Biography
Nancy McCallion is best known as the songwriter and vocalist for original Celtic-Norteno-you-name-it folk-rock cult band
The Mollys.
Now touring as a duo or trio with guitar, mandolin and fiddle in support of a solo album, "Take a Picture of Me" is showcasing the latest stage in her world-class songwriting.
McCallion teamed up with high school music partner Catherine Zavala to form The Mollys in 1989, racking up seven indie releases and countless rave-review shows in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand before the group disbanded in 2003.
The daughter of an Irish-Scots immigrant and a Texas farm girl, McCallion grew up in Tucson, a cross-cultural border town. She heard, and was obviously influenced by, the Norteno sounds of her Southwest Side neighborhood, her older sister’s Beatles’ records, and 1970s and '80s radio rock, mixed with her dad's Irish trad and her mother's Texas old-time country. Throw in adolescent Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello and Pogues fixations and you've got the cultural stew that emerged as The Mollys' drop-jaw repertoire.
McCallion, Zavala and The Mollys developed a solid following and a trail
of rave reviews (including a listing in the Washington Post’s top 10 CDs of 1997) for powerful, hard-to-classify recordings and pool-of-sweat performances over 14 years. The band took a break in 2001, when McCallion stopped to have a child, and disbanded in 2003, after a last tour of Italy.
She never quit writing, and resumed live performance and recording as a solo over the last six years. Her latest project, "Take a Picture of Me" to be released in November, 2009,
brings together Ralph Gilmore, Steve Grams,Earl Edmonson, Catherine Zavala, Kevin Schramm and Danny Krieger).
Her new songs are an eclectic mix of roots, folk, celtic and country influences reminiscent of The Mollys. Although often compared favorably to Lucinda Williams and other leading female writers, McCallion's sharp takes on life lived small also bring to mind Tom Wait's dark, quirky tales.
Catch Nancy's track "On We Go" on Putamayo's Women of the World: Celtic along with Mary Black, Clannad, Maura O'Connell, Capercaillie and others.
Instrumentation
Nancy McCallion, vocals, guitar, penny whistle
Danny Krieger, guitar, slide guitar, vocals
Steve Grams, upright bass, vocals
For larger venues, Nancy sometimes tours with a fiddle player, bass player and drummer.
Discography
Take a Picture of Me - Nancy McCallion, 2009
It's Never too Late to Get Lucky - The Last Call Girls, 2006
Nancy McCallion - Nancy McCallion 2004
Trouble- Nancy McCallion and The Mollys 2002
Only a Story - The Mollys 2000
Moon Over the Interstate - The Mollys 1998
Hat Trick - The Mollys 1997
Wankin' Out West - The Mollys 1996
This is My Round - The Mollys 1995
Tidings of Comfort and Joy 1992
Old Woman's Lament (cassette) 1991
Original song "On We Go" featured on
Putamayo: Women of the World Celtic CD
Lullabies for New Beginnings, 2005
Links
| http://www.nancymccallion.com |