Ladies night to rock at Duck Room tonight
Ontario singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards visits the Duck Room tonight supported by folky, Brooklyn band Last Town Chorus, let by Megan Hickey’s whimsical voice and moody lap-steel-guitar.
On Edwards’ recently released third CD, “Asking for Flowers,” our roots critic Barry Gilbert wrote:
“A record that grows stronger with each listen, from the whimsical ” I Make the Dough, You Get the Glory” to the socially conscious “Oh Canada.” Her strong, indie-rocker voice allows Edwards to tackle subjects serious and humorous with equal proficiency.”
I caught up with Edwards recently as she enjoyed being back on the road.
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RC: Can you share some of your influences?
KE: Neil Young, Cowboy Junkies, Tom Petty, Leonard Cohen.
RC: What occupied your time between your last two albums?
KE: I spent a lot of time at home learning and practicing my instrument every day. I definitely kept occupied. When I’m touring constantly, I don’t get a chance to think about my music or where it’s going. I’ve never been able to write on the road. So being home gave me a chance to re-fuel the engines and not be rushed into another record.
RC: Do you like being on the road?
KE: Being on road is amazing, a lot of fun, and a lot of hard work. I imagine it’s not too dissimilar from having kids – you stay up all hours of the night. You’re running on empty trying to find a meal and coffee. There are days when people are burned out and get in each other’s faces, though.
RC: Tell me about the vacuum tube art you made (her homemade magnets will be for sale tonight) – are you active as an artist as well?
KE: No, not at all. It was just kind of a fun idea that came about because my husband came into all these tubes. We bought the inventory and the fun part was figuring out what to do with them. They are like beautiful glass and metal artifacts with obsolete technology.
RC: I see from your lyrics and album art that you are a hockey fan.
KE: I grew up overseas a lot and that’s probably why I’m into it so much. I romanticize hockey because I wasn’t in a family that got up at six a.m. to drive to the rink for practice. I love going to games – it’s a real cultural thing. I’m also making a video with a few former NHL players, Paul Coffey and Marty McSorley. McSorley is going to be a bad boy in the video – he’s going to teach me how to hip check people!
KATHLEEN EDWARDS with LAST TOWN CHORUS
Doors 8 pm • Show 9 pm, $15
Matt has been a writer and researcher in the P-D newsroom since 1996. 
Drove all the way from Springfield, IL to see that show last night, AMAZING! Truly enjoyed it, I really get into distinctive voices and she certainly has one, her and her band were a combination of fun, and incredible talent. The opening act showed signs of real promise, but also some of well lets say…youth, another amazing voce though and her with and humor were abosutely DELICIOUS. SO glad I made the trip…t