Louisville music scene honchos Scott Carney (Wax Fang) and Joe Manning, as well as the under-the-radar gem Saredren Wells will be performing at the Rudyard Kipling on November 14th. Details on the show are pretty cut-and-dry from the flyer. Starts at 8 pm, $5 cover (steal of a deal for these famed locals), rinse, repeat. So be there, and I will proceed to give you a myriad of reasons why you should do so.
The Rudyard Kipling is one of the most important institutions in the city of Louisville. There is a great deal of sadness I feel (as I’m sure many other locals do as well) in regards to the financial woes the incredible venue has faced more than recently. The fact is that the better part of the Louisville music scene followers have AT LEAST one or two memories going back to The Rud, mine ranging from it being the closest venue/local staple to my first apartment upon moving to Louisville to it being the place I first saw Jim James/Carl Broemel perform (June 2007). Speaking of ol’ Jim, you may remember him playing at The Rud as part of their Motherlodge celebration at the beginning of October, which brings this long-winded writer to his point. Local musicians clearly love The Rud, owned by the incomparable Ken Pyle and Sheila Joyce, enough to do whatever they can to not let this place die. We have a lot of folks to thank for this amazing Louisville venue/hangout remaining open, and I relish any and all opportunities to see performances of all kinds at The Rud.
A show such as this one continues the tradition of the best local performers putting on the best local shows at The Rud. You obviously know Scott Carney as one third of the amazing Wax Fang. He will be performing mostly Wax Fang material (solo), but will also be unveiling some new solo material as well. My rabid love for La La Land has me looking forward to hearing Carney’s new material, and odds are the solo songs will undoubtedly stay in your head for weeks after.
Headlining the show will be songwriter Joe Manning, who thankfully (for us all) has been playing solo again as of late. A current member of King’s Daughters and Sons, Manning has been a Louisville scene staple since people have started referring to people/places that make a locality unique as “staples”. His low-key and somber style will be sure to cap off your Saturday evening, mix with some Kentucky bourbon for maximum effectiveness. Also, our friends at Karate Body records have released “The White Belt” 7-inch split featuring Manning’s new song “Lately at a Lesser Table”. Support Karate Body/Joe Manning and swipe that up.
Saredren Wells, the stage name for songwriter Drew Sellers, has managed to stay fairly quiet within the Louisville music scene save for a few appearances on the Louisville is for Lovers compilations. I have not yet seen him perform live, so I’ll have to say I am most excited for him opening the show. Saredren’s lo-fi love makes his songwriting all the more poignant, while his guitar accompanies with a similar finger-picked affection artists like Iron & Wine have made so easy to adore. Local songwriter Jeremy Irvin (Eremy Jirvin, Second Story Man, Whistle Peak) says about Saredren’s stylings, “His compositions have a touch of folk; dig deeper and you’ll find a knowledge of classical structure, with new life that reverberates in the tone of our times.”
Saredren Wells’ debut album, “Memories are Hunting Horns…”, is due out within the next few months. In the mean time check out his fantastic contribution to the Louisville is for Lovers Volume 7 compilation “Love Song” below.
Love Song – Saredren Wells
And hey! The 14th is also Ken Pyle’s 69th birthday and I’m sure he would love to share the show with you. When The Rud’s co-owner was asked about the kind of music he’d like to hear that evening, Pyle’s response was “songs about peace and love and joy”. Come share some peace, love and joy with these fantastic songwriters at this fantastic venue.
