speed of dark

Let's Go Sailing

The sequence of events that has boosted Let's Go Sailing into popular awareness does not reflect the years of work that singer-songwriter Shana Levy has put into it.

Levy studied classical piano from a very young age and began writing her own music before she was a teen. In college, lack of access to a piano forced her creative skills into poetry. Elliott Smith was her inspiration for putting the poems and music together as songs with lyrics.

Levy joined Irving, a band with several songwriters, shortly after their formation in 1998. With songwriting shared among so many members, she found that she created more material than Irving could use. I would bet that this track from Good Morning Beautiful (2002) is one of her contributions:

Irving: Heading North

Levy started Let's Go Sailing in 2002 as a side project and began playing first with friends Tanya Haden (the Haden Triplets), Brent Turner (Irving), Nikki Monninger (Silversun Pickups), and Byron Reynolds (Possum Dixon).

Still, it took a couple of years and many rejections from record companies before she polished the songs into an attractive album. The next task was to find musicians who were free from other commitments so that she could schedule live performances. The album, The Chaos In Order, first became available on Let's Go Sailing's website late last year.

Since then milestone events have occurred in rapid succession: a residency at Spaceland last November, a feature story on NPR,
airplay on KCRW's Weekend Becomes Eclectic, an appearance at SXSW March 14 this year, and a podcast performance on Nic Harcourt's Morning Becomes Eclectic on March 22.

The same date as the podcast, both "All I Want From You is Love" and "Sideways" were featured in an episode of the popular TV show Grey's Anatomy. "Better Off" was used in the April 26 episode. A band could hardly ask for better exposure to a wide audience. I find it amusing that television has taken the responsibility of springing new music away from stodgy mainstream radio.

Last Thursday night marked the official release for national distribution of The Chaos In Order. The show at the Troubadour in Hollywood was attended by a crowd of devoted friends and family. Levy took the stage with band members Stacy Kiehl (keys, percussion), Chris Armstrong (guitar), Tanya Haden (cello), Andy Creighton (bass), Lindsay Stella (violin) and, I think, Mike Green (drums). She started off on keyboards, switched to guitar for a few songs, then came back to the keyboard.

The atmosphere was casual, but the band appeared a little self-conscious and not fully comfortable, letting Levy take full charge of their stage presence. Creighton and tiny Stella lurked in shadows near the edge of the dimly-lit stage. Hopefully they will begin to show themselves off a little more.

Lindsay Stella, after the show

Setlist:

1. This Rope Is Long
2. Icicles
3. It's As Clear
4. Better Off
5. Deal With the Devil - a new lovely new song
6. Nowhere Close - also new
7. Heart Condition
8. Sideways
9. All I Want From You Is Love Live at KCRW

The band was momentarily flustered by requests for an encore, but quickly responded with "We Get Along."

I had hoped to post more live songs from the KCRW podcast, but the sound on them is uncharacteristically poor. Levy's vocals are fine, but the instrumental parts are warbly. At the concert, several sound adjustments were necessary to keep Levy's delicate soprano from being buried by the other instruments. In general, the gentle beauty of the songs translates quite well into the concert environment.

Hopefully the release of the new songs will come along faster than the long labor of Chaos--not that I'm pushing! I think that a factor that makes Chaos such a fine album is that Levy took her time and brought each song to its best level.

Anyone who has liked the songs played on Grey's Anatomy will definitely enjoy all of The Chaos In Order right down to the charming packaging and liner notes, which include lyrics. Tour dates will be published on the band's website soon, so don't miss a live performance.

Scheduled shows:
Jun 12 2007 - Echoplex w/Cold War Kids and Little Ones, Echo Park (L.A. area), CA

Also on Thursday's bill were the wonderful Bedroom Walls. After the show we exchanged hugs with singer Adam Goldman. Indie Mom will post about them after she aces her history final on Monday.



Tanya Haden, her cello, and some cute shoes

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