Indie-folk band Town Hall has compiled all of the cover songs they recorded on the run-up to the release of their full-length debut, Roots & Bells, and released this new 5-track EP as a free download. Town Hall Plays the Classics, Vol. 1 contains unique re-interpretations of the following songs:

* Ja Rule and Ashanti – “Always On Time”
* Frankie Marvin – “Old Man Duff”
* Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch – “Didn’t Leave Nobody but the Baby”
* R. Kelly – “Text Me”
* Jimmy Eat World – “The Middle”

In an interview with Moosick, Sefan Weiner (Vocals/Resonator Mandola) described this project as the “re-imagining songs as an attempt to bring in music from each of our influences (as well as music that is nostalgic for us) and give them the Town Hall treatment.”

I’m not familiar with Ja Rule & Ashanti so, while I can’t make any comparisons to the original, Town Hall’s cover is a delicate, perfectly crafted indie-pop song. Frankie Marvin’s “Old Man Duff” is sung by Stefan and is a cover of a ‘stomping’ folk tune that the band found on an old 78 RPM record from 1931. “Didn’t Leave Nobody but the Baby” is an Americana track, with multi-part harmonies and the prominent use of a banjo adds to the song’s rustic charm. R. Kelly’s misogynous “Text Me” takes on new life and meaning with Phoebe Ryan taking lead vocals on Town Hall’s languid cover. The disc wraps up with Phoebe and Stefan trading-off vocals on a mellow reinterpretation of Jimmy Eat World’s emo chestnut “The Middle”.





Tour Hall’s Upcoming Shows
7/12 The Ace Hotel - New York, NY (acoustic)
7/13 Bushwick Walkabout Festival - Brooklyn, NY

Town Hall is:
Vocals/Omnichord: Phoebe Ryan
Vocals/Resonator Mandola: Stefan Weiner
Guitar: Jesse Kranzler

Links:
Town Hall