Everything's a laugh
The coffee stains my teeth
So, drain my eardrums
No more questions
I don't see how
anything can be quite as bad
as you say it is
You sweat the minutiae
You're combing over catalogs of grief
and you're always winning, darling.
- Keegan Farara
Recently, it dawned on me that Red Mill has been a thing for about five years.
The idea started in late 2013/early 2014. I was wrapping up high school, while washing dishes at an art colony in northern Vermont. The kitchen was housed in a massive renovated mill. The red behemoth rested on the banks of the mighty Gihon River.
I spent many days and nights roaming the colony's campus, jamming with friends and goofing around. I had a blues rock band with Kyle Dubois. We rehearsed in an unheated church during the dead of winter. We performed at a weekly festival in the adjacent baseball field in the summer. When we weren't playing, we would drink beer, smoke cigarettes, and listen to Blind Willie McTell or the Flat Duo Jets.
The Red Mill became synonymous with my waning teenage years. I left for college, and the image of it stuck in my mind. I could see its broadside revealing itself through my windshield, as I peeled off Lower Main on to Pearl Street.
Fun fact: One afternoon, I almost hit Stephen Malkmus (and his children!) with my 2003 Subaru Impreza, while frantically pulling in to The Red Mill parking lot. I was late to work. He presented me with a nonchalant peace sign, waved his kids across street, and smiled.
--
On this compilation, you will find previously unreleased live recordings, alternate takes, and b-sides of various tunes from the sapling years of Red Mill. It's been a blast listening back. The sonic backdrop changes from song to song: country folk, noise rock, pop ballads.
The bulk of this project's activity has occurred in Boston. We started as a bratty rock and roll band, and we played all over the city. Basements, living rooms, bars, and breweries. Our drunken impromptu cover of "El Scorcho" by Weezer at Dad's House was a highlight (featured here). I also remember a rowdy evening at The Middle East corner, as Rick from Pile watched some of our set from the window.
Most importantly, I'd like to thank all of the musicians/engineers who have contributed to this project. Almost every person who has been part of Red Mill is represented on this compilation. I have the utmost respect for all of you.
Red Mill is/was:
Roland Clark - Fiddle (Track 1)
Nick Hine - Drums
Nathaniel Peirce - Drums
Mario Fontes - Bass
Charlie Feig - Bass
Tommy NG - Bass
Adam Sapiro - Guitar/Mandolin
Drew McCann - Guitar
Jake Osborn - Keys/Vocals
Cabot Metz - Lap Steel
Engineers: Michelle Schantz, Nathaniel Peirce, Cheryl Chow, Charlie Feig, a group of Berklee sophomores, Keegan Farara, people I, unfortunately, can't recall.
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