If Kevin Morby still lived in New York City, he probably would have done a show here to celebrate Tuesday’s release of his debut solo record Harlem River. As it is, Morby makes Los Angeles home now so NYC will have to wait a couple months to see him perform the songs live.
Harlem River is a great record. My first listen came as I rode a BART train to the East Bay after exiting a Woods show in SF back on September 20. Since then, I’ve played it at home dozens of times and a few songs here and there while riding the bus to work. As you know, I’m a big fan of Morby’s two main outlets of musicianship – The Babies and Woods.
It was with great excitement imagining what Morby’s first effort under his own name would sound like. I mean, I knew Morby would deliver something serious because he’s a serious guy. It was already clear he has great songwriting talent based on his share of output from the equivalent of two and a half records (almost three) from The Babies.
The pace on Harlem River’s eight songs is slow. Like the flow of the river. The songs are not gonna prompt the rabid fans Morby cultivated from The Babies to mosh at his solo shows like they did at 285 and Death by Audio during Meet Me in the City or Somebody Else. But this is what Morby is doing now and he’s solidly on the record in saying he’s committed to it to such an extent he’s stepping away from the other endeavors.
I got a little uptight at the tail end of 2013’s Woodsist Fest in Big Sur when an attendee from Australia was yapping about Morby’s future with Woods. She said he was done. What bothered me about the proclamation was the rigidity of it. Woods, it seems to me, makes it a practice of supporting the aspirations of its members even if it leads to a separation or hiatus. Morby missed a Woods tour in early 2011 while giving full attention to The Babies. He returned to Woods in the middle of that same year. Even last year’s hasty exit from the Woods lineup by lovable effects contributor G Lucas Crane is believed to include the prospect of a possible return appearance(s) some day. The point is that Woods fans probably shouldn’t waste energy fretting about the underlying consequences of Morby’s new project. I view it as a no-lose situation. He either returns to Woods or he doesn’t. If he doesn’t, that likely would mean only one thing. People will love Harlem River and solo records yet to come.
We’ll get a better idea of the future when he does the songs live and refines them over the next few months on the road. Personally, my favorite song on Harlem River is the title track. The nine minute plus number includes Morby’s trademark oooh-ing and a repetitive guitar line that really pulls you in. The song is constructed in a way that Morby can really have fun with it in the live setting. It’s his very own I Was Gone from the standpoint it can wander a lotta directions depending on the night and the crowd. He can stretch it and trip people out with it or he can leave it be the gem that it is. The song’s length is such that side 1 of the LP only has room for three songs which I thought was kinda cool.
Harlem River’s final track likely will tickle the ears of fans of The Babies. That’s because The Dead They Don’t Come Back opens and then revisits almost the exact same guitar sequence used on Voice Like Thunder from the self-titled Babies LP. Morby has said this was unintentional and that he didn’t realize there was near-duplication until after Dead Don’t Come Back was recorded. Morby can be heard on this song thumping his acoustic for percussive effect. The song also includes beautiful slide guitar sounds from Dan Iead from the now-defunct Broken West band.
The prolific and versatile musician Will Canzoneri contributes several parts to the record and is expected to join Morby on stage when he launches a 30 city tour as the opener for Cate Le Bon next week in SF. Canzoneri is a member of Le Bon’s current touring band and will do double duty. After hearing Le Bon’s radio appearance on a BBC channel a couple weeks ago, it’s clear her wit and personality will be a nice fit as Morby joins her for the long journey covering all four corners of the country.
Harlem River is release #71 for the Woodsist record label. The LP includes an insert with song lyrics and a dedication to “the city of New York.” Since there was no record release party, I made my own event on Tuesday afternoon by taking the 1 train up to 207th Street. The University Heights Bridge linking Manhattan and the Bronx crosses the Harlem River and includes two wonderful observation portals accessible via the pedestrian walkway on the southern side of 207th. It was rainy and cold as I stood there waiting for the Harlem River to talk to me. I played the record through a speaker on my mobile phone.
After that, I got back on the 1 train and took it up to 238th Street for a visit to Christos Gyro and Souvlaki. I had a bowl of piping-hot avgolemono and a gyro no onion. Both were delicious, especially the soup.
From there it was the Fordham/Manhattan College game at Draddy Gym up on the big hill in Riverdale. This was the 106th meeting between the two Catholic schools from the Bronx and it always seems to be a good game. Despite being a 12-point underdog, Fordham won by 4 in a thriller. The game was sold out. Freshman Fordham guard Jon Severe had 30 points. The reigning Mr. New York Basketball was heavily recruited and surprisingly picked Fordham. When his team had the ball, Severe hung out on the wing and called for the rock. When he got it, he would shoot. Severe plays defense but doesn’t rotate or set screens on offense. He’s a potent scorer but at 6-foot-three, he can be slowed down with physical pressure or a hand in his line of vision. Neither Fordham nor Manhattan will make the Big Dance in March but both teams are well coached and pointed in the right direction. Among the reasons this game sold out was the affordability of admission. I paid $15 for a seat about ten rows off the floor opposite the Fordham bench.
On the long 1 train ride back downtown after the game, a 20’s-something couple seated next to me made out. And then made out some more. And then they asked each other where they grew up.