In a very special edition here, we find Matt Heckler (formerly of Deep Chatham) teaming up with Benjamin Tod (of Lost Dog street band) to play a tune of Matt's on the porch. Not just any porch, however. This is the house where Guy Clark used to live, and later Townes Van Zandt. Some parts of Heartworn Highways were filmed here. Benjamin is friends with Townes daughter, and filming on that porch just felt dang right.
Matt himself is one of those artists who can hold an entire room with a solo performance. His voice reaches and booms, and his fiddle playing accompanies that voice perfectly fine. The way he holds his fiddle is also of interest - what some may call the "incorrect" or unorthodox way. Doing things really well the wrong way is something we encourage here, for sure, and old time has a long tradition of it. Here's an excerpt from a great article on chest level playing -
"There are two striking habits that appear among a considerable number of old-time fiddlers: their tendency to hold the fiddle against their chest rather than the classical way, and their tendency to hold the bow in all sort of weird ways, often gripping it away from the frog. For a classically trained violinist the image of someone playing this way is alien. However, these habits among old-time fiddlers should not be seen as restricting or simply wrong. I believe they are deeply meaningful and rooted in legitimate stylistic and musical aspirations."
lyrics
Don't leave me hanging from a willow tree
Honey cut me down, 'cause I can't breathe
I'm up the mountain, ain't coming down
No, you won't see me around your town
I'm high n' lonesome an' I'm running dry
I've given up, on gettin' by
So come home honey, don'tcha make me beg
Take out your fiddle, tune up and play
I know it's hard when the sun goes down
To be alone on shaky grounds
Go get some matches and kerosene
We'll burn it down, honey, run out and leave
I bleed out slowly, in my Sunday vest
When you come around, In that Sunday dress
Your blue eyes dancing, drawin' me in
And sideways glances, honey where've you been?
I know it's hard when the sun goes down
To be alone on shaky grounds
Go get some matches and kerosene
We'll burn it down, honey, run out and leave
Don't leave me hanging from a willow tree
Honey cut me down, 'cause I can't breathe
I'm up the mountain, ain't coming down
No, you won't see me around your town
I know it's hard when the sun goes down
To be alone on shaky grounds
Go get some matches and kerosene
We'll burn it down, honey, run out and leave
And I know its hard when the sun goes down
To be alone, on shaky grounds
Go get some matches and kerosene
We'll burn it down, honey, run out and leave
credits
released September 22, 2020
Recorded by Anthony Simpkins
Featuring Benjamin Tod
Multi-instrumentalist Matt Heckler writes and performs with the sense of weight and enormity of the mountains from which he
hails. While his proficiency at banjo and fiddle is sure to capture your attention, it's the songs themselves that won't ever let you go. They sound like they've been sung for generations upon generations, but they are modern originals -- the spreading ripples of new waves....more
supported by 9 fans who also own “blue eyes dancing (ft. benjamin tod)”
Absolutely beautiful! It transports you to another time and place. It's a fantastic album through and through, not a single skip. Highly recommend! way
supported by 9 fans who also own “blue eyes dancing (ft. benjamin tod)”
Saw Matt open for Lost Dog Street Band in Portland Oregon after only listening to a couple of his songs. His performance was amazing, his talent as a writer, singer, and fiddle/now guitar player is something out of this world. Matt my Brother May the show never end for you and your dreams! jaredandkim19
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supported by 7 fans who also own “blue eyes dancing (ft. benjamin tod)”
Sierra, your music resonates my soul. The voice of Billie Holiday and the stylings of Django, gritty American songwriter music! Thank you!!! Favorite track = Rocket b_ret93