Artist description Fallen Angels is a vocally-driven folk, country and bluegrass band from Chicago.

Music Style Folk/Country/Bluegrass

Musical Influences Alison Krause, Johnny Cash, Nancy Griffith, Emmy Lou Harris

Group Members Jennifer Barron Fishman - Vocals, Percussion Tim Menard - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica, Bass Drum Lori Polzak - Vocals Cathie Van Wert - Violin, Vocals

Instruments Acoustic Guitar, Violin, Harmonica, Bass Drum

Albums Fallen Angels, released February 2001

Press Reviews Illinois Entertainer, December 2001 -- "On their self-titled, nine-song CD, Fallen Angels boil country and bluegrass down to their essences. Tim Menard's harmonica playing is outstanding and is one of the first things you notice with the opening track 'Make Me A Train.' His vocals, along with his bandmates (Lori Polzak, percussionist Jennifer Barron Fishman, and violinist Cathie Van Wert), never disappoint for a moment, making this disc a thoroughly enjoyable listen." ~ Dean Ramos ---------------------- ----------------------------- Barfly - Volume 8, Issue 4.2 -- April 11 to April 25, 2001 -- Fallen Angels rise to the occasion -- by Mark Andel ---------- They may be fallen, but they sing like angels. ----------The band Fallen Angels, which has been per forming regular gigs at Chicago clubs including The Charleston, The Hideout, Uncommon Ground, and Hopcats, released a brand new CD of original compositions in a release party at The Hideout recently, and it's a harmony-rich and satisfying listen. ---------- Fans of their live shows should enjoy this collection quite a bit. Front man Tim Menard, who penned eight of the nine compositions here (Jennifer Barron Fishman added "Open to the Future" ) said that the goal was to "capture the sound you'd hear when you come to see us live." ---------- When they play at clubs, Fallen Angels pepper these original tunes throughout sets that include songs by Johnny Cash, Allison Krauss, John Hiatt, and perennial favorite Hank Williams. They tend to select tunes from th ese artists that may not leap immediately to mind when you consider their established collected work. Of the Johnny Cash tunes, for example, sure, there's "Folsom Prison Blues" in the Fallen Angels repertoire (which is now upwards of 80 songs) but there m ay also be the more obscure (and even better bar song) "Hey Porter" mixed in there, too. Another crowd pleaser is the Hank Williams song "My Bucket's Got a Hole In It." ---------- But on to this new release. ---------- Menard has been writing songs since he was sixteen years old, and his lyrics resonate in their heartfelt simplicity. It's perfectly understandable that he lists his influences as George Jones, Hank Williams, and John Lennon (if Lennon seems like a strange addition to this trio, give his tu ne "Mother" a listen sometime, if you want to hear a simple lyric thrown into a blast furnace of emotion). ---------- Many of Menard's compositions here appear deceptively simple and "connect" in their direct approach to life, love, and loss. "Make Me a T rain" is a plaintive plea for escape from troubles, reminiscent of the Hank Williams song "I Heard the Lonesome Whistle Blow." "Trustin' Love" has a wary traveler learning what it means to open up and put it all on the line for someone. Matt Weber adds so me nice pedal steel work here. As if in response to this number, Jennifer Barron Fishman's next track "Open To The Future" reveals the liberating feeling that can be found in relying on someone. "Worried Old World" is a folk anthem exploring the dangers o f environmental exploitation ("There's a hole the size of Kansas floatin' in the sky"). Cathie Van Wert contributes a nice fiddle break here, and "Cryin' Is Easy" has a refrain that any barfly could love: -- "But cryin is easy, It's the livin' that's hard. With no one forgivin' As things just fall apart" -- It's a cry-in-your-beer self-indictment that comes from just north of Jones country. -- All band members have had various musical incarnations, as well as other incarnations: Jennifer Barron Fishman "spent a decade massaging and learning yoga," and Lori Polzak, who adds some sweet vocals to these tracks, was a former madrigal singer. Violinist/fiddle player Cathie Van Wert manages her own graphic design firm called DoubleTake Design. Fallen Angels came together at a 1997 St. Patrick's Day show at the Charleston, 2076 N. Hoyne, which has become something of a home-base. It was there that Cathie Van Wert joined the group with her Irish fiddle playing and the sound "gelled." Since then, Fall en Angels have played at the aforementioned clubs as well as FitzGerald's, Ivan's on Ashland, and the Bucktown Arts Festival, where they will make another appearance this year. -- The CD "Fallen Angels" is available at the Record Emporium, or on-line at www.fallena ngelsmusic.com.c

Location Chicago, Illinois - USA

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