The Crane Wives: Floor Stomping Till the Earth Moves
By Angeline D’Balentine
Stepping up to the curb’s edge, we hear the lament of the folk strings that call us like Angel’s from the Bayou; flogging of drums vibrating through our bones, and cause for aged-glassed windows to jig and step. As we march over the entry’s threshold, the wooden floors quake between music and dance. My company and I smile to one another with a sense of some distant Irish pride. This is Michigan folk music. This is the Crane Wives.
“The Crane Wives are a home grown indie-folk outfit from Grand Rapids, MI that defies musical stereotypes. They formed in late August of 2010, and finished the recording of their self-produced debut album “Safe Ship, Harbored” in April of 2011. The record was released on May 12th at Founder’s Brewing Company in Grand Rapids. The band utilizes three-part vocal harmonies, eclectic instrumentation, and a passion for songcraft to create organic music that is both accessible and innovative. Each live show features contagious energy as well as original music that ranges from whisper quiet ballads to danceable grooves.” (Bio)
The group consists of Kate Pillsbury (vocals and acoustic guitars), Emilee Petersmark (vocals, acoustic guitar), Dan Rickabus (vocals, drums, percussion), Tom Gunnels (banjaneer) and Ben Zito (bass guitar).
On this night it was my second time experiencing the music of the Crane Wives. The timeless music nestled away in this hidden little town in the northern west corner of the Michigan mitten. Welcome to Bellaire. Welcome to the Shorts Brewery.
The first time I watched them was the night before in downtown Traverse City at the Good Work Collective, which is a co-op sharing arts gallery space where community ideas, inspired concepts, foundation projects, and think tank sessions find life and liberty to all that is arts and entertainment. The Good Work Collective is creation sprung from the Porterhouse Productions.
Prior to the show, I sat down with the group one-on-one to ask a few questions. They were cheerful and very personal sort of folk, down to earth and welcoming in nature.
HM: You’ve been together only a short time. A little over a year. How did you get so good with such a great following already?
Crane Wives: [Laughter] A lot of practice and passion. We just love to make music and especially folk music. Originally we were blues, but we started experimenting with folk and we all quickly agreed that was where our hearts were. Soon Tom was bringing us the banjo playing and we developed our own sound. The audience’s been enjoying it, too. There is nothing more we love then to see the audience get up and start dancing and stomping around to the music.
HM: Who has influenced your music?
Crane Wives: We are fans a varies musicians and genres. Tom Waits, Elliot Smith, The Beatles, and the Mumford and Sons have influenced us to name a few. There is a song by Mumford and Sons when we heard it we knew that was it. That sound, the folk sound, we knew this was a strong influence over our music.
HM: And what song was that?
Crane Wives: “Little Lion Man.”
HM: What inspired your title song, “Safe Ship, Harbored”?
Crane Wives: It’s a song about someone who has given up on their dreams and stays in the shallow waters, never to set sails again… about a person who had dreams once and something (or someone) happened that has caused them to break down and give up their dreams
It was this song that I first heard when I was introduced to the Crane Wives last fall. Being born on a navy base and raised in a family having a love for the sea and sailing, the song’s lyrics indeed sing to my soul. If you want to know a way to an Irish/Scotsman, or in this case, a lassy’s heart, you sing a ballad that ties to the sea.
The Crane Wives – Safe Ship, Harbored:
When the Crane Wives took their turn on the stage within minutes it was clear to recognize that this was a band that is going far. Between their music and their effect on the audience to stand and dance, chairs folded and moved to the walls, their infectious rhythms had me fully enchanted. I couldn’t help but smile when I realized how much the wooden floors beneath my feet were even swaying to the music. The windows facing the street became like designer, hazed glass – unable to see out, hot within like a summer day on a late winter night.
On the second night they had the same effect on the Shorts Brewery crowd and on my friends who drove up from Detroit to witness the music. The band members into their music, stomping their feet as they played. A pub atmosphere with cheers and laughter, energy high as high-grade, fancy ales and brews made their rounds. And to top the night, on the last song when the last note was hit and suspended in the air… Dan Rickubus, the drummer, relaxed slightly in his swirly stool and then disappeared. And I mean disappeared as in he accidently fell back as all you could see were his two legs like pencils flying up in the air shaking and almost taking down with him the stage’s black theater curtain. The whole pub gapped as his band mates turned to run to him. As quick as he fell he was back up with hands in the air, drumsticks still in his hands and yelling “I’m good! It’s all good!” And the audience roared in laughter. What a great way to end a show!
After the show we all sat around, like an ending to a beginning from the night before. My daughter asked Emilee a question, “Is this what you always wanted to do?” To this day my daughter still often brings up in moments for inspiration Emilee’s answer:
“Actually, to be honest I went to collage to work in advertising, but I always wanted to sing and play music. I don’t know, I just realized one day I should do what makes me happy. I should follow my dreams and live in passion. This is the best life to live. This is happiness.”
Emilee asked my daughter what was her favorite Crane Wives song. I will close this article with that selection.
The Crane Wives – October:
The Crane Wives will be playing at the Traverse City Winter Microbrewery and Music Festival February 11th, 2012. To find out more showings for the Crane Wives make sure to check their listings: The Crane Wives Show List
Make sure you get the opportunity to experience one of their live shows. It’s floor stomping that makes the earth move!
