The Bonnie Lass of Fyvie

Welcome back friends to my blog regarding the band Without a Net.

In this post, let's take a deep dive into the origin of one of my favorite tunes performed by Without a Net (and mentioned in my first post) called "Peggy O".

"Peggy O" is based on a Scottish folk song called the "Bonnie Lass of Fyvie".  Like a lot of folk music, there is no attributed author or date of origin.

We can locate a place however, which is the village of Fyvie located in the county of Aberdeen in the Northeast corner of Scotland.  There's also a historic Fyvie Castle which dates from the 1200's which you can visit for a fee.

Now lets take a brief musical journey through the history of this song to appreciate all the different ways it has been performed and how it morphed into what we hear today.  Then we can touch on what is unique about the Without a Net version.

First up is the Royal Scotts Dragoon Guards.  Its interesting to hear this performed as a march which I never would have guessed, but fits the military theme.  With the drums and bagpipes, this song is sure to swell the hearts of all Scots with national pride.  Heck, it swells my heart with pride and I'm not even Scottish.

For a more authentic and acoustic version check out this version by The Corries.  This one is much closer to the folk original and without all the grandiose extra orchestration.

Fast forward to the 1960's when the song was performed by a number of folk artists including Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.   I don't particularly care for the Bob Dylan version since he turns the song into hoedown which is emotionally distant from the subject matter.  Simon and Garfunkle did a highly harmonized version that was sweeter and more sensitive.   The strongest inspiration for Without a Net would have to be the Grateful Dead's version which is dated 1977 in this audio recording.

Now for the lyrics which may appear to be nonsensical without some context

As we roll out out of fennario (x2)
Our captain fell in love with a lady like a dove
And he called her by name pretty Peggy O.

First there was never a place called Fennario, it was adopted from the phonetically similar Fyvie'O. Also interesting that the lyric "a lady like a dove" was adopted from the original "a very bonnie lass."

I would marry you sweet William-O (x2)
I would marry you but your guineas are too few
And I fear my momma would be angry O.

Our pretty Peggy would indeed marry William, but he is a foreigner and doesn't have the cash and clout to satisfy Peggy's mother.

Come stepping down the stairs pretty Peggy O (x2)
Come stepping down the stairs combing back her yellow hair
In a last farewell to her William O

Finally with his rejection complete, William promises revenge.

If every I return, pretty Peggy O (x2)
If every I return all your cities I will burn
I've destroyed all the ladies in the area O

Without a Net does a marvelous version of this song found on the recent "Disco Cowboy" release.  It is handled as a duet between Frank and Francesca Rose which is unique in all of the versions of this song I have heard.  I highly recommend you check out the version of Peggy O on the Disco Cowboy release, you will surely appreciate it more now that you have the back story.

The Disco Cowboy release is available on CD Baby at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/withoutanet.  It is also available on iTunes and many other services.  You can also get the CD as well as tee shirts and other cool stuff on the band's merchandise store at http://withoutanet.bigcartel.com.

Also join us in Saturday April 11, 2015 when Without a Net appears an Tenampa Mexican restaurant in Croton on Hudson, NY.

Disco Cowboy - A Fan Review

Welcome to my blog regarding the band Without a Net!  What better way to start off then with a review of the Croton-on-Husdon, New York-based band's first commercial CD release, Disco Cowboy.

By way of background, I first heard this band in early 2014 when I walked into Friend's bar and restaurant in Croton and heard the sweets sounds of the band performing "Peggy O". Needless to say, I was instantly hooked.  I have a lot to say about the fan experience when this band plays live, but I'll save that for another blog post.  For now, back to the Disco Cowboy release.

The title track starts with simple blues groove and a lyric every worker can relate to:

I get up every day
Need to slave to earn my pay
Working for the man

Stuck with zombies in a field
Trying to push my way around
To stay alive

But there is a way out ..

When the music starts to play
All my cares go away
It's when I feel complete

The chorus is simple and self-affirming:

'Cause I'm a Disco Cowboy 
Truckin' down the highway 
I'm a Disco Cowboy Gonna do things my way

The lyric stems from a snide comment made by one of lead singer Frank Primeggia's co-workers that his choice of attire made him resemble a "Disco Cowboy".  It was meant as a put-down, but Frank turned it into a badge of honor that became his anthem and title track for the release.

Now the music critic in you say might say this song is lacking in musical sophistication and not likely to win any Grammy awards.  That point is debatable, but what makes the song is that its authentic.  There's not an ounce of pretense, it's just Frank stepping up, putting it out there and living his life to the fullest.  In a way we are all Disco Cowboy's and therein lies the appeal.

In track 2- "Hard to Understand" lead guitarist Jeff Thornton does double duty providing both the main melody and intermediate jams while Frank provides the punctuating vocals and lyrics.

In track 3, the working man Frank is back in "Working Overtime".  A halting 3 note bass riff underlies this tune, with some sweet vocal overlays by Francesca Rose.  Normally on bass guitar, Dan Howald weights in with a wailing saxophone solo.  By the end of track 3 you might think you have this band well characterized as bluesy, funk rock, right?   Wrong and read on.

Track 4 is the previously mentioned Peggy O.  This is far and away my favorite song on the album and where every band member really shines. This is a Scottish folk song about a solider who falls in love with a girl and their failed attempt at romance.  I could do an entire blog post on the origins of this song, but lets focus on the music.

Guitarist Jeff Thornton leads with a acoustic guitar intro, and the rest of the band soon joins with a tight musical wrapper of percussion by, keyboards and bass.  Later on, Jeff launches into a solo jam that dances gracefully around the core melody and captures the emotional nature of the piece. Frank's vocals and keyboards are integral, and he has a separate keyboard verse where he jams his own harmonics of the melody.  Chris Oliver percussion is tight and at times playful.  Francesca's vocals are sweet and inspired singing at the upper end of her vocal range.  All in all, it's an amazing song well presented and emotionally impacting.

Track 5 adds a classic blues angle with "Cold Rain and Snow".  Dan Howald's bass takes lead on this tune with Jeff again doing double duty on both rhythm and lead guitar.  Like "Peggy O", this song has been performed by various artists but has no specific owner and is therefore in the public domain.

Track 6 adds yet another angle to this band with "Disco Cowboy Rap".  This is a hip-hop version of the rap Frank does during Disco Cowboy where he introduces the band members.  This song is a complete music riot and Frank get another chance to tell his story:

Gonna do it my way
Just like Frankie blue eyes
Banging on the white keys
Gonna tell you who I be

(I'm a Disco Cowboy)

I was walking in a daze
Living in a purple haze
But I never lost my gaze
Stepping up to amaze

This song is fun, clever and utterly original.   The final verse is the same as the original song and I think the only thing missing is a trio of background singers echoing "He's a Disco Cowboy" just to turn it into a complete rout.  The final track is an extended version of the opening track Disco Cowboy.

Overall I highly recommend you check out the Disco Cowboy CD on CD Baby at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/withoutanet.  It is also available on iTunes and many other services.  You can also get the CD as well as tee shirts and other cool stuff on the band's merchandise store at http://withoutanet.bigcartel.com.

Also, don't miss a chance to see these guys play live. When this band plays, good times are sure to follow.