spell on LP for $12, shipping not included. Domestic and international orders will ship Feb. 12. Meanwhile, The Ravenna Colt has added more tour dates with Chapel Hill’s Roman Candle:

March 11: Knoxville, Tenn., @ The Square Room
March 12: Atlanta, Ga., @ The Earl
March 13: Birmingham, Ala., @ Bottletree

Slight Spell arrives in stores Feb. 16. Don’t forget: Louisville record release show Feb. 19 at Zanzabar, Feb. 20 in Lexington at Natasha’s.

CD and digital versions of Slight Spell will be released on Removador Recordings & Solutions the same day.