Arlan Feiles and the Broken Hearted

Arlan Feiles is a patient man. He has experienced sights, sounds and relationships that most artists can only dream about. Sometimes that can be worse than never succeeding at all. The feeling of replaying a near miss is a painful and introspective experience for the performer who dreams bigger than everyday life. But Feiles, a piano tuner by trade, has never been one to give in and put on a tie for anything but a funeral or a wedding.

Feiles’ first true taste of success came with the band Natural Causes down in Miami, Florida. That union led to the recording, Bomb In A Shelter, which was the springboard that Feiles would use to push his music into the eventual attention field of Chris Blackwell (Island Records) and the production cradle of Dave Grohl.

That series of events would also lead to the eventual partnership with the legendary Tom Dowd, the man who was responsible for engineering and producing artists such as Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rod Stewart, The Allman Brothers, Willie Nelson and so many, many others. Feiles relationship with Dowd was that of student and mentor and that led to the recording of Troubled Monkey.

Dowd poured his soul and knowledge into Feiles’ enthusiastic mind. The two worked late into many a night, honing Feiles into a seasoned and laid back troubadour of the times. He was thrown into the big leagues head first by Island Records and Dowd, and that magical record included appearances by most of the Band, including Levon Helm as well as Rick Danko and keyboardist extraordinaire, Garth Hudson.

Dowd’s death from emphysema in 2002 was a huge personal setback for Feiles, who, upon losing his friend, took to the American highway for solace, drifting in and out of honky tonks and bars with his dog, Theo. He sold his CDs out of the back of his truck and did what he does best—continued to write and play music to anyone who would listen.

He would eventually come back on track by heading east and landing in the burgeoning Williamsburg scene of Brooklyn, where he formed a band called Gift Horse, and set about shaping what would eventually become “I’ve Got To Tell Ya.” That song became extremely popular and was used in the Ed Burns film, Sidewalks Of New York.

Feiles’ venture with The Lone Howdys and evolution to The Lone Orchestra, (a 12-piece Americana band) generated a relationship with producer Frank “Rat Bastard” Falestra (Marilyn Manson), and that partnership culminated in two high-level vehicles that put Feiles back on the playing field. The first was Razing A Nation, a disc that started turning heads here in the east and immediately garnering “Hot Tip” placement on the Euro Americana charts.

But to me, the project that put Feiles back in the actual ball game was Come Sunday Morning, a disc that yielded a number 15 placing on the Euro Americana charts. Arlan’s “Out Of The Dirt” was used in the award-winning film Handsome Harry and at least seven tunes can still be heard on the MTV show, 16 And Pregnant.

Arlan is back to further that success with a brand new disc that continues where Come Sunday Morning left off. His studio band is one of the strongest and the sounds are amazing on Weeds Kill The Wild Flowers.

Weeds Kill The Wild Flowers opens up with “Top Of The World,” a Glenn Tilbrook flavored number that features a palpitating, hypnotic bassline and a Fender Roads intro that paves the way for Feiles to muscle straight into the verse. Arlan’s voice is an interesting combination of Warren Zevon meets Ryan Adams with the distinct warble of Johnny Cash, and it’s immediately fitting. Backbeats pump as organs sustain across the middle. The guitar work percolates Steve Cropper style throughout, and features a dark, Harrison style slide in the middle eight that really lifts the song up into the final chorus.

His production collaboration with Falestra’s signature sounds is evident on “Fire Drill.” Liquid effects bump and roll lazily across the track with what I can only describe as sounds a submarine pilot might hear at 300 meters. Arlan leads off with a sparse, piano driven theme that centers the listener on his stark and gritty verse. Feiles hits hard with the chorus on this blue collar tune. Melodic and catchy, Feiles’ compositional swing ensures that you keep hitting rewind as he puts the hook in you. The Springsteen meets Chris Robinson vibe brings forth visions of dust-filled rest stops as staging stations for life on the back roads of America. But make no mistake, the style here is all Feiles, as he spins despondent visions of never-ending exasperation chased far too long out on the road to nowhere.

“Viola” is a sophisticated mainstay from Come Sunday Morning and it holds its ground well against the current material. My guess is that this was included due to it being more in sync with this new direction than it had on that previous release. Whatever the case, “Viola” is a phenomenal song. The track leads off with warm bells, pianos and horn surge - The Aquarian

"If songwriters were bad weather, Hurricane Arlan would be a category 5...he'll blow you away" - GREG BAKER - The Miami Herald - Miami Herald

ARLAN FEILES – Razing A Nation (Y&T Music, 6705 147 Ct. Miami FL 33193)
Arlan Feiles is a singer/songwriter recently relocated to NYC.
This home-recorded album, with just acoustic guitar, harmonica, and a little piano,
paints stark word pictures that can’t help but evoke the early Dylan, Leonard Cohen,
and acoustic Neil Young. Broken-hearted love songs contrast with topical folk songs
like the powerfully anti-war “Sign Up,” and the American anthem “Born To This Country,”
which could have been an outtake from Springsteen’s Nebraska by way of Woodie
Guthrie. Some nice ‘pickin’, evocative harp, and Feiles’ gritty, earthy vocals should
appeal to all fans of modern folk.
– Jim Testa
- Jersey Beat, NJ

"Arlan is a gifted songwriter...
pulsating and passionate performances" - Billboard Magazine

"Arlan is like a modern Bob Dylan, but he sings a sight better...
Arlan is a gem" - Tom Dowd / Producer

"A while back he sent Upstage a copy of his disc "The Ballad of a New Lone Ranger" and it simply blew me away....if you're looking for a great singer-songwriter record be sure to pick a copy up....it's been a constant play in our cd player.... they do an excellent job of finding some of the best talent in the tri-state area - Arlan Feiles is a perfect example"
-Gary Weis - Upstage MAgazine, NJ

Singer-songwriter Arlan Feiles is the quintessential American songwriter.
Lonely, unwavering, and filled with purpose, Feiles writes to bare the simple
core of the most complicated themes, be it matters of the heart
or a nation's betrayal
-Rene Alvarez - Street Weekly

Listen Up friends, If you happen to come across the name Arlan Feiles
in you travels, run, that's right run, don't walk to hear this Garwood, New Jersey
based, multi-talented singer/songwriter. I was fortunate enough to catch Arlan at
The Indigo Coffeehouse in Aberdeen last Friday night and I'll tell you this, I won't
soon forget it. Alternating between his Roland electric piano and his acoustic
guitar/harp, Arlan gave one of the most inspired performances I have seen in a
while.
Opening up with a haunting rendition of "Sign Up" (anti-war protest/reminiscent
of Richard Shindell) from his 2003 debut release entitled Razing a Nation (The
Ballad of a New Lone Ranger), Arlan just blew me away emotionally. Whether
the subject matter was life and death, love and hate or war and peace, Arlan Feiles
impressed with a gem after original gem including "All Because of You" (picked it up
with the slightest hint of George Harrison), "Ride" (terrific change of pace),
"Worthless" (great songwriting/ wonderful keys), "Change" (Oh Yeah), "Listen to Your
Heart Talk" (killer new tune), "Katie Truly" (a very interesting funky little #),
"I Just Want to Hold Her" (heartacher & heartbraker), "The Truth About You" (oh those
keys), "I Will Come for You" (another winner from latest), "I Wonder" (magic),
"The New Lone Ranger" ( excellent vocal & a.g. /Dave Mallonee & the V.O.L.'s would love it),
"How Do You Say Goodbye" (longing and loss/ Arlan lets it all hang out), "Take Care
of Yourself" (moving ballad/ perfect closer).
Look. Arlan Feiles is an ol' time troubadour not only in dress, manner and look,
but most importantly in voice, talent and soul. From his unforgettably haunting vocals
to his superior songwriting skills and versatile musicianship Arlan Feiles is a unique talent.
And with each of his original songs offering up a new vision, as well as a kaleidoscope of
sounds, Arlan Feiles is a long overdue breath of fresh air on today's local scene.
Hey, L.A.'s loss is the Shore's gain. And while his CD, Razing a Nation (The
Ballad of a New Lone Ranger) is a very good listen, Arlan Feiles is a must see!
Oh, Yeah. You can check out Arlan and his band The Lone Howdys on Friday, January 21
at The Saint in Asbury Park. I'll see you there!

Uncle Mike - Two River Times Red Bank,NJ