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SHAWN WOLFE, Tomorrow River
Lots of fine music went into the making of Shawn Wolfe’s “Tomorrow River,” which was released last September, but just ended up on my desk.
Recorded at Liquid Sound Media in Stevens Point and Rock Garden Studio in Appleton, the CD features nine of Wolfe’s folk and folk-rock-pop tunes performed with some talented and obviously simpatico pickers and players, including Marty Nellessen on tasty banjo, Paul Frater on sweet violin and mandolin, Paul Bannach on tasteful electric and upright bass and Sean Mulligan on keyboards and very nice electric guitar accents.
Wolfe wields acoustic guitar, a mean harmonica, various percussion instruments and a voice filled with heartland soul.
According to his MySpace bio, Wolfe lives in Stevens Point and is a naturalist with a wildlife consulting business called Wolf Expeditions. Perhaps it’s the largely acoustic nature of the album, but Wolfe is able to evoke a connection with the natural world in these songs from different parts of North America – Ontario, North Carolina, Stevens Point and elsewhere.
--Jim Lundstrom, March 2008 - The Scene/James Moran
Discography
Shawn Wolfe, Tomorrow River, 2007
Played on 90FM in Stevens Point and four songs on www.myspace.com/shawnwolfemusic
Shawn Wolfe and the Unschooled Ruffians: Nine Live at Clark Place, 2007
Photos
Bio
My music is original.
Originally a writer of natural history essays, landscape and nature descriptions permeate my songs.
As a park ranger and naturalist who worked in Wisconsin, Colorado, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, I have keen observational skills and clear memories of these places.
Stylistically, I am influenced by folk, rock, alt-country and bluegrass.
My song lyrics describe my life experiences and the natural landscapes in which I have experienced life. My approach highlights my songwriting, rhythmic guitar and finger-picking and vocals; often accompanied by my harmonica.
My music is born of the tradition of socially conscious singers and songwriters Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Hank Williams.
I am directly influenced by Bruce Springsteen, John Denver, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, John Cougar Mellencamp, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, Tom Petty, Led Zepplin and more recently, Wilco and Ryan Adams.
Music has been a Wolfe family tradition at reunions and during holidays and camp outings. My dad and uncles played musical instruments and were influenced by Grandpa Wolfe, who played harmonica along with his 1938 Gibson, which he picked up directly from the factory in Kalamazoo.
I am equally comfortable playing my material solo, accompanied by upright bass and violin or with The Unschooled Ruffians. When accompanied by The Unschooled Ruffians my music transforms into folk/rock with a kick.
The Unschooled Ruffians are Paul Frater, on violin and mandolin, Emiah the Liah, on acoustic guitar, Ethan Klaussen on bass guitar and Kelby Kryshalk on drums.
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