Michael Meldrum

Throughout her career, Ani DiFranco has credited Meldrum as an early and significant influence; he showed her the possibilities of the guitar and encouraged her to perform in public before she was even a teenager. Ani provides vocals and a myriad of instrumentation ranging from baritone guitar to Wurlitzer organ. She also mixed and co-produced the album. Recorded over a period of three years, Meldrum’s debut album is the culmination of real community. A veritable Who’s Who of Western New York singers and instrumentalists add their talents to this album, including Alison Pipitone, Michael Sheffield, Chris Panfil, Rob Lynch, Michael Morrissey, Jim Whitford, Four Shillings Short, Glenn Wallace, John Brady, Inga Yanoski, Sasha Spilleriff, John Allen, Barbara Way Wydysh, Joelle Labert, Geno McManus, Matt Pszonak and Ed Zielinski.

The album showcases Meldrum’s rich musical background with tracks that range from jubilant New Orleans romps to somber folk ballads. Breezy summer tunes and gritty roadhouse blues become intriguing neighbors to Indian themes and meditative chants, while Meldrum’s honest tales of bars and empty streets make for sincere, accessible songs filled with emotion and interwoven with religious imagery.