Master Banjo/Guitar Player Hits The Road With A New Album

Tony Furtado's Got A New Lyrical Groove

By Lucia Stewart, 1-23-07

Tony Furtado and the band set off today from Portland as they launch the beginning of an extended road tour. And what’s fueling them?

The release of a new album, Thirteen”>Thirteen, that plunked onto the shelves today that hosts an eclectic all-star lineup. And, for the first time, AAA radio stations playing the new album as they they tour into Montana, Idaho and Oregon.

NewWest caught up with Tony Furtado yesterday while he was packing his socks, banjo and when asked, which CD’s, he replied, “No it’s an iPod these days.”

The album Thirteen, on Fuzalo Records, is a new embarking for Furtado. The Grand National Banjo Champion and master slide guitar player use to focus mainly on instrumental songs. But this album consists of his first hum at lyric writing. It’s much more personal than his previous albums for that reason.

“For this upcoming album, I took some time off the road to focus on getting deeper with songwriting,” said Furtado. “I had some time to introspect and I listened to folks I really dig. I listened to a lot of my favorite songwriters such as Elliot Smith, Tom Petty and Tom Waits.”

With a remarkable artistic line-up on the album, Furtado was thrilled to see what came together from being in the studio with such a diverse group of musicians.

The album features keyboardists Sean Slade, whose production credits include Uncle Tupelo and Radiohead; Jim Dickinson, producer of Ry Cooder albums and has worked with the Rolling Stones; bassist Dusty Wakeman, whose resume includes Dwight Yoakam, Michelle Shocked and Lucinda Williams; drummer Winston Watson, who has played with Bob Dylan and Giant Sand. All this cast converging in the Wavelab studio last summer with resident producer and engineer Craig Schumacher.

“It’s a different album for me. It has elements that are more crossed between Indie rock and early 80’s rock. There’s element of folk and roots that I come from. And I play the electric guitar, banjo and slide guitar throughout the album,” Furtado said.

Although he has been touring through the Rockies for close to 10 years, he’s music growing in different ways has continued to attract a varying and increasing audience.

“There was a time when most of audience was bluegrass fans and then jamband kids. The crowd I look at now is a cross mix of old folksy lovers and college kids and jamband hippies and people who are into the different elements of what I’m doing,” Furtado said.

With popular radio play, a new album and a long series of linked dates across the country, Furtado is on the pulse. “It makes me feel like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve been working pretty hard for quite a few years,” he said.

And just in case any of you fans want to buy Tony a shot, Jameson Irish Whiskey is his choice. “That’s the shit right there.”

The Tony Furtado Band Upcoming Tour Schedule

Wednesday, Jan. 24 at Whiskey Jack’s in Big Sky Resort, Montana

Thursday, Jan. 25 at Whiskey Jack’s in Big Sky Resort, Montana

Friday, Jan. 26 at The Historic Livingston Depot in Livingston, Montana

Saturday, Jan. 27 at Miller’s Crossing in Helena, Montana

Monday, Jan. 29 at Whiskey Jacques in Ketchum, Idaho

Tuesday, Jan. 30 at John’s Alley in Moscow, Idaho

Friday, Feb. 2 at The Domino Room at Midtown Rock Rink & Roll in Bend, Oregon

Other new releases today at Cactus Records in Bozeman, Montana
• The Shins “Wincing the Night Away”
• Tony Furtado “Thirteen”
• Grateful Dead “Live @ Cow Palace: New Years 1976” 3 CD set
• John Hammond “Push Comes to Shove” produced by G. Love
• Peter Rowan & Tony Rice “Quartet”
• Moe. “Conch” 1st studio album in 4 years!
• Norman & Nancy Blake w/ Tut Taylor “Shaktown Road”
and one that Cactus Records likes that many people won’t be familliar with....
• Rob Crow (of Pinback) “Living Well”