Purgatory Hill just released their second album, the magnificent Invisible Pistols. There is no doubt that pat mAcdonald—famous for "The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades," a mid-80s hit he penned for his then group Timbuk 3—leads the band with his raucous Lowebow guitar playing, piercing harmonica, foot stomping, and strangely mellow vocals. He also writes most of the songs. However, the band would not be what it is without its only other member: melaniejane. She plays small percussion, cello, keyboard, and provides backing vocals.
In spite of his fame—mAcdonald has opened for Bob Dylan and memorabilia from Timbuk 3 are on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—Purgatory Hill usually plays before tiny crowds in very small bars and clubs. On January 18 I saw them for no cover with about 50 other people at Frets in Green Bay, WI. After the show, melaniejane and I found the quietest, well-lit spot in the tiny place to conduct an interview. She talks about playing cello, tambourine, and other assorted things. Below are links to melaniejane playing both cello and tambourine.
melaniejane on cello (solo, covering "Come Together" by the Beatles)
melaniejane on tambourine (Purgatory Hill)
melaniejane on cello (Purgatory Hill)
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Purgatory Hill appears in AlteredScale.com issue 1 and pat mAcdonald will appear solo in AlteredScale.com issue 3, out in March.
See "Growing Up with the Music of pat mAcdonald, Part 1" on this blog. Part two will appear in April of this year.
pat recently published Space Kitty Blues. Check it out at the Purgatory Hill website.
melaniejane's website
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