Featured Artist
Featured Artist: Levi Weaver
Over the summer, a friend of mine handed me Levi Weaver’s debut album, You Are Never Close to Home, You Are Never Far From Home. My initial reaction was “Dude, what’s with the long-ass title?” Are you trying to one-up Fiona Apple for the longest album title ever? Why, I could break that title down to just “You’re Never Close/Far To/From Home.”
Nah, that doesn’t quite work.
I’ve been playing it since then, and I have to admit… it’s definitely made a huge impression on me… to the point that Mr. Weaver is this week’s Featured Artist here on TheFrontloader.com.
Levi Weaver has lived on both sides of the world. Born in Colorado, raised in Texas, moved to England for a spell, then returned back to the states, ending up in Nashville, Tn. His bio is an interesting read. My take on it is that he was born and bred on country music (his dad was a real cowboy), got turned off by it, then discovered rock, reggae, and everything in between, then came back to country after realizing it wasn’t country music that turned him off, but what country music had BECOME.
I will leave it up to you to decide what the “become” means…
In 2006 Weaver released his first offering, the EP Civil War Between My Heart and Mind. In support of this record, he went on tour with Kid Beyond and Imogen Heap. Both Weaver and Kid played as a part of Imogen Heap’s band during that tour. I don’t know what instrument Weaver handled in that band, but considering that he played guitar, bass, accordion, melodica, Wurlitzer electric piano, harmonica, banjo, percussion AND chest-banging on his current album, I’m sure he was an integral part of it all.
I’ve been listening to the album and can’t seem to find where the “chest-banging” occurs… I’m going to find it, oh yes I will… and when I DO find it, I’ll… I’ll… well, I will have satisfied my curiosity.
You Are Never Close to Home, You Are Never Far From Home was released in 2007 and for most of the year, Weaver has been on the road touring the album. He’s played all around the states, and is finishing up the year in the South.
Check out this live performance of “Idioteque.”
VERY cool. I love how solo artists are really embracing technology with the looping and effects. It used to be that when you see a solo acoustic show, you expect to see someone with just a guitar or keyboard… nowadays you just never know what you’re going to hear.
And that’s a good way to describe his album as well. You Are Never Close to Home, You Are Never Far From Home, at its heart, a singer/songwriter album. But when you take into account the production and sound of the record, it becomes so much more than that. I have to admit I didn’t quite “get it” the first time around, but after spending some time with it, I really dig it.
I don’t quite know how to pin down his style. Sure, you have the acoustic, electric guitars, the drums, etc… but it’s all put together in such a unique way that, after repeated listenings, I can totally see why I didn’t “get it” the first time around.
Take a listen to the opening track, “Dear Friend.” The constant down stroke of the guitar playing really lends itself to the song’s growing intensity, which climaxes in the bridge with crashing cymbals and vocals that soar to just where you want them to from the start. I’d be VERY interested to hear this done with just him and guitar. I’ve included this song in the Dig-It section below, and highly encourage you to take a listen.
Weaver’s voice has a quality to it that changes as often as the tide. From the smooth falsettos of “Dear Friend,” to the bitterness of “Family Feud,” he covers a lot of emotional ground here and doesn’t seem hindered by any inhibitions. I love his delivery in “Which Drink?”
I can almost see myself sitting with him at the bar, listening to him spit out the words. There’s a conversational character to his writing, and he comes up with some visuals that paint quite a picture:
Like a towtruck hauling a train
In a rainstorm
Doing eighty
With the brakes out
Totally dig it.
By far, my favorite track here is “You Are Home.” The lyrics are absolutely heart wrenching and are accentuated musically by the lone violin in the background. The feeling in this song makes me want to stand outside an old girlfriend’s house, in the rain, watching her kiss someone else. Yes, it MAKES me want to do that. Sick, but hey – that’s how effective his writing is.
The line “… and somewhere down the line I’ll try to fall in love only to find that I can’t do it, without you, it never seems to fit,” is just about the saddest lyric I’ve heard in a long time.
Totally dig it!!!!
There’s so much underneath the layers here that I’m still uncovering, which makes this album so enjoyable. In September, Weaver put out a covers EP called “All My Best Friends Are Mostly Strangers” through his mailing list. I am definitely going to write and request a copy, as I’m sure it’ll be an excellent listen.
I’m glad I took another listen to You Are Never Close to Home, You Are Never Far From Home, and I hope you find the same uniqueness that I did. In the liner notes, Weaver writes “To anyone who inspired any of these songs, I’m truly sorry.”
Well, I’m not. Makes for an excellent album. What price for art, huh?
Here are his remaining 2008 dates:
Dec 4 2008 @ 10:00P, The Circle Bar in New Orleans, Louisiana
Dec 5 2008 @ 8:00P, Spanish Moon (W/ Cohen & The Ghost) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Dec 6 2008 @ 9:00P, Artmosphere in Lafayette, Louisiana
Dec 7 2008 @ 7:30P, Walter’s On Washington in Houston, Texas
Get the album, see a show, pick up some swag, spread the word…
Buy Levi Weaver on Amazon
Buy Levi Weaver on iTunes
Your Dig-It Downloads:
Download: Dear Friend
Download: You Are Home
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21 comments for “Featured Artist: Levi Weaver”
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I like his song “Idioteque” quite a bit. He has a great voice. Thanks for the read.
Hey man -
A friend of mine on twitter just showed me the article you wrote about me – thank you so much! I would have just e-mailed but my mail thing on my mac is broken (see: not renewed) and I’m too computer illiterate (poor) to make it work (renew it). So I didn’t know if it would be weird to post a comment on a review of my own album (or if that would make people less likely to post their comments, and I don’t want to rob you of comments on what was possibly the most well-written review i’ve ever gotten, regardless of like vs. not like.) So I’m posting here.
Thanks for giving the album a second/third/fourth listen. That’s my biggest beef with the industry today – with sooooo much supply and only the same amount of demand, the second/third-listen albums that have eventually been my favorites to listen to over the course of my life are getting shelved before their full potential is discovered.
Oh, and the chest-banging… it’s what sounds like the bass drum on “Would We Liars Be?” (Definitely the least ‘first-listen’ song on the album, but probably my favorite.) With all the reverb and stuff, that’s me, knelt on my bedroom floor with a mic about 4 inches from my chest.
thanks again
-Levi
Levi is a cutie pie :) And that video is VERY cool! He looks like he’d be a FUN guy to go see play live. Someday!!!
Loved the feature! The songs you posted are both really, really good! You Are Home IS pretty heartwrenching, but seriously dude, do NOT follow through on your desire to go watch an ex make out with someone else. Been there done that, and it’s not fun at all (and you’ll just get all sick and stuff standing in the rain). lol
Will check out his album! And if he ever comes to Minnesota, I’ll definitely go see him play!
I love what you have written here regarding Levi’s music. I’ve been following this gent for years now and he’s wonderful – and I am so glad to hear someone review his music in such a way as you have. And, agreeing with what Levi says above, good for you for giving the CD more than one spin – this is one album that definitely stays stuck in my player for long periods of time, and every time I hear it, I find something new to chew on. I have found that most people I suggest it to, aren’t sure what to think of it…UNTIL they give it that second or third listen, then they “get it” too.
Oh man, I’m with you on the not watching the ex make out thing. Except when it happened to me (college), he wasn’t an ex yet. NOT GOOD.
Looking forward to hearing (and Levi, SORRY I missed your set in Nashville)
Have you ever watched the movie FIELD OF DREAMS? (If you havent, you must)
The 2nd and 3rd pass of listening to Levi, is like finally being able to see the
ball players on the field, that no one else can see… and trying to explain it to someone makes you seem crazier than you already are….. Awesome review Swap……
After all of the fantastic music you have give me over the past 3 years, I’m glad I was able to return the favor. Be well my friend.
i
Saw the bulletin on Myspace about Levi! Love his music. Great article.
Wow – I absolutely LOVE these songs!
‘Dear Friend’ is like Radiohead gone country, which is just very cool.
I will buy the album on iTunes today. Thanks for the recommendation.
Oh and it didn’t take more than one listen either … does that make me weird?
Great write up. The first song I heard by Levi was “Sick, or Determined” and then “Of Bridges Burned” and I was hooked.
Levi and I have become Internet acquaintences and I’m biased, but I believe his an excellent artist both singer and songwriter. I recently saw Levi live and it was amazing to see him perform live with all the musical gadgets and it was a great show.
I have his two CDs (not the cover CD) and they’re fantastic.
ignore my slightly butchered use of the English lanuage.
Thank you for dropping by and sharing your thoughts! It’s always a thrill to know that the artist takes the time to write and respond. I’m glad I took that second listen as well… and thanks for the tip on the chest banging song!
Thank you for checking him out! “Radiohead gone country…” I like it!
No, that makes you COOL.
I will take your advice and NOT seek out my ex girlfirend to watch her makeout.
Yes, do let us know if you catch his show in MN! Get a bootleg of the show! LOL
It’s great to see Levi’s fans chime in here. I’m glad I took another spin as well, as I would surely have missed something quite extraordinary. The album’s been playing in the background for me for most of the week, so it’s proven to be a good addition to my collection. Yes, music should always getmore than one listen… :)
Good example, BIll!!!! And thanks again…
Thanks for commenting! I will have to see him play live sometime as well… the video of him in the post really caught my attention. Very intense, which is VERY cool.
[...] Anyways, I was reading this amazing review of Levi Weaver’s album, “You Are Never Close To Home, You Are Never Far From Home” that I wanted to share it with you, go read it here: http://www.thefrontloader.com/2008/12/01/levi-weaver/ [...]
I’ve heard Bill rave about Levi for a while now and checking him out was always something on my to-do list that I never got around to. Well, consider him checked. Wow, what great music. I agree with lulu on the ‘Radiohead gone country’ comparison. Thanks again, Thomas.