Chris Smither’s most recent recording, Hundred Dollar Valentine, is a studio record of all Smither-penned songs — a first for him. With longtime producer David “Goody” Goodrich at the helm, this newest collection sports the unmistakable sound Smither has made his trademark: fingerpicked acoustic guitar and evocative sonic textures meshed with spare, brilliant songs, delivered in a bone-wise, hard-won voice.
The recording sessions came together during early 2012 at Signature Studios in Pomfret, Connecticut. Stopping by were the nexus of two of Boston’s most distinctive and influential acts of the recent era — Treat Her Right’s (later Morphine) drummer Billy Conway and Jimmy Fitting on harmonica, and Goodrich’s ex-Groovasaurus bandmates Anita Suhanin (vocals) and violinist Ian Kennedy (Page/Plant, Lemonheads, Juliana Hatfield, Peter Wolf, Susan Tedeschi)
While this is Smither’s twelfth studio album, this is his first-ever outing comprised entirely of self-penned songs. He’s always favoured the cream of songwriters, such as Dylan, Mark Knopfler and Chuck Berry, mixed with classics from the blues canon, but this time, the credits read all-Smither. “Actually,” he laughs, “there are two covers on the record; but it’s me covering myself.”
On Hundred Dollar Valentine, Chris Smither makes music that simultaneously breaks and fortifies one’s heart. It’s music that acknowledges that even as we are together, we are alone. This is music that stares into that absolute abyss and does not lie. This is music that locks its gaze with life and death and does not look away.
Chris Smithers 2013 Australian Tour
MARCH
Thursday 7
Notes Sydney, NSW
Friday 8 – Monday 11
Port Fairy Folk Festival Port Fairy, VIC
Wednesday 13
Trinity Sessions Adelaide, SA
Thursday 14 /15
Kulcha Fremantle, WA
Saturday 16- Sunday 17
Blue Mountains Music Festival Katoomba, NSW
Tuesday 19
Notes Sydney, NSW
Wednesday 20
The Gallipoli Club Newcastle, NSW
Thursday 21
South Leagues Club West End Brisbane, QLD
Friday 22
Woombye Hotel Sunshine Coast, QLD
Saturday 23
Brunswick Music Festival Melbourne, VIC
Sunday 24
Burke & Wills Winery, Lancefield, VIC
Tuesday 26
Burrinja Café Upway VIC
Wednesday 27
Caravan Music Club Oakleigh VIC
Thurs 28 – Sat 30
National Folk Festival Canberra, ACT
Sunday 31 – Monday 1 April
Blues Fest Byron Bay, NSW
