Solo Artist Spotlight: Alec Stewart

Alec is another Local Veteran that I have known for years! I first met him at MilkBoy Bryn Mawr in 2008. In those days he was hosting the open Mic up the street and traveling down now and again to make an appearance. I have always been impressed by his music, and I can’t wait for his new album, “Tarnation!”

The new release, due out March 8th, is 17 tracks long! Here’s what Alec had to say about it,

“The major difference is in that I play electric guitar, not acoustic on most tracks. Although instead of making me sound louder, with only a couple exceptions, I think it makes my songwriting softer. Electric sort of sticks to my voice better. The Cd is less self-referential and I think, lyrically, more poetic and visual than my previous writing efforts. Lots of mythic, fairytale, bible-stuff…played in a blues tuning.

"It contains one cover (last track on the record) of Sunday Morning Coming Down… A Kris Kristofferson song, made famous by Johnny Cash. I basically threw out the Chords and sing the lyrics to a dark delta-blues progression. It’s one of the highlights. I decided to let the album run long, because I loved it when 90s bands used to make 20 song records.” - Alec Stewart, 2012.

Alec is an artist that is tough to put in one genre. His music flirts the blurry lines between Country, Folk, Bluegrass and Alternative. His lyrics flow smoothly and he sings in an unexpected voice. He is one of those guys, that to hear him speak and to hear him sing are very different.

He counts his influences as Nick Cave, John Lennon, Evan Dando, Robert Johnson, Frank Zappa, Greg Dulli, Chard Jordan, Bob Dylan, Lou reed, Tom Waits, Country Western Jazz, Jolie Holland and Modest Mouse. As I read through that list, I can pick out very specific queues in his own music that make a lot of sense.

In recent years Alec has played more in the City of Philadelphia than it’s outlying suburbs, but if you don’t mind a drive into the City, he is definitely worth checking out. I’ve included some gig information and a link to one of his songs on MySpace, make the decision for yourself!

From His Facebook: “Alec Stewart has been writing and performing songs for the last 6 years. I started by playing small shows at the Barking Spider in Cleveland, Ohio, and have continued on to play many more venues of various sizes and audiences. I am currently based in Philadelphia, the city of my family origin. I personally grew up in various parts of West Virginia and Maryland, before moving to Ohio to attend The Cleveland Institute of Art. After a brief stay in Seattle, Washington I decided to return to Philadelphia. I am currently enjoying the incredible depth of culture and music that this city has to offer, while exploring my own journey in those occupations. My Songwriting is rooted in a spare solo arrangement, with a strong focus on lyrical expression.”

Everything Comes in Pairs - Alec Stewart:

http://www.myspace.com/granfalloon/music/songs/everything-comes-in-pairs-57841842

Info:

Alec Stewart’s “Tarnation!” Release Party at The Tin Angel

March 8 at 8 p.m. $10 COVER

20 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia PA 19106

Links:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alec-Stewart/63659045920?sk=info

http://www.myspace.com/granfalloon

http://www.facebook.com/events/304321752957506/