Becket — To deem Rees Shad’s expansive career as prolific might in fact be an understatement: Over the past three decades, the singer-songwriter has undergone a process of near-constant refinement, ultimately redefining himself as a passionate, personal songwriter and performer. Since the 1993 debut of “Walls,” Shad has been hard at work—churning out nearly 30 albums—with the newest audible fruits of his labor slated for the stage at the historic Dream Away Lodge on Thursday, October 5.
“These songs were written over many years, from 1990 to just a few months ago,” said Shad of his latest project, “Six Songs & A Story,” a retrospective of sorts that revisits a selection of favorite songs—albeit in stripped down, essential acoustic performances—that highlight nothing more than Shad, his guitar, and an extraordinary craft. Which is not to suggest that he has been at work in an entirely solo capacity.
Each of the 11 tracks on his new album has deep roots in the 413, originating from the late-19th-century Queen Anne Victorian in Great Barrington that Shad and his wife of 37 years call home. In fact, “Six Songs & A Story” would not have been possible without Pamela, for whom Shad plays new songs in order to gauge her opinion, despite the fact that the couple’s individual opinion of record production often finds the two parting ways.
“She often will hear what I bring back from a recording session and express disappointment in how the intimate and passionate one-on-one experience of my song has been, in her opinion, diluted by the additions I have made, or how I’ve interpreted the song for my audience, or even how I’ve changed a phrase or two. She often says she longs to hear the song in its original, unblemished representation … just me and my guitar, sitting in the living room, telling the story in my head with passion, focus, and sometimes even an imperfect execution,” Shad explains of his wife’s wish — one that ultimately materialized in the guise of a solo album turned anniversary gift after 43 years together.
“We not only got down to bare bones but to the real and essential bones,” said Shad of a departure from his production practice to date. “Traditionally, I produce records with a kitchen sink mentality,” said Shad, in a nod to the recording studio as a proverbial playground (or a whole separate instrument, really). “I love playing there but, [in] making this album, I had the chance to re-listen to these songs and reacquaint myself with the essential music as each song was originally intended—just me and my guitar,” Shad explained of what he is calling an extraordinary experience.
“Six Songs & A Story” is testament to music that is both poignant and profound; Shad’s stories, shared from the heart, resonate with universal appeal—a fact that likely caused the legendary Graham Parker to posit, “a rare class inhabits his songwriting that’s rarely found today.”
Praise for Shad’s work has echoed across the ages. Lee Zimmerman, of Goldmine Magazine, called Shad, “a consummate artist and entertainer,” while Lucas Garrett, of Nippertown, dubbed “Tattletale,” Shad’s 2022 album, “an impressive amalgamation of sounds and genres.” Perhaps the best testament to his signature sound comes from John Apice, of Americana Highways, who distilled it down to the barest essentials: “Rees takes you into another era, but the journey is with moments of resurrection that develop its own ultimate jazz boîte throughout [and he] keeps it interesting by injecting dynamics into his showcase. [Shad’s] voice is perfect for these attractions.”
“Six Songs & A Story” (recorded at The Clubhouse Studio in Rhinebeck, N.Y. by Paul Antonell in April 2023) spans a selection of songs written over the course of three decades with a trio of new compositions included for good measure. The compendium of Shad’s music to date, one as equally suited for faithful fans as for those discovering his music for the first time, is scheduled for independent release on October 6.
Shad was born and raised in New York City, where his interest in music was nurtured from an early age. He recorded his first song, at the tender age of four, on a Dictaphone borrowed from his father. His newest songs delve into various themes, all of them tugging on a personal thread.
“Hero’s Son” was inspired by a pair of family photos and pays homage to Shad’s grandfather and father, who fought during WWI and WWII respectively. “I am fortunate to have been born as part of a generation that fell between the conflicts of Vietnam and the Middle East, and so I never had to serve in the Armed Forces,” said Shad who admits he might have been a conscientious objector, had he faced having to enlist, the consequences of which he hashes out in song:
Grand Daddy fought in the Northern Seine; a witness to the ghost of Charlemagne
The Northern Lights or the Holy Ghost /Drove him out of his bunker toward aGerman Host
Mustard gas tore his lungs apart, but he was driven by a hero’s hear
He told my Daddy, and Daddy told my son how the First World War was won.
“Isn’t it the Journey?,” a song originally recorded in 2000, sprang from a nightmare in which Shad feared he lost his wife, until he heard her voice speaking calmly and carefully about focusing on the present, rather than obsessing about what may or may not come to pass. “It’s an obvious, but important, point of view that all of us frequently forget to consider,” said Shad, who recalls waking up from his dream and scribbling those lyrics down in his dream journal.
As to the tie binding this album together? “Ultimately, it’s all about the storytelling,” Shad says, underscoring his belief that the listening process was intended to be interactive. “I’m hoping to help lay the crumbs that people inevitably will want to follow … all the while striving to light up my listeners’ imaginations.”
