Meels – An Xperience Interview

Impressive Opener Meels chats with RRX after her show with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band at the Egg

By OP Callaghan.

I was fortunate enough to catch The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band at The Egg in Albany.  For those who don’t know, TNGDB, also known as The Dirt Band, hail from Long Beach, California.  Founded in 1966, the band originally included solo artist Jackson Browne.  They have won three Grammy Awards and have recorded over 25 albums. Their show at The Egg included covers from Bob Dylan,  Rodney Crowell,  Bruce Springsteen, and The Band.  Their concert spanned a six-decade career, showcasing the band’s ability to blend original fan favorites and covers, with a balance of country, bluegrass, folk, and rock.  The band’s sharp performance perfectly illustrated what nearly 60 years of experience means. I was not terribly familiar with the band prior to this show, but a crash course listening to some of their more popular albums, such as 1972’s “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” and pop hits such as “Mr Bojangles,” jarred my memory into the realization that I had heard more of them than I had thought.  Fronted by singer/guitarist Jeff Hanna and drummer/vocalist Jimmie Fadden, and featuring Hanna’s son Jaime on guitar, Bob Carpenter on keys/vocals, Ross Holmes on fiddle/mandolin, and Jim Photoglo on bass, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band did not disappoint.  From the opener, “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere,”  to the closer, “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” the stellar musicianship and performance kept the packed theater rocking to these true pioneers of American roots music. It was a great show by a great band.

Opening up the show was Mill Valley, California’s own Meels, a remarkably talented young lady, whose devotion and commitment to early country music is worn proudly on the sleeve of her vintage dress.  My daughter and I spent several days listening to Meels’ two full-length releases: “Tales from a Bird’s Bedroom” and “Across the Raccoon Strait.”   Her songs and lyrics are catchy, whimsical, and at times dark, suggesting a deep life experience beyond her years.  Songs like “The Falcon and the Loon”, “The Wizard,” and “Out West” show a devotion to the genre, as well as a deep, passionate talent that is both endearing and beautiful.  Her performance at The Egg with guitar and vocal accompaniment from Jackson Craig included her originals as well as some wonderful cover choices from the Beatles, Neil Young,  Dolly Parton, and John Prine.  Her version of “Angel From Montgomery” is one of the finest performances that I have seen. Meels is the real deal; both talented and confident in her work, without arrogance or desperation.  So, I was thrilled to not only see her performance but to get a few minutes to chat with this exceptionally gifted young lady.

RRX:  Wow!   That was really great.  Tell me how you got started in your musical career.

Meels:  My parents put me in piano lessons from the early age of 5. I was the only one out of my sisters who stuck with it !!

RRX:  I’m glad that you did!  Do you come from a musical family?

Meels: My grandmother grew up as a concert pianist, and my uncle is a bluegrass musician.

RRX:  Who were some of your musical influences when you were younger?

Meels: Lady Gaga was huge for me; Peter Paul and Mary, John Denver, and the Beatles !!

RRX: Who inspires you now?

Meels: I am still incredibly inspired by John Denver and early ‘70s folk like Peter, Paul and Mary. But now, Paul McCartney specifically is a huge influence for me. Loretta Lynn, Marty Robbins, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Willie Nelson … I could go on !!

RRX:  Your writing and performance style is so reminiscent of traditional country music, with all of the heart and soul of someone much older than you.  How do you explain that?

Meels: My whole life, I have been told I have an old soul. I think I just resonate with old things, like vintage clothing, old music, and history. A psychic once told me that I have lived over 30 past lives.

RRX:  You’ve been on tour with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, which traditionally draws an older audience.   How was that experience?

Meels: I think that because I make music that has a more vintage feel, it really resonates with Nitty Gritty’s audience!! I personally loved playing shows for their audience and had a lot of great interactions with them at the merch table.  

RRX:  Clearly, you were more than accepted! What’s something that you’re passionate about outside of music?

Meels: Vintage clothing, crocheting, and my dachshund. I am a grandma at heart. 

RRX: What are your future plans?  Are you touring this summer?

Meels: I will be hitting a few festivals and one off shows this summer, including but not limited to, Jackelope Jamboree and Bourbon & Beyond. 

RRX:  What is one of your songs that you are especially proud of, or most pleased with the performance of?

Meels: I am especially pleased with “The Wizard.” 

RRX:  It’s truly a great song.  I really like the choice of cover tunes that you played in your set. Before you played it, you called Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon”  the “greatest love song ever written”.  I love that insight.  Besides Neil, who are some other artists that inspire you outside of country music?

Meels:  Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, JJ Cale, Jim Croce, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, Billy Joel, and the Carpenters, to name a few!

RRX: That’s quite a palate!  Thanks for what you do, Meels.  I’m looking forward to seeing you again!