Sweet Wednesday

Think about the last time you received an unexpected and totally delightful gift.

That’s just how I felt when I heard the music of Sweet Wednesday. You’ll forgive the gushing when you hear the alt-country, folk, roots sound of the Boston-based duo known individually as Dave Falk and Lisa Housman. I didn’t think musicians made music this addictive anymore. Not since Joan Baez, Glen Campbell (courtesy of Jimmy Webb songs) and Joni Mitchell, anyway.

“What I love is the story telling in folk, “ said Housman. “I’m a lyrics person and when the lyrics get me, then that is the song that I am going to love. That is one of the things that got me about folk was the beautiful harmonies.”

Still it was something of a surprise for Housman when she met Falk about twelve years ago and soon found herself collaborating with him. For one thing, Falk was a rock and blues guy and Housman was a folk fan. Perhaps that’s why the songs the two perform as an acoustic duo have so many influences, though it’s often Housman’s clear, emotive vocals that steers the music—and steals the show.

That’s no small feat when you consider Falk plays guitar, mandolin, harmonica, banjo and violin and Lisa plays guitar—all beautifully I might add. Their playing is such that they could certainly enjoy success if they played nothing but instrumentals.

Lucky for listeners the two haven’t gone that route, preferring instead to develop songs with hearty vocals and lilting harmonies. The two are true road warriors, in the US and Europe, and have also won a host of prestigious songwriting awards.

Now that the two are looking toward their May release of their latest album Escaping from the Pale Moonlight, that’s not likely to change anytime soon. And that’s just the way the duo want it.

“With music, it’s important to love every aspect of what you do,” said Housman.

“I love writing songs, I love practicing, I love when our music makes people happy. It just fills my soul.”

Prepare to have the duo’s music do the same to your soul, especially with the songs on this latest album that are full of the type of imagery that can only be likened to a Joan Baez or Leonard Cohen song—really, that rich and magical.

“We wanted to take listeners on a journey through dark times,” said Housman of the songs on the album. “It’s [akin to] going through a dark storm with waves almost pushing the ship over. You almost feel as if you’re going to drown and manage to break free and have this wonderful feeling of elation sweep over you.”

With a description like that during a casual conversation, you can imagine the power of Sweet Wednesday’s music.

But don’t imagine. Go to the group’s website to hear and buy the music as well as find tour dates.

-Nancy Dunham, Our Stage (an MTV Partner)
http://www.ourstage.com/
- Nancy Dunham, Our Stage (an MTV partner)

"Whether they're breaking your heart or making you laugh out loud, discover why audiences all over the country are falling in love with Sweet Wednesday. Great musicianship and terrific writing make Sweet Wednesday's national tour the one everyone is talking about."

- John Anglim, Music Director, KAFM 88.1 FM Grand Junction, CO

A rare breed of individuals reminiscent of the best of the 1960s and '70s peace and love era and their music is a true reflection of that. - Jacques Fleury, Spare Change News

On a national tour, they are performing to rave revues. Audiences love their shows and so will you... The two Singer/songwriters, Lisa Housman and Dave Falk, make an exciting Duo... Their folk/rock style has been compared to Bob Dylan and Woodie Guthrie... I highly recommend that you get there early just to make sure, you get a good seat. . . Enjoy! - Sister Joy, YAHOO! NEWS

Artist: Sweet Wednesday

Album Title: Escaping from the Pale Moonlight

If Natalie Merchant and Neil Young were to form a band, the result wouldn’t be distant from Sweet Wednesday’s harmonious mélange of folk, country, and roots rock. Name-dropping such iconic figures may seem like hyperbole in describing a fairly young and rather unknown duo from the Boston music scene; however, Sweet Wednesday’s emotionally stirring and poetic narratives on Escaping from the Pale Moonlight lend credibility to such a startling comparison.
Comprised of singer/songwriters Lisa Housman and Dave Falk, both of whom also play guitar, Sweet Wednesday approach their lyrics with a literary perspective that is often lost in the stream-of-consciousness trends damaging the indie flock. Actually, Sweet Wednesday are indie in status only; their tunes are closer in style and spirit to early ’70s singer/songwriter balladry and country rock than anything charting on college radio at the moment. On the opening cut, “Days Grow Long,” Housman truly recalls Merchant in her 10,000 Maniacs prime; however, Housman’s voice is more deep and husky, and it absolutely soars during the chorus. Furthermore, Merchant’s words were never as quirky as this as Housman seems to be singing about vampires - or perhaps werewolves - in love (“When the moon is full and takes an orange glow/That’s where our souls ignite”).
Housman and Falk display an irresistible chemistry; their voices blend together effortlessly, especially on “Southern Drawl” and “Open Up the Blind,” wherein the two glide breezily over a locomotive beat. Alone they deliver knockouts, too. “I Still Love You” finds Falk at his most fragile and tender; the track’s intimate acoustic arrangement unveils the wounded longing in his voice.
- No Depression, Stacey Zering

"Escaping from the Pale Moonlight" is a top of the line album by sweet wednesday... a "must buy" album. - John Shelton Ivany, former Editor in Chief of Hit Parader and Rock'n'Soul Magazine

Despite their delicate Southern pop, the Yanks of Sweet Wednesday don't sound like frauds at all. They don't even sound like East Coast poseurs. Their lovely tunes actually sound more like misty California mysticism. The duo isn't another Fleetwood Mac throwback, though. Even their jaunty departures sound more like carefully disciplined music geekery influenced by UK psychedelia. - J.R. Taylor, BLACK & WHITE, BIRMINGHAM'S CITY PAPER

When you look at the cover of Wherever You Go, a CD by Sweet Wednesday, you'd expect some classical music. Well, it's not. The CD does give you that feeling of a live record though. You almost get the feeling that you're sitting on songwriters Dave Falk and Lisa Housman's porch in a wooden rocking chair, overlooking the cornfields while the artists play their favourite songs especially for you, and they're playing it something fierce, and with enthusiasm!

Dave Falk plays the guitar and harmonica and Lisa Housman plays the guitar, mandolin and kazoo. Both of them sing. They've written all of the songs themselves. Their songs tell us about all the possible places and situations between Half Moon Bay, CA and Winter Hill, MA. We're dealing here with true musicians. They sing together and play together in a way that shows that they're something special together. Love radiates so to speak, and I don't just mean the love for making music! There's something magical going on. The two of them are playing so intensely together, and complete each others performances so wonderfully that you get all giddy.
The performance is purely acoustic, and it's a brilliant mix between folk and rock. You can really see that they're having fun playing their music together, and because they're both really good, it's just something special.

It's not only so very breathtakingly pretty when they're performing together, their solo-acts are wonderful as well. Everything is in function of the song, without trying to be dramatic, and they touch you right in the heart. Lisa's songs are very strong, and Dave's are just as good, and the same goes for the songs they've written together.

On top of that, there are some other local musicians from the Boston scène on this wonderful CD, for instance members of the Swinging Steaks like Andy Plaisted, Paul Kochanski, Jamie Walker, Steve Sadler and Jim Gabino. Other contributions are by Steve Mayone on lap steel, mandolin and lead guitar, and we can hear Seth Connelly on guitar, mandolin and bass. Vital roots-music of the very best kind!!!
-Freddy Celis, ROOTSTIME MAGAZINE?(translated from Flemish by Inge Brems) - Rootstime Magazine, Freddy Celis

Sweet Wednesday is driven by the duo of Lisa Housman on vocals and guitar, and Dave Falk on vocals, guitar and harmonica. They share lead vocal responsibility from song to song while exhibiting a folky, Bob Dylan/Woody Guthrie edge to their delivery. Lisa Housman's vocals run the gamut from sweet and airy to cynical and sassy while Dave Falk's voice is melodic, concise and strong. Collectively they paint a colorful tapestry of mellow sounds filled with vivid imagery from track to track.

Guest musicians on Wherever You Go include the Swinging Steaks: Andy Plaisted, Paul Kochanski, Jim Gambino, Jamie Walker and Steve Sadler as well as Steve Mayone on guitar, lapsteel, mandolin and bass and the multi-talents of Seth Connelly on guitar, mandolin, bass, and percussion.

Beautifully produced, engineered and mixed by Rob Ignazio at Porter Square Studio in Somerville, Ignazio did a fine job of harnessing the subtleties of Sweet Wednesday's music. Seth Connelly also assisted with recording duties at his Humming Lake Studio in Brookline New Hampshire.

With a folky charm, expect Sweet Wednesday to make a lot of new friends and fans with the release of their excellent offering Wherever You Go. Good stuff. - Metronome Magazine, Douglas Sloan

With the recent release of their debut album, Wherever You Go, and the accolades garnered on their equally recent European tour, Sweet Wednesday are poised to finish out the year in a state of karmic grace, propelled by the soulful storytelling that permeates their music.

METRONOME: You just got back from playing Europe. Can you tell me a little bit about setting that up?
Lisa: We were playing at a high school friend’s wedding, she has a lot of family there and it was important to her for us to sing at the wedding. we figured, if we’re going all the way to Europe, especially since I’d never been there before, we might as well set up some gigs.
METRONOME: You’ve played a couple of weddings; you played at a wedding for a couple whose first date was seeing Sweet Wednesday perform. Do you do all your won music or do they make cover requests? It seems like a cool alternative to the standard general business bands you typically see playing weddings. It creates a very personalized atmosphere.
Lisa: We do all of our original music, but they make requests too.
Dave: We wrote a song for that first wedding.
Lisa: We based the theme of the song on their relationship. It was very special.
METRONOME: I looked through some of the pictures of your travels/gigs in Europe on your site www.sweetwednesday.com. You toured through the British Isles, Belgium, and Amsterdam. When you started organizing the tour around traveling for the wedding, how did you book the clubs you were going to play?
Lisa: It was a combination of things. We found venues through the internet and just called them on the phone, and we also made some contacts through our MySpace page at www.myspace.com/sweetwednesday. Some places responded better to getting a physical press kit mailed to them, but others were fine with corresponding through email.
METRONOME: How was it logistically, traveling from place to place with equipment and setting it all up yourselves?
Lisa: It was pretty exhausting. i think that when we do it all again we’ll stay in one general area. It was cool though, we were a part of events and met people we wouldn’t have if we were just traveling as tourists.
METRONOME: What was the reception like in Europe, compared to your experience in the states?
Lisa: It was really cool, particularly in Belgium. They seem to be having a real roots rock/folk craze going on right now. Some of the places had a radio station announcing us and they made these great posters. We felt very special. It’s the same kind of thing when we play here in the subways and other public places. When visitors or tours come though it’s very exciting and different for them.
METRONOME: Are you going to continue to busk or are you moving to strictly performing in clubs and other venues now that the album is out and you’ve assembled a full band?
Lisa: We like to mix it up. Street performing is wonderful because it’s this wonderful piece of freedom where you can try out new stuff and not be nervous.
Dave: Plus, there’s a new crowd about every half hour, so we’re constantly seeing new people and it’s really a dynamic setting.
METRONOME: How did you get together to start writing and performing?
Lisa: We met at an open mic. When we first started collaborating, it was really informal. I would sing backup on his songs and he would do some cool guitar and harmonica on mine. We had separate, but then we started writing together, and then playing together – so we combined what were doing.
METRONOME: Dave, the second song on Wherever You Go is called “(Lisa, I’m Sorry I Brought You To) New York City.” How did that song develop and how did you present that to Lisa and then decide to work it into your set and onto the album?
Dave: Well, I wrote that one late at night on the trip that the song details.
Lisa: It’s funny because I was complaining a lot at first, but once Dave started writing the song I just got into all the misery and turned it around. It ended up being a great trip because that song came out of it.
METRONOME: You present a lot of imagery in the song, but I’m wondering what exactly happened in New York City?
Dave: It was a road trip gone crazy with everything going against us, including bad traffic, the car breaking down, running out of gas, and a lot of other crazy stuff. The song turned it into a fun trip in a comical kind of way.
METRONOME: With the kind of traveling roots/folk theme that is prevalent in your music, you must be constantly writing about experiences and observations. How did you boil it down to what’s on the album?
Lisa: Part of what goes into it for us is how the songs are going to relate to each other on the album. we thought that if we put all the songs about different places together, the listener would feel as though they were being taken on a journey.
METRONOME: The style of your music seems to fall within the roots rock/folk genre, but from the storytelling/literary aspe - Metronome Magazine (Cover Story), Shaun McNamara

"You've succeeded in pushing the song form to something wonderful and new..Rarely have I encountered such incredible talent.."
- Great American Song Contest, Judges

"How Can I Know" you guys aren't really world-famous folksingers in disguise? This is great stuff! Terrific lyrics, mighty fine guitar playing, and exquisite singing - all mixed with a tremendous dose of confident attitude. ENCORE!
- Mixposure.com, Lex Z

"Judges proclaimed her songwriting 'brilliantly original' and compared her to Dar Williams, Bob Dylan, Ani Difranco and Christine Lavin, for her story-telling style and her concern with social issues."
- Hall of fame, Great American Song Contest

Sweet Wednesday tell the best stories. In "(Lisa, I'm Sorry I Brought You to) New York City," we are regaled with a story about running out of gas while driving to New York from New Jersey. At one point, the drivers receive a parking ticket because they have stalled on the bridge without gas. Considering the man sings it and the female of the duet is named Lisa, it makes one wonder when they play live whether he sings to her.

If any of Max Barry's books actually get made into a movie like he swears they will, then the title track belongs on the soundtrack. Barry's books tend to have a certain style about them, and this song touches on it perfectly. - Agouti music, Joel Edleman

Lisa Housman and Dave Falk are, in essence, singing storytellers. Through travels, life lessons, childhood reflections, and songs of love, Wherever You Go takes listeners on a journey with two singer/songwriters who write about their own lives.

The opener, "Mid-Morning Rain," has an upbeat, tap-your-feet melody as Housman's voice sings in a matter-of-fact tone similar to Dar Williams. Her soprano notes sing a tender chorus of poetic lyrics. The traveling songs move from "Going Over Brooklyn," "Pacific Shores," "San Francisco," and back to "Winter Hill." The narrative lyrics range from comical statements: "My hair still looks like crap / From this morning when I didn't have time to brush it;" to heartfelt: "And I felt sand between my toes in San Francisco / And I touched the ocean and the ocean tasted me."

This folk-rock/alt-country duo writes straightforward tales in rhythm that grab the listener's attention... Wherever You Go shows off very diverse displays of songwriting. Housman and Falk are talented singer/songwriters who, without taking themselves too seriously, are simply writing through the natural wavering of human emotion. - Northeast Performer, Sasha Keeler

"Sweet Wednesday is a pair of singer-songwriters, Dave Falk and Lisa Housman, who play in what they call the “modern folk” vein, and they do it damn well."
- The Noise, Tim Emswiler