{"id":8261,"date":"2011-08-17T10:58:47","date_gmt":"2011-08-17T14:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/johnesimpson.com\/blog\/?p=8261"},"modified":"2011-08-17T15:33:24","modified_gmt":"2011-08-17T19:33:24","slug":"midweek-music-break-fearing-white-under-the-silver-sky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/johnesimpson.com\/blog\/2011\/08\/midweek-music-break-fearing-white-under-the-silver-sky\/","title":{"rendered":"Midweek Music Break: Fearing & White, “Under the Silver Sky”"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It’s worth remembering that outstanding music is made by professionals other than big-name bands and frontmen — successful or not. There are of course the headliners, the acts which other performers open for. Then there are smaller-scale artists who consistently get great reviews and have loyal fan bases; think Gillian Welch and David Rawlings<\/a>, say, or Mary Gauthier<\/a> (a recent find — thanks, Greg!<\/em>).<\/p>\n

And then there are all the others: studio musicians, accompanists, songwriters for other people…<\/p>\n

From the Fearing & White Web site<\/a>, their bios:<\/p>\n

Fearing is well known within the international folk and roots music community as one of its most accomplished songsmiths, storytellers and guitarists. A double Juno award winner in his native Canada, he has experienced commercial and critical success, both in his solo career and with roots\/rock supergroup Blackie and The Rodeo Kings<\/a>. Along the way, Stephen has toured and recorded with everybody from Merle Haggard to Shawn Colvin.<\/p>\n

Northern Ireland born and raised White has earned a global following for blending folk and pop stylings with a poet’s sensibility. Working with the great names of Irish music — Sinead O’Connor, Van Morrison — and writing with the likes of Peter Gabriel and Neil and Tim Finn, Andy has won Ireland’s top songwriting awards and toured the world many times. A published author, his recent on the road journal\/novel 21st Century Troubadour<\/a><\/em> has scored rave reviews.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

These two guys have been around<\/em>. (And my guess is: they’re just fine with that.) Friends for years, they have sometimes toured or otherwise played together, and recently released their first duo album, Fearing & White<\/em>. (They’ve also got multiple solo releases between them.) Here’s one of the songs from the middle of the playlist, “Under the Silver Sky”:<\/p>\n