Pass-Zine Vol. 2: Creativity, Charisma & Collaboration by Club Passim

CREATIVITY, CHARISMA, & COLLABORATION BY SOPHIE SEVERS

PASS-ZINE VOL. 2 JUNE 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS About Club Passim................3 About the Author..................4 Creativity, Charisma & Collaboration.........................5 Who's Featured.....................6 Dallas Ugly...................7 Zoe & Cloyd.................11 Hush Club....................15 Passim Discovery Series....19 Buffalo Rose..............20 Marquis Lavoie..........21 Passim Playlist....................22 Support Club Passim..........23

ABOUT CLUB PASSIM The mission of Passim is to provide truly exceptional and interactive live musical experiences for both performers and audiences, to nurture artists at all stages of their career, and to build a vibrant music community. We do so through our legendary listening venue, music school, artist grants and community programs. As a nonprofit since 1994, Passim carries on the heritage of our predecessors—the historic Club 47 (1958-1968) and for-profit Passim (19691994). We cultivate a diverse mix of musical traditions, where the emphasis is on the relationship between performers and audience and teachers and students. Located in Harvard Square, Passim serves Cambridge and the broader region by featuring local, national and international artists. Our ultimate goal is to help the performance arts flourish and thereby enrich the lives of members of our community. Passim acknowledges that we stand on the traditional land of the Massachusett Peoples, and want to honor their land and people past and present.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sophie Severs is a rising sophomore and journalism major at Emerson College, with a double minor in music history/culture and public relations.

Growing up in North Carolina surrounded by a lively folk scene hammered an undying love for folk music in her that she has rediscovered at Club Passim. And while she might not have been lended much in the musically-gifted department, she has found a way to nurture that appreciation, combining it with her creative outlet of choice: writing.

Check out Sophie's full writing portfolio at this QR code

Special thanks to Minna Abdel-Gawad for editing the Zine pieces!

CREATIVITY, CHARISMA & COLLABORATION Happy June, All! Thanks for picking up the "Pass-Zine"! This month's Zine highlights three wonderful bands coming to the club in July (next month)! When I was chatting with these bands, I could not help but feel refreshed by the sheer amount of creativity, charisma and healthy collaboration present within their work. And thus, the theme of June's zine is fittingly, "Creativity, Charisma & Collaboration" (I'll never miss a chance to make a good alliteration :) I hope that these bands' hard work and innovative spirits will be evident as you read through these pieces. Thanks again for picking up a zine, and ENJOY!

Listen to the Passim Playlist here!

- Sophie Severs

WHO'S FEATURED? DALLAS UGLY Performing at Passim on:

Sunday, July 10 @ 7pm

ZOE & CLOYD Performing at Passim on: Thursday, July 14 @ 8pm

HUSH CLUB Performing at Passim w/ Cloudbelly opening on: Friday, July 22 @ 8pm

DALLAS UGLY For a band called “Dallas Ugly,” this trio sure makes some beautiful music. The trio consists of Libby Weitnauer, Eli Broxham, and Owen Burton; all of whom are graduates from DePaul University’s classical music program. Weitnauer recalls the fated formation of the group; “We were in a classical music program, and all of us had an interest in doing something else. There weren't a lot of other people that were exploring that [at school],” so the three banded together and started playing together, trading classical sonatas for folky jam sessions. After college, the three briefly parted ways, with Burton traveling to Senegal to join the Peace Corps, Weitnauer moving to New York City to continue her classical violin studies, and Broxham focusing on gigging in the Chicago scene. One day, Burton sent Weitnauer and Broxham a song he had written during his time abroad—the two were awestruck, and were confident that they had to reinvigorate their band under Dallas Ugly.

This catchy moniker was devised after a friend told the three about an interesting (and somewhat demeaning) Hinge date that he had been on. Weitnaur recalls, “Our friend Adam was on a hinge date with a woman who had just moved to Chicago from Dallas. [The date] had said, 'The thing about Hinge is that everyone in Dallas was super hot, and everyone in Chicago is pretty weird looking.' Then she said to Adam, 'But you're okay, so I'm on this date.'” After sharing a laugh, the three began to debate amongst themselves, wondering if by those standards they were either “Chicago okay,” or “Dallas ugly.” Once the latter words were uttered, it was a done deal —they were henceforth to be known only as Dallas Ugly. Though the origins of the name were somewhat insulting, Weitnauer asserts, “Dallas ugly is just a different kind of hot, it's not even self deprecating. [...] It just encapsulates the non-conventionally attractive thing where someone's a little weird looking and that makes them hot.” There is an amalgamation of different influences within the trio’s music, as they are heavily influenced by folk, classic rock and elements of their classical arranging background. Their discography offers listeners bright and bold tracks of groovy relaxation. “We're influenced by the folk style of songwriting, because we've all studied traditional music so much. [...] We’re writing songs that are country songs, even though the way we arrange them is very influenced by our classical background. Maybe they don't read as super country, but at their core that's what they are,” Weitnauer describes.

Their debut record, Watch Me Learn, released on April 8, is filled with a classic country rock sound, thematically full to the brim with introspection and nostalgia. The 12 tracks hold a mixture of autobiographical stories and in-depth emotional examinations, the trio brings listeners on a journey of cathartic healing and deep reminiscence. The band had been workshopping the album all throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; “As a band, [the pandemic] created a space where we were able to put on blinders and work on our music,” Weitnauer describes, “There was no outside influence really coming in, for better or worse. We weren't able to compare ourselves to other people, because no one was really doing anything, or at least no one was producing anything.” The three immersed themselves into a world of musical experimentation, working with one another to create the cohesive album that listeners hear today. A mantra that Weitnauer kept close to her heart throughout the process was: “this is a project I want to be a part of, and if it doesn't go anywhere, fine, but let's just give it our all.'” The band continues to give it their all—their comradery and respect for one another is infectious. After nearly 10 years of friendship, the three have learned much about collaboration and musical growth. For Weitnauer, it has all been a lesson in perseverance. “Growth is a marathon, not a sprint,” she asserts, “You're like: 'I've done it, I've grown, I conquered this thing.' Then a month later, you'll be like: 'Ah, nope.' It’s the same thing with musical growth and industry growth—you just have to keep doing it.”

Dallas Ugly is certainly not done doing it—the band has several tour dates coming up in July, and will be performing at Passim on Sunday, July 10 at 7pm. Keep your eye out for some new singles and more fun tidbits from the band. You can keep up with their adventures on Instagram (@dallasugly). And just remember: For this enchanting trio, Ugly is the new cool.

Keep Up with Dallas Ugly Instagram: @dallasugly Facebook: Dallas Ugly YouTube: Dallas Ugly Streamable on Spotify, Bandcamp & Apple Music

Visit the band's website

ZOE & CLOYD

Hailing from opposite ends of the Appalachian mountains, these two musicians found their way together by following their passion: music. Zoe & Cloyd (pronounced Zo-ee and Cloy-d) are a husband and wife duo based in Asheville, North Carolina. Under their catchy and snappy band name, Natalya Zoe Weinstein and John Cloyd Miller provide bright and clever melodies to charm audiences wherever they go, making plenty of friends along the way. Their latest album, Rebuild, is a testament to their dexterity and musical prowess, full to the brim with tunes that get folks up dancing and thinking. Weinstein grew up playing classical violin—folk music had never been on her radar. Once she graduated from college, she fell head over heels in love with bluegrass, old time and folk music. She moved to Asheville and immersed herself in the folk scene there. “Everybody was really friendly and invited me to play,” she recalls, “I was blown away by the community and participatory elements of bluegrass and old time music here in Asheville. That's what sort of drew me into the music.” Miller, on the other hand, is a 12th generation North Carolinian, born and bred on folk music. His Grandfather, Jim Shumate was a big name in the folk and bluegrass scene during the 1940s, playing with names such as Bill Monroe and Flatt and Scruggs.

In normal teenager fashion, Miller had taken his grandfather’s musical tradition for granted, opting to play as a rock drummer instead. It was only after Miller left North Carolina that he began to realize how integral folk was to his life. Weinstein states, “It didn't really click for [Miller] until he moved out to Utah after college, then came back and asked his grandpa about a Jerry Garcia Band Song.” Miller picked up the fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and began writing songs. His band, Lo Fi Breakdown got to perform with Shumate a number of times; “He was an amazing bluegrass fiddle player, just real bluesy and slidy,” Weinstein remembers, “I came from a classical background, which was a lot more rigid, so it was really great for me to learn how to loosen up and put the blues into my playing like his grandfather did.” Weinstein and Miller met while jamming at a music party, and have been playing together ever since. From there, Weinstein asserts that “it has been a very organic process as music picked up more. [...] We teach part time—about a third of our time is teaching—and two thirds is performing and writing music.” Working as a husband and wife duo has its perks and challenges. “It's really rewarding, but it's also really challenging. We know each other better than anybody else. We're more comfortable saying things to each other than we would to anybody else. We're kind of brutally honest, which can be difficult at times,” Weinstein confesses. Filters can run low, but everything is worth it when it comes to the euphoric highs of performance. “Sharing that experience and knowing what the other person is feeling and getting the energy from the audience is really rewarding and meaningful for us,” Weinstein asserts. The COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in many of the duo’s plans. “The beginning of 2020 was going to be our biggest year yet,” Weinstein says, “We had a UK tour booked and a Western tour planned and just watched everything just fold like a deck of cards.”

The two continued to teach virtual music lessons throughout the pandemic, while still playing the occasional outdoor gigs, and even being featured on David Holt's State of Music, a UNC TV program. Another aspect that was interrupted for the duo was the recording of their newest record, Rebuild. Much of the pandemic was spent piecing together this record, “We started working on [the album] the month before the shutdown. [...] This was the first album we had really done in pieces. We did a couple songs here, a couple of songs there. [...] We've never really done that before, usually we'll go in and just record the whole thing at once,” Weinstein describes. “All we could do was just one day at a time,” she asserts. Having something to work on during the anxiety and chaos of the pandemic provided a balm of clarity for Zoe & Cloyd, and was something that allowed them to connect deeper within themselves and their own traditions. The album itself is an eclectic blend of genres—an intricate mix of bluegrass, folk, and klezmer tradition. Weinstein’s grandfather had been an accomplished klezmer musician, with klezmer being Jewish folk music that originated in Eastern Europe. Weinstein brought the idea of incorporating Klezmer into their album’s sound, and the two ran with it. “Klezmer has a lot of parallels with old time bluegrass music. It was dance music and celebration music and people came together and it was folk music and you could play a ton of different folk instruments.” There are many standout tracks within Rebuild, but many have designated “Where Do You Stand?” as their favorite. The song entails distress over the political divide in the country, pleading with folks to unite instead of divide. “A lot of our songs sort of inadvertently end up being message songs based on what we're thinking about or what we're feeling at the time,” Weinstein confesses, “It's a way that we can have a platform and share things that we think are important, but not in a preachy or dogmatic or politicized way. We try to not have it be a left or right thing.”

There is much more to expect from this charismatic duo. They are slowly putting some of the dates that were canceled back on their calendar, and are working on a brand new album project. You can catch them performing at Club Passim on July 14 at 8pm, and keep up with their adventures on Instagram @zoeandcloyd. If there’s one thing that’s for sure, when asked “Whose Side Are You On?” many will enthusiastically answer: “Zoe & Cloyd’s”!

Keep Up with Zoe & Cloyd Instagram: @zoeandcloyd Facebook: Zoe & Cloyd YouTube: Zoe & Cloyd Streamable on Spotify, Bandcamp & Apple Music

Visit their website

HUSH CLUB

The first rule of Hush Club is…you DO talk about Hush Club. That’s right folks, this club is no secret—there’s room for everyone! Hush Club is a Boston-based indie alternative band, consisting of Chris Haley (guitar, vocals), Liz Kantor (keys, vocals), and Alasdair MacKenzie (drums, bass, vocals). The trio’s formation plays into the rivals-to-friends trope, as Haley and MacKenzie had been Ultimate Frisbee competitors in high school. MacKenzie proposed a musical truce when they came across one another in college, and the two later invited Kantor to join in on the fun.

Three is a magical number for the group, as Kantor exclaims, “I cannot imagine doing this by myself.” Channeling inspiration from their diverse mixture of backgrounds (musical theatre, folk singersongwriter, classic rock, etc.), the group tackles their musical endeavors with full force, putting their minds together to explore the vast sonic landscape before them. Their newest record, Fingerprints & Stains was released on November 12 of last year. The album is a testament to the group’s strong bond and love for making music together, offering listeners upbeat tremolo-filled tracks, along with a healthy helping of low-key reverbed songs. Pulling songwriting inspiration from the likes of Joni Mitchell, Fleet Foxes, and Tame Impala, Fingerprints & Stains marks an outstanding start for the crew, and is a signification of more great things to come from the three. “The songs that are on the record were written over the course of two and a half, three years,” Kantor shares, “Most of it was played and written during quarantine. [...] It was such a nice way to spend quarantine. We got really, really lucky that we were all together and that we were able to hang out, make dinner together and then go upstairs and record stuff for the album.” Haley, Kantor and MacKenzie each write songs independently, bringing them to the table when they are ready to be picked apart and workshopped by the others. The band spends hours rewriting choruses and reworking licks, working hard to create songs that they can be proud of.

MacKenzie points out the sheer importance of quality control and collaborative editing: “I grew up [...] under estimating the value of a quality control check. That's a lot of what we are for each other. We rarely provide an entire section of another person's song or are the reason that another person sounds good, but it's so valuable just to point out: 'Hey, you're going astray there,' or, 'do you really want to say that?' Those unglamorous and mundane checks on your creativity are really important.” The three continually fill in the gaps for one another, Kantor describes, “Alasdair values melody and song composition and Chris is a lyrics guy. For me, with my background in theater, I'm all about evocative arranging and making dynamic swells in songs. When the three of us work together, we've learned to take what the other person says really seriously.” In addition to the impact on their own personal lives, Hush Club works hard to impact their audience with messages that will resonate with everyone. “From our perspective, we write a lot about introspection and trying to be self aware. Maybe that's not even the hard part—once you're self aware, how do you put those observations into practice?,” MacKenzie questions, “It can feel modest and unambitious when you zoom out and think about it, [...] but the main impact that I would hope our music might have is to make someone examine themselves a little more deeply and think about how they treat the people in their lives and what kind of impact they have.”

You, too, can be impacted by Hush Club’s insightful tunes at Club Passim on July 22 at 8pm, with Cloudbelly opening. If you want to get in on all of Hush Club’s secrets a little earlier than that, stream Fingerprints & Stains on any platform. Rest assured, Hush Club is one secret that is meant to be shared.

Keep Up with Hush Club Instagram: @hushclubband Facebook: Hush Club YouTube: Hush Club Streamable on Spotify, Bandcamp & Apple Music

Visit the band's website

PASSIM DISCOVERY SERIES The Discovery Series is a monthly event sponsored by Nine Athens Music to bring new artists into the Passim community. Through the Discovery Series, we provide a platform to connect new artists with a music-loving audience. These artists may be brand new to the club, or might have performed at our campfire festivals, but the Discovery Series puts these artists in a room filled with our dedicated members.

BUFFALO ROSE Buffalo Rose is a wildly charismatic six-piece modern folk/Americana band from Pittsburgh that will change your entire perspective on acoustic music. They take the singer-songwriter tradition to a new level by crafting original songs which are emotive, meticulously arranged, and inspired by a world of idiosyncratic influences that never let a dull or predictable moment creep in. Buffalo Rose's lineup of Lucy Clabby (vocals), Margot Jezerc (vocals), Bryce Rabideau (mandolin), Malcolm Inglis (dobro), Jason Rafalak (upright bass), and Shane McLaughlin (guitar, vocals) pushes itself and each other far beyond their perceived limits and blends their diverse and atypical approach to songwriting with the desire to see how unique a song can get and still feel like home. They use powerful vocal harmonies, strong playing, and an original vision to operate at every possible emotional level and put on dynamic live shows that are unforgettable experiences. They go from up and moving to sad and sweet and back again, bringing the entire audience along.

Performing June 6 @ 8pm 20

MARQUIS LAVOIE Marquis Lavoie is a new indie/folk project by Boston based singer-songwriter Greg Marquis. His debut album Something Like This, But Not This (released April 2nd, 2021) is a consoling blend of effortless fingerpicking and wilting vocals, accented by the harmonic tenderness of a cellodriven ensemble.

Performing June 6 @ 8pm 21

JUNE FUNDRAISER!

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Read last month's zine here!

Tune in next month for vol. 3 of the PassZine!