Indie Spotlight: Boiled in Lead

 

                                                                                                            Photo by Susan Esbjornson

Never shying away from a musical challenge, Boiled in Lead, who has been together since 1983, embraces an eclectic mix of Celtic, folk, rock, punk and traditional music.

The Minnesota folk rockers released their latest four song EP in February, The Well Below. Although Boiled in Lead's lineup is constantly rotating, the release of the EP features the the return of original lead singer Todd Menton, along with guitarist Dean Magraw and drummer Marc Anderson.

The Well Below opens with the Roscoe Holcomb cover “Wedding Dress," infusing bluegrass and Celtic sounds, with a bridge reminiscent of Led Zeppelin’s “Dancing Days.” They follow it up with the Irish folk song “The Well Down Below," a brutal tale of incest and murder, boasting such lyrical gems as: “There’s two of them buried beneath the floor at the well below the valley.”

They try their hand at country with “Western Borders” where singer Todd Menton asks, “These broken pieces, what do I do?” And they finish strong with “Transylvania Stomp,” an instrumental that pulls from a tradition of Hungarian and Romanian dance music.

Boiled in Lead will be heading back into the studio this summer to record another EP and preparations are under way for their 30th anniversary celebration in 2013. 

      

(Elford Alley has had plays produced and read across the United States and his sketch comedy featured in several shows in Chicago. He also writes for cracked.com. He currently resides in Dallas with his wife and daughter.)

Comments

[Terri]

'Western Borders' was written by the band's friend and sometimes collaborator, John C. Van Orman. The song was originally featured on John's CD, 'Love, Liquor and the Lord'.

[richie]

Thanks for stopping by, Terri. And thanks for the information too.