Performance

In a city that celebrates roots music, Gypsy Tailwind proves that while its blooms are new, its roots run deep. Weaving together classic rock sounds with country and soul, Gypsy Tailwind has made a huge impression on Portland audiences in a short amount of time. Founding members Dan Connor, 39, and Anna Lombard, 23, sat down with us recently to discuss life between sellout shows and breakfast with an idol.

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Dan, Gypsy Tailwind is miles away from the hard rock sounds of your former band, Gouds Thumb. How did this new sound come about?

Dan: After Gouds fell apart, I had this urgent need to put down my electric guitars and play my acoustic guitars. The writing came as a result of that new path. I don’t know–maybe it was to help deal with the sadness I felt after working so hard on Goads, only to have it break up.

Your voice is wonderfully understated and intimate, Anna. Does that flow out from the lyrics?

Anna: It’s not something I consciously think about when I’m singing. My voice can’t be forced out of me; it stems from life experiences. I guess my restraint as a vocalist has to do with trying my best to fit into the integrity of the music Dan writes. Over-singing would take away from that and make it about me, when it’s not about me. It’s about the songs.

Is Gypsy Tailwind a band or a song project?

Dan: Definitely a band today. Initially, it was me in a studio in South Freeport, wondering “Why in the hell am I writing and recording all this material” and not believing it would ever be heard. It was a lonely time for me creatively. Then, I met Anna and decided to scrap what I’d been doing because I was so blown away by her singing. It was maybe the greatest musical gift I’ve ever been given. I’d never heard songs I’d written sung by anyone else but me, and I find it hard to listen to my own voice. When she started singing, she brought the songs to this place in me that I really didn’t know existed. It hit me so hard I can’t even describe the feeling accurately.

Now, Gypsy Tailwind is a full band, with myself, Anna, Chris Dow on drums, Colin Winsor on Bass Guitar, Max Cantlin on Electric Guitar and Dobro, and Tyler Stanley on Piano and Organ.

gypsy tailwind’s name is a tip of the hat to the Band, who used the phrase in “acadian Driftwood.” in turn, the Band credits longfellow for using the word “gypsy” in Evangeline to characterize the nomadic force (beyond the British, of course!) behind the acadians’ epic wanderings.

How does the creative dynamic work now?

Dan: You know, it’s sort of still evolving since everything’s happened so fast, from making our record The Halo Sessions [GLC Music, $9], to playing a bunch of shows, to getting ready to do our next record over the winter. Initially, I was the main songwriter and still am today, but the band is becoming more collaborative in the writing process, I think, because we’ve become much closer over this past year. As we’ve become better friends, it takes away some of the inhibition in the process of songwriting, where we’re much more open to each other’s ideas and opinions about what our music should convey, both lyrically and musically.

Old Souls, Old Souls, N New Roots ew Roots

At Brian Ború from left: Colin Windsor (bass), Dan Connor (guitar, vocals), Anna Lombard (lead vocals), and Chris Dow (drums, percussion).

Inset: Their popular first CD, The Halo Sessions, GLC Music, $9, will be followed by a new release in 2009. Visit gypsytailwind.net

What was the recording process like? Did you shoot for first takes or was this a lengthier process?

Dan: Well, since the songs were all initially written : Well, since the songs were all initially written on acoustic guitar and piano, I went in and played on acoustic guitar and piano, I went in and played all the songs live while singing my vocal parts. From all the songs live while singing my vocal parts. From there, we laid down the drums and other instrumentation over what I’d recorded. And no, nothing was one take! (Laughs.) Just ask Jonathan Wyman, our producer. The record was recorded over a period of about two weeks as January turned to February.

Not very many bands get the opportunity to open for John Fogerty. What was that experience like?

Anna: Oh man, I was terrified. I walked down the pier past Casco Bay Lines, and my heart was pounding–just for sound check! I never expected to be playing such a huge show so quickly. I passed the gates, where I was given my stage pass, and took a deep breath. Nothing has ever scared me more than when I looked up and saw the gargantuan nature of it all. I burst into tears! But, as fearful as I felt, I absolutely wouldn’t have traded it for the world.

What can we expect from Gypsy Tailwind in 2009?

Dan: Well, you can definitely expect to see more music out of us, since we all love to play together so much, and writing is a very big part of who we are as people. We’re recording a new record in January with producer Jonathan Wyman for release in May 2009, preceded by a tour across the country, finishing at the South By Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, in March.

If you could talk about your music with one of your influences, who would it be?

Dan: Anna and I had a really cool experience hanging out with Ray Lamontagne. Just recently, we went out and had breakfast and just talked about music. In my opinion, and I think Anna would agree, Ray is one of the most important artists of this generation, like Emmylou Harris. And the fact that Ray is from Maine is really special. Admittedly, I think we were both a little bit starstruck, because we’re big fans. But then Anna said to me as we were leaving, “He is just a truly ‘real’ person.” He gave us great feedback on our music. We’re very proud of that. ■