Alien Folklife
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Alien Folklife

Band Folk Acoustic

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Press


"Double Vision"

"Double Vision is an illustration of [Alien Folklife's] songwriting talents...Lyrically inventive, playful at times ('Hot Dog Heaven,' about a New Age bookstore turned hot dog stand), and agonizingly sad at others ('Sullivan Ballou's Last Letter Home,' an adaptation of a Civil War love letter), each song paints a vivid picture."
- Annette C. Eshleman, Dirty Linen


"Double Vision"

"I want you to know how much I've been enjoying your CD. It's brilliant, as well as being beautifully recorded."
- Micah Solomon, President, Oasis CD Manufacturing


"Fast Company"

"The way Joan Kosby and Paul Mercer harmonize, given the specialness of their vocal blend, you just know they are two individuals who are very much in tune with each other. And this unique chemistry is utilized to the nth degree on some stunning original folk material."
- Ellen Geisel, Dirty Linen


"Down to Earth"

"Pick any song on their CD 'Down to Earth' and play a few notes. Within an instant, you feel like you have been reunited with some good friends. I was impressed by Paul and Joan's ability to deliver incredible imagery and stories in their thought-provoking songs. Listening to the CD is a wonderful journey and a trip you look forward to taking!"
- Ron Olesko, "Traditions," WFDU, Teaneck, NJ


"Aliens live!"

"Alien Folklife was truly superb--a combination of all the right things: beautiful music, humorous (more than just humorous it was a kind of clever funny that is high level entertainment), likeable and real people...Though I'm the last person to make an impulse purchase, I HAD to buy their CD...Wow!"
- Susan F. Sharin, Eastford, CT


"Aliens live!"

"A high point of the early festival was hearing [Alien Folklife] perform Mercer's passionate 'Johnny Burke,' which was included on Herdman, Hills and Mangsen's gorgeous 'Voices' recording."
- Ellen Geisel, Dirty Linen


"Down to Earth"

"Alien Folklife provide the perfect mix. . . Be it the wistful nostalgia of 'Dreamsong' or the curious conditionals of 'What If,' this music quickly finds a place in your heart. And just because a handful of these songs happen to be ridiculously entertaining, they are in no way creatively diminished. Take, for example, the quirky narratives of 'And Now a Word from Our Sponsor.' This summation of soap plots and advertisements radiates with humorous ingenuity. Alien Folklife write just what they want and do a darn good job at it." - Ryan Hoffer, A&R, Shut Eye Records, Inc.


"Down to Earth"

"NICE WORK! What a fine collection of songs, and beautifully produced, too!"
- Peter Berryman, songwriter (Lou and Peter Berryman)


"Down to Earth"

"What a complete songs set! From gorgeous ballads to the funnies. (I must admit I disgraced myself by laughing out so loud I woke people up!) It's a perfect package. Instantly comfortable and such lovely melodies--plus lyric writing skills of a rare standard these days. I absolutely love your album!"
- Eddie O'Strange, Town and Country Radio, New Zealand


"Down to Earth"

"...fab folk duo...'Brand New Strings' [is] a terrific tribute to Lena Spencer and the Caffe that bears her name."
- Greg Haymes, Times Union, Albany, NY


Discography

Down to Earth (DINO 003, 2003)
Double Vision (DINO 002 CD; 002 CS, 1997)
Fast Company (DINO 001, 1991)--cassette, out-of-print

Songs:
"Thomas Cat," from Double Vision, included on Dr. Demento's Basement Tapes 6 (no date)
"Johnny Burke," from Fast Company, recorded by Herdman, Hills and Mangsen on Voices (Flying Fish/Rounder 1990)
"Sweet Reunion" included on Caffe Lena 25th Anniversary compilation, (Fast Folk 1985).

Photos

Bio

"Wrist-slitters and Side-splitters"

Alien Folklife combines quirky humorous pieces and heart-rending story songs to produce their trademark blend of "wrist-slitters and side-splitters." On the funny side, this duo of Joan Kosby and Paul Mercer writes songs about cats, dogs, soap operas, termites and telephones. On the flip side, their repertoire includes moving stories of loss, love, hope and healing. A few "normal" songs help keep things in balance. Wherever Alien Folklife is on the emotional spectrum, you'll find intelligent but accessible lyrics, creative arrangements, stellar vocal harmonies and heartfelt emotion.

A shared passion for contemporary and traditional folk music brought Canadian Paul Mercer and New Yorker Joan Kosby together. Joan's warm contralto and Paul's clear baritone combine to produce a vocal blend reminiscent of sibling duos. Their fingerstyle guitar work is crafted to support the lyrics without overshadowing them. Joan adds textural variety to Alien Folklife's sound with English concertina and some light percussion.

ALIENS ON TOUR

Touring primarily in the Northeast, Joan and Paul have performed in coffeehouses, concerts, festivals, folk clubs, colleges and on radio. They are regular performers at the legendary Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, New York. They've also toured England twice, most recently in 2002. Their festival appearances include the Old Songs Festival in Altamont, New York, and England's Bridgnorth Festival. Joan and Paul performed in a juried showcase at the 2004 Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) conference. They were finalists in the 2005 South Florida Folk and Acoustic Music Festival's singer-songwriter competition, and among the winners in the 2006 "Shine" competition held in the greater Capital Region of New York State.

. . . ON RECORDINGS

Alien Folklife's latest CD, Down to Earth (2003), was produced by award-winning Canadian producer Paul Mills at his Millstream studio in Toronto. Guest artists include Tracy Grammer, multi-instrumentalist Curly Boy Stubbs (alias Paul Mills) and some of Canada's finest studio musicians. From the heartbreaking ballad, "Never Trust a Carny," to the life-affirming, "In an Instant," to the outrageous, "Termite Farts," the skillful but spare production highlights the spirit of each of the disc's eleven songs.

The duo has two previous releases, Double Vision (1997), and a now out-of-print cassette, Fast Company (1991). National touring artists Priscilla Herdman, Anne Hills and Cindy Mangsen covered Paul's song "Johnny Burke" on their Voices release.

. . . AND THE RADIO

Alien Folklife's national airplay includes the syndicated programs, "The Dr. Demento Show" and Robert Conrad's "Weekend Radio," where their song "Thomas Cat" is one of the show's most requested songs. New Zealand's "Town and Country Radio" named Alien Folklife "Artists of the Week" on their February 2, 2004 broadcast. Joan and Paul are repeat live performers on such long-running radio programs as "A Hudson River Sampler" (WAMC, Northeast Public Radio) and "Bound for Glory" (WBVR, Ithaca, New York). They've also appeared live on BBC radio in Shropshire, England, and on WAMC's "Dancing on the Air."