Press Release: Hey Mavis kicks up some dirt with their new CD Honey Man

For Immediate Release- January 7, 2013

The music of Hey Mavis can only be described as “Appalachian Americana”.  With banjo, fiddle, upright bass, guitar, kick drum and harmonica, the quartet effortlessly moves from a softly orchestrated lullaby to a raw and raucous love song.  “The songs feel soulful, they have dirt and substance,” says Hey Mavis founder Laurie Michelle Caner.  “There is a sense of being grounded and close to the earth, and we try to breathe life into everything we do.” 

After their most recent summer tour out west, during which Hey Mavis achieved notoriety as a finalist in the highly acclaimed Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Contest, Laurie (banjo/vocals/songwriting) and Ed Caner (fiddle/viola) started working with Cleveland songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Brent Kirby and seasoned upright bassist, Bryan Thomas.  Brent’s contributing songwriting talents create a worthy compliment to Laurie when it comes to arrangements, vocals and new songs.  Bryan’s versatile and expressive bass playing gives the band an intense groove and rhythmic flexibility.  Laurie’s heartfelt vocal delivery and banjo playing defines Hey Mavis’s sound, and Ed Caner’s wild and passionate fiddling is both virtuosic and unique.

Set to an instrumentation and impression of timeless Appalachian backwoods, the songs on Honey Man represent tales constructed around passing imagery of emotions and situations, such as relationships, the joy and labor of raising a child, hurting and heartbreak. In the title track “Honey Man”, Laurie intimately leads the listener through a Faustian “owe my soul to the devil” tale, while in “Say Hello to Paris” she sings about feeling strapped down by the responsibility of motherhood, only to realize all the beauty of the world lies in the children dancing ‘round her feet.  Kirby’s “Let The Water Do the Work” has an upbeat revivalist message of “release and find your peace”.  The songs on Honey Man seem to lead us on a journey through the complex emotions of adult life, where one can only end up where they began, in a place where the simplicity of love always wins.

Honey Man is produced by the legendary Don Dixon (REM, Red Clay Ramblers, Smithereens), who also produced their first CD. Red Wine. When speaking of the new CD, Don said, “Wrapped in original songs whose styles range from old timey to jazzy to blistering alt rock, Laurie's voice turns from cold steel to melted butter in the time it takes your heart to break."

For more information on Hey Mavis and their new CD, Honey Man, visit www.heymavis.com email heymavismusic@gmail.com or call 330-388-5123.

End of Summer

We were thrilled to end our summer of shows in the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  We were joined on stage by Brent Kirby (vocals & guitar), Bryan Thomas (bass) and Mark Gonder (drums).  Tootsie was thrilled to be on stage surrounded by so many handsome men!!!!!

We Love Telluride!!!

Yes, we did it!  Our goal was to make it in to the finals of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Contest...and we did it!  What a thrill is was to meet so many amazing people and to perform three original tunes on the main stage at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival!  Thanks to you all here at home who sent us good vibes...we were feeling them as we walked on to the stage.  The enthusiastic audience at the finals were so supportive and the beauty of the San Juan mountains behind them was breathtaking.  We think we won't stay away for too long...we'll be seeing you again Telluride!

The Mystery Track...

Decisions, decisions!  We were so close to completing recording for the new CD!  That is, until we decided to put another song on it!  Now we just need to choose which one...time to pow-wow with our hero...DIXON!!

CD Artwork

We are thrilled to be working with Leandra Drumm for our upcoming CD art!  Leandra grew up in an artistic family (her father is the much celebrated Akron artist Don Drumm www.dondrummstudios.com) and is well-known for her wonderfully whimsical figures and illustrations. One of Leandra's recent creative projects is the LightUP Lantern Festival.  In it's fourth year, the festival is a magical night of music, visual and performing arts and a stunning lantern parade.  Check it out at: www.lightuplantern.com  We can't wait to see Leandra's final sketch for the CD cover!!!!  Here is her artwork for last year's festival:

Red Wine CD Lyrics - At Long Last...

This post contains the lyrics for the songs on the Hey Mavis "Red Wine" CD.  All songs written by Laurie Michelle Caner except "Second Chances" and "New Seattle" written by Sarah Benn.  All songs and lyrics copyright 2010 Stellada Music (ASCAP).  All rights reserved.


Red Light, Red Light 

Chorus:
Why you always flashing your red light, red light
Don't you know I'm not the kind to slow down
Why you always putting up your stop sign, stop sign
Wanna go fast, baby, I'll show you how

Verse 1:
You quit looking in that rear view mirror
Take your hands off the wheel
Don't you want to show me
How you really feel

Verse 2:
I know the sign, it says "Caution
Dangerous curve ahead"
Lean your body into the turn, my baby
All inhibitions we will shed

Verse 3:
That road map cannot help us
It don't show the route to my heart
Just trust your intuituion, my baby
Getting lost is my favorite part



Tell Me Lover True 

Chorus:
Tell me lover true, tell me lover true
Come and kneel by my stone
Sing me lover true, sing me lover true
Come sing, sing to my bones

Verse 1:
Tell me the story of our wedding day
Do I wear a linen dress of white
Look of love in my eye

Verse 2:
Weave me a picture of what could have been
What colors paint the sky
Do I sing a sweet babe a lullaby

Bridge:
To you by soul is bound
Though my body lies in this cold, cold ground

Verse 3:
My darling, why did I have to leave your side
Your love was the light inside of me
Now I’m blind and I cannot see

Knock Me Off My Feet

Chorus:
Pick me up with your melody
Your voice carries me through
Rhyme every other line with my name
I swear I’ll love you true

Verse 1:
Play those strings with your hands
Sing me a song so sweet
Write me a verse that will turn my head
And knock me off my feet
I do not care if you sing off key
Or if you’re out of tune
Just as long as you serenade me
Beneath that yellow moon

Verse 2:
Play that chromatic scale
As if you’re playing me
Liken my love to a flower
Tell me what kind would it be
I wanna know what do you see
When you look into my eyes
Oceans blue, forget-me-nots and endless summer skies



Second Chances

Chorus:
The stars at night are big and bright
Deep in the heart of Texas
A heart in flight has got to rely
On second chances

Verse 1:
Well, these legs had the feeling they were flying
And somehow I found my shirt
Breathin' and a running and a breathin' (not sure how to properly write that)
Disappeared into the kicked-up dirt

And I was leavin' all the wrong kinda mornin's
Decided I'd had my fill
The stars are big and bright in the night-time sky
On another Texas trail
On another Texas trail

20 miles east of Odessa
Gunnin' it and runnin' from the pain
The rain came down in a hurry
And suddenly everything changed

Well, the road lay before me was golden
The mesas around me black
I thought that I was chased by the devil
But I think the lord's got my back
I think the lord's got my back

Verse 2:
Headed up north in the winter
No matter how backward that seems
Breathin' and a runnin' and a breathin'
Just searchin' for an inner well-spring

Well, I don't suppose you ever have been there
To the bottom of your own worst fright
If you see a light shine on your face down there
You grab the rope and hold on tight
Grab the rope and hold on tight

If I Want To 

Chorus:
Ain’t no tellin’, ain’t no tellin’, what I’m gonna do

Verse 1:
I can fall like a feather, and land beside your pillow
If I want to
I can float like a cloud, right into your dreams
If I want to
I can melt like a snowflake, onto your tongue
If I want to

Verse 2:
I can slink like an alley cat, follow your every step
If I want to
I can watch like a hawk, and, see you with her
If I want to
I can slither like a rattlesnake and spike your vein
If I want to

Verse 3:
I can sit like a stone, let the breezes blow
If I want to
I can rage like a storm, let the tears flow
If I want to
I can set like the sun and never see the light again
If I want to

Verse 4:
I can bloom like a flower and face towards the sun
If I want to
I can fly like a bird and soar through the heavens
If I want to
I can play like a fiddle and sing the sweetest song


Red Wine 

Chorus:
Aiyeeeeeeeeeee, eeeeeeee, eeee, eeee

Verse 1:
Red wine will get me through the night
In the morning, good God I will see the light
Fire burning in my shoes
Gonna take me far away from you

Verse 2:
This old banjo, I tried to keep in tune
But it never sounded good to you
Bite my nails just to pass the time
Was not looking for what I did not find

Verse 3:
Run, run river and carry me away
I no longer fear the break of day
Cannot push that which will not move
How much more can a poor girl lose

Verse 4:
Weeping willow and white birch tree
Stand tall and stay strong for me
Mother and Father, too
True love will always see you through


New Seattle

Chorus:
If I can't make it here
Well I'll never make it anywhere
If Akron is the new Seattle
Then maybe I'll stop washing my hair and buy some flannel
No one can tell me which direction I ought to go
Do I stay true to my roots in pink cowgirl boots
Or buy a big amp and start playing in a rock and roll band

Verse 1:
You got a mention in Rolling Stone
I got it in the mail today
You're looking pretty and writing lots of songs
And I bet that you'll be moving away

People seem to like you, well they'd like me too
If I could finish recording this CD
I'm playin' weddings and birthdays and local street fairs
And your video's on MTV

Verse 2:
I never watch TV but I swear when I do
There's always someone playin' your song
And I'll be darned if it's not the same one
That I used to sing harmony on

And even in a diner when I order my grits
I hear your voice comin' from overhead
I'm rolling my eyes I just can't believe
You're the girl that used to be in my band




I Ain’t Gonna Cry

Chorus:
I ain’t gonna cry, for you no more
I ain’t gonna cry, for you no more

Verse 1:
That black leather jacket, baby
Well it kept me nice and warm
Quite a shame it was the only thing, baby
That kept me hanging on

Verse 2:
Romantic verse and chivalry
Under a moonlit sky
Quite a way to woo me, baby
Then you left me so high and dry

Verse 3:
Now I can dance alone in this old empty house
And I feel alright in my skin
Your love’s not worth the effort, baby
It’s not worth this mess I’ve been

I cried a river, baby…


Bring Back

Verse 1:
She wants to stand out in the rain
Hold her hands up to the heavens above
Let those waters drench her blue dress
Wash away all that she’s done
Bring back the tide of love

Verse 2:
He’s always waiting by the window at evening
That’s when she said she’d be back around
But lately he’s got a sinking feeling
Once again the sun has gone down
Bring back the light of love

Bridge:
Love comes and it goes
There’s no rhyme, you just don’t know
Hold still and feel the wind blow

Verse 3:
She brought her to her breast every nightfall
Calmed her fears and rocked her to and fro
“My baby girl we’ll always be connected”
Now that baby is leaving home
Hold on to the power of love



Jeans 

Chorus: Only if I wear my jeans, jeans, jeans

Verse 1:
Your hair is golden like the rays of the sun
I swear on my soul I’ll be your only one
I will work my fingers to the bone
Just to have you and you alone
Grab your finest shoes and your prettiest dress,
Come’ on pretty baby, won’t you please say yes

Verse 2:
Sugar let down your flaxen hair
In the moonlight your skin so fair
Rub some ruby across your lips
Wrap a velvet skirt around your hips
Into the royal blue night we will go
Come’on lovely lady let me be your beau

Verse 3:
I need a woman who will stay by my side
I need a woman dressed in ivory white
Paint me pretty pictures and sing me pretty songs
With you in my life I can do no wrong
So I fall before you on bended knee
Come’on sweet baby won’t you marry me?

Bridge: Faded and fitted and worn at the seams
Will you love me the same if I’m in my jeans?


Sister Mary 

Chorus:
Sister Mary, oh Mary
I got to confess what I done
I long to feel that sweet forgiveness from the Father and His Son
Sister Mary, oh Mary
Won’t you fold your hands and pray
Help me save my soul from this sinner’s highway

Verse 1:
The bank they came a’knockin’
While his wife was in the field
“Got two weeks to show us pay or we’ll take your next crop’s yield”
On later in the moonlight
He didn’t have to dig down far
Grabbed his brother’s savings from that dirty old mason jar
And he prayed…

Verse 2:
That man he talked so smoothly
That he led her heart astray
She packed and left her family during church that Sunday
She knew she’d bear his child
Before the summer was through
Pain and guilt she felt, well, it tore her heart in two
And she prayed…

Verse 3:
He loves that still so dearly
He knows he gotta stop
Don’t quit soon it won’t be long before his liver’s shot
But he keeps a little bottle
In the second left-hand drawer
Thinks his wife ain’t looking
Well he drinks a little more
And he prayed…

Posted by Edward Caner (aka "Stevie"--violin and viola profunda for Hey Mavis)

Yonder Mountain String Band

We are looking forward to this Thursday when we open up for Yonder Mountain String Band in Columbus! These guys have been working their asses off for years, touring, writing and recording. It will be an absolute pleasure to share a stage with them (and perhaps a little nerve wracking, too)!

Here is a great video of YMSB from 2002...our own Eddie Caner sitting in...sneaking in a little solo!