InDo Nashville, a shared space near Downtown Nashville where just last month Robert Earl Keen and Foo Fighter’s Chris Shiflett interviewed each other for their podcasts, served as setting for “Mean Mary” James’ ice cream social and CD release party. Her new release Cold is the perfect antidote to the unseasonably hot weather that ushered in October.
All of the songs echo a dark wintry theme, obvious not only in the titles—“Cold (House by the Sea),” “Snow Falling,” and “Sad November Breeze,” but in the mood and tone of the songs. They are a perfect platform for Mary James’ voice, moving from rich, deep, and husky to sweet, clear high notes. Not only does she sing all the lead vocals, sometimes joined by her brother Frank’s harmony and accompaniment, but she also plays banjo, fiddle, guitar, and a range of other instruments with remarkable skill.
This new CD is a compilation of original songs written by James, some co-written with her mother. For the lyrics of “Quoth the Mockingbird,” she drew from Poe’s best-known poem “The Raven.”
For the release party, Mary opened solo on guitar playing “April in December” from the new recording. She let the audience decide which of her story songs she’d sing next, landing on “Sweet Jezebel,” a “demon guitar” song with a driving beat. James pointed out there was room for a dance floor, calling it “more of a sexy dancing song.” By request, she also played a break-out banjo song from an earlier album, “Iron Horse,” Vox Populi winner for best Americana Song at the 13th Annual Independent Music Awards.
Her brother Frank joined her, playing rhythm guitar on several songs, including “Dark Woods,” from Cold, as well as the old-time standard “Blackberry Blossom,” showing off her speed and skill on banjo. In fact, the closest Mary got to “Mean” came when her brother had a little technical difficulty on the sound system, handled with humor.
Mary James took a break when her brother left “to take care of the horses”; she was then joined by David Larsen on bass and Allen Marshall on drums, both of whom play on this newest CD. Their subtle harmony was a powerful addition on “Rainy Day.” During the final set, they played a few songs from Mean Mary’s next CD, already in the works.
All too soon, she announced the last song of the evening, correcting herself and noting, “That last one was our final song. This song is our encore.” With an evening that introduced the new music and its unified mood and theme, while showcasing the range and versatility of “Mean Mary” James’ talent, her fans know to look forward to whatever else she has up her sleeve.