Tucker Zimmerman – Dance of Love
One of my favorite facets of music is delving into influences – even the most original, innovative artists have been inspired by the music they’ve been listening to their entire lives. Big Thief doesn’t sound like any other Americana band, but they have hearts, minds and ears, so they have influences. Turns out one of them is a relatively obscure folk singer-songwriter – Tucker Zimmerman. The San Francisco-born, Belgium-based artist has been making music since the 1960s, both recording his own songs and writing for others (including Paul Butterfield, Derroll Adams and Wizz Jones). Now in his 80s, the man that Adrianne Lenker called “one of the greatest songwriters of all time” has found kindred spirits in the quirky indie band fronted by Lenker (one of the best songwriters of her own generation). Together, they’ve recorded an album, produced and soundtracked by the band, that makes you feel like you’re in the room with these artists, exploring every curve and nuance of Zimmerman’s fanciful tunes.
The album’s first track, “Old Folks from Farmersville,” has a bit of a fairytale quality to it. Guided by Zimmerman’s shuffling 12-string guitar line, the song imagines an idyllic place where help is given simply because it’s needed – “If you do a good deed/To a stranger in need/Forget it” – and paying it forward is the only remittance accepted – “And if a stranger does you a good turn/Love it and live it/And never forget it until your dying day.” Lenker, as with many of the songs on Dance of Love, provides subtle backing vocals that serve as a balance to Zimmerman’s craggier, 83-year-old pipes. On other tracks, Zimmerman and Lenker trade verses. The hypnotic country ambler “Lorelei” seeks comfort amid chaos – “Hard times have come again/Folks looking for relief/Looking for the silver lining/In the cloud of disbelief.” The setting – late night, along a moonlit river – is timeless, but the disconcert is very of the moment.
If you come to Dance of Love via Big Thief fandom (as I did), you’ll find a lot to love on this record. “Nobody Knows (What’s Gonna Happen Next)” has that chime-y guitar thing that Lenker does so famously well, as well as a healthy admiration of the unknown – “When your prayers and your backsliding curses all come true.” And “The Ram-a-lama-ding-dong Song” shares an endearing silliness with “Spud Infinity,” from its title to Zimmerman asking, “Does anybody have a kazoo?” at the outset (as it turns out, no, but Lenker does find what she calls a “honky horn” to blat out some notes later in the song). But the communal spirit of Dance of Love is most felt in the call-and-response “Leave It in the Porch Outside.” Zimmerman and the band are joined by Zimmerman’s wife, Marie-Claire, as well as Lenker’s brother, Noah, and her partner, Stacey Foster, in a song that invites anyone to take part while politely (but firmly) requesting that you abandon your hang-ups before joining in. The bridge – “Sounds like a story I once heard/And I remember that story’s every word” – hints at the tales (both the octogenarian Zimmerman and his much younger bandmates) could be exchanging inside, once all the unnecessary shit is abandoned. That’s a conversation I’d love to be a part of.
Song I Can’t Wait to Hear Live: “The Seasons” – this dream-like tune, featuring gorgeous pedal steel from Mat Davidson and a processed Casio from Zach Burba, melts the two singers’ vocals perfectly, especially at the end, with Zimmerman admitting “Yes, I’m so lucky to be alive,” followed by Lenker’s affirmation, “And kicking, too.”
Dance of Love was produced by Big Thief and recorded and engineered by Dom Monks. Songs written by Tucker Zimmerman. Musicians on the album include Zimmerman (vocals, 12-string guitar), Adrianne Lenker (vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, shaker, honky horn, percussion), Zach Burba (bass, muted piano, processed Casio, classical guitar, melodica, electric guitar, vocals), James Krivchenia (drums, percussion, vocals), Buck Meek (guitar, bass, vocals), Mat Davidson (bass, pedal steel, accordion, piano, vocals), Max Oleartchik (bass, double bass, piano, vocals), Marie-Claire Zimmerman (vocals), Ryan Boldt (vocals), Megan McAvoy (vocals), Noah Lenker (vocals) and Stacey Foster (vocals),
Go here to order Dance of Love (out October 11): https://thecbpstore.com/collections/tucker-zimmerman
Check out tour dates here: https://www.tuckerzimmerman.com/