In the lexicon of sports, a “utility player” is defined as someone who has the ability to competently play and fill in for any position on the field. Even though at a young age the Toronto-born musician Afie Jurvanen chose the route of the arts over its competitive cousin, the title translates to his music.
Playing backup guitar for the likes of Feist and Howie Beck in the earlier part of his career, Jurvanen’s breakthrough moment as a singular singer-songwriter came with the formation of Bahamas. Bringing his own ideas and emotions to the forefront, the release of 2009’s Pink Strat saw the emergence of an artist of rare talent and emotional depth, harkening back to a time when you couldn’t chew up and spit out a love song like a piece of sour candy. Topping himself on his most recent album Barchords, Jurvanen has managed to capture the depths of love and relationships with an understated yet beautiful complexity. As much an instruction manual as it is a testament of personal crisis, the album shows that to wade through the schizophrenic tides of heartache, one only needs the strength of self and the will to hang on.
Before opening for Milo Greene on tomorrow night at the High Noon Saloon (tickets here), I spoke to Jurvanen about the recording of Barchords, his love of hats, and how an older version of himself watches over everything he creates.
Filed under: Sounding Board Blog | Tagged: Afie Jurvanen, Bahamas, High Noon Saloon, Madison WI concerts, Madison Wi muic, Milo Greene | 1 Comment »
