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Courtney Marie Andrews

  • Manchester Center, VT 05255 (map)

Courtney​ ​Marie​ ​Andrews​ ​spent​ ​over​ ​nine​ ​months​ ​of​ ​2017​ ​on​ ​the​ ​road,​ ​with​ ​multiple​ ​trips​ ​across the​ ​US,​ ​Canada,​ ​Europe,​ ​Australia​ ​and​ ​New​ ​Zealand.​ ​That’s​ ​nothing​ ​new​ ​for​ ​Andrews,​ ​though. She’s​ ​been​ ​touring​ ​relentlessly​ ​since​ ​leaving​ ​her​ ​Arizona​ ​hometown​ ​at​ ​16.​ ​It’s​ ​a​ ​life​ ​that​ ​inspired much​ ​of​ ​her​ ​2016​ ​breakthrough​ ​album,​ ​​Honest​ ​Life​.​ ​While​ ​that​ ​album’s​ ​themes​ ​spoke​ ​to​ ​the isolation​ ​and​ ​rootlessness​ ​inherent​ ​in​ ​a​ ​life​ ​on​ ​the​ ​road,​ ​most​ ​of​ ​its​ ​songs​ ​were​ ​actually​ ​written during​ ​an​ ​intentional,​ ​extended​ ​break.​ ​The​ ​success​ ​that​ ​followed​ ​its​ ​release,​ ​however,​ ​didn’t afford​ ​her​ ​the​ ​same​ ​break​ ​to​ ​write​ ​the​ ​material​ ​for​ ​her​ ​new​ ​album.

Although​​ ​May​ ​Your​ ​Kindness​ ​Remain​​ ​was​ ​predominately​ ​written​ ​on​ ​the​ ​road​ ​--​ ​in​ ​the​ ​van,​ ​in hotels,​ ​and​ ​in​ ​the​ ​homes​ ​of​ ​family​ ​and​ ​friends​ ​--​ ​it’s​ ​not​ ​a​ ​road​ ​record​ ​like​ ​its​ ​predecessor.​ ​That is,​ ​it’s​ ​not​ ​so​ ​much​ ​inspired​ ​by​ ​her​ ​life​ ​on​ ​the​ ​road​ ​so​ ​much​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is​ ​by​ ​the​ ​people​ ​she’s​ ​met along​ ​the​ ​way.​ ​It’s​ ​an​ ​inward​ ​reflection​ ​on​ ​the​ ​connectivity​ ​of​ ​their​ ​stories​ ​and​ ​her​ ​own.​ ​“More than​ ​anything,”​ ​she​ ​says,​ ​“it​ ​got​ ​me​ ​thinking​ ​about​ ​my​ ​childhood,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​people​ ​around​ ​me​ ​that I’ve​ ​known,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​stories​ ​that​ ​come​ ​from​ ​my​ ​family.​ ​It​ ​became​ ​clear​ ​how​ ​many​ ​people​ ​are struggling​ ​through​ ​the​ ​same​ ​issues.”

May​ ​Your​ ​Kindness​ ​Remain​​ ​is​ ​full​ ​of​ ​vivid​ ​depictions​ ​of​ ​complex​ ​people​ ​and​ ​places​ ​with​ ​all​ ​too common​ ​struggles.​ ​Much​ ​of​ ​the​ ​album​ ​deals​ ​with​ ​the​ ​psychological​ ​and​ ​relational​ ​impact​ ​of​ ​the unrealistic​ ​picture​ ​of​ ​success​ ​that​ ​is​ ​so​ ​embedded​ ​in​ ​modern​ ​American​ ​culture.

“People​ ​are​ ​constantly​ ​chasing​ ​that​ ​bigger​ ​life.​ ​A​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​people​ ​are​ ​poor​ ​in​ ​America​ ​--​ ​and because​ ​of​ ​those​ ​unattainable​ ​goals,​ ​they’re​ ​also​ ​mentally​ ​unstable,​ ​or​ ​sad,​ ​or​ ​depressed​ ​or unfulfilled.​ ​A​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​people​ ​--​ ​myself​ ​included​ ​at​ ​some​ ​point​ ​in​ ​my​ ​life​ ​--​ ​are​ ​loving​ ​somebody through​ ​this.​ ​That’s​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​the​ ​theme​ ​of​ ​the​ ​record:​ ​coming​ ​to​ ​terms​ ​with​ ​depression​ ​and​ ​the reality​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world​ ​we’re​ ​living​ ​in.​ ​Mental​ ​illness​ ​is​ ​a​ ​taboo​ ​in​ ​this​ ​culture​ ​--​ ​or​ ​not​ ​taken seriously.​ ​I’ve​ ​grown​ ​up​ ​around​ ​it​ ​a​ ​lot,​ ​and​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​I​ ​understand​ ​it​ ​from​ ​all​ ​sides.”

There​ ​are​ ​no​ ​simple​ ​answers​ ​in​ ​these​ ​songs.​ ​There’s​ ​just​ ​an​ ​acknowledgement​ ​of​ ​our​ ​shared hardships​ ​and​ ​a​ ​call​ ​for​ ​empathy.​ ​Despite​ ​its​ ​characters’​ ​burdens,​ ​​May​ ​Your​ ​Kindness​ ​Remain isn’t​ ​downtrodden.​ ​There’s​ ​a​ ​defiance​ ​built​ ​into​ ​its​ ​melancholy,​ ​a​ ​sense​ ​that​ ​even​ ​the​ ​most complicated​ ​problems​ ​are​ ​worth​ ​facing​ ​--​ ​a​ ​sentiment​ ​that​ ​also​ ​explains​ ​why​ ​the​ ​album’s​ ​music refuses​ ​to​ ​stay​ ​within​ ​any​ ​rigid​ ​sonic​ ​boundaries.

While​ ​Andrews​ ​self-produced​ ​​Honest​ ​Life​,​ ​she​ ​knew​ ​this​ ​one​ ​had​ ​to​ ​be​ ​different.​ ​To​ ​record​ ​​May Your​ ​Kindness​ ​Remain​,​ ​her​ ​restless​ ​side​ ​took​ ​over.​ ​“It’s​ ​very​ ​characteristic​ ​to​ ​how​ ​I​ ​work​ ​--​ ​I need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​shaken​ ​up,”​ ​she​ ​says.​ ​“I​ ​was​ ​like,​ ​‘I​ ​need​ ​to​ ​change​ ​something,​ ​and​ ​create something​ ​different,​ ​and​ ​push​ ​myself​ ​in​ ​a​ ​different​ ​direction.​ ​I​ ​knew​ ​I​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a​ ​more modern,​ ​unique​ ​sounding​ ​record.”

She​ ​found​ ​that​ ​direction​ ​thanks​ ​to​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​of​ ​serendipity.​ ​All​ ​at​ ​once,​ ​she​ ​began​ ​noticing​ ​Mark Howard’s​ ​name​ ​on​ ​several​ ​of​ ​her​ ​favorite​ ​records.​ ​She​ ​was​ ​consistently​ ​drawn​ ​to​ ​the​ ​resonant depth​ ​of​ ​the​ ​sound​ ​and​ ​tone​ ​in​ ​the​ ​albums​ ​he​ ​had​ ​done​ ​with​ ​luminaries​ ​like​ ​Lucinda​ ​Williams,Bob​ ​Dylan,​ ​Emmylou​ ​Harris​ ​and​ ​Tom​ ​Waits.​ ​With​ ​nothing​ ​to​ ​lose,​ ​her​ ​manager​ ​messaged​ ​him about​ ​producing​ ​the​ ​new​ ​record.

The​ ​inquiry​ ​was​ ​a​ ​success:​ ​months​ ​later,​ ​Andrews​ ​and​ ​her​ ​band​ ​found​ ​themselves​ ​in​ ​a​ ​rented house​ ​in​ ​Los​ ​Angeles,​ ​overlooking​ ​the​ ​city’s​ ​skyline,​ ​making​ ​​May​ ​Your​ ​Kindness​ ​Remain​​ ​with Howard​ ​at​ ​the​ ​helm.​ ​“I​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a​ ​record​ ​in​ ​L.A.,”​ ​she​ ​says.​ ​“In​ ​that​ ​house,​ ​overlooking​ ​a city​ ​that​ ​epitomizes​ ​both​ ​America’s​ ​diversity​ ​and​ ​also​ ​the​ ​commonality​ ​of​ ​very​ ​real​ ​struggles against​ ​often​ ​unrealistic​ ​hopes​ ​and​ ​dreams.”

Andrews​ ​recalls​ ​Howard​ ​saying​ ​that​ ​he​ ​liked​ ​“making​ ​records​ ​that​ ​you​ ​can​ ​live​ ​in.”​ ​To​ ​her,​ ​it​ ​felt intuitive,​ ​natural​ ​and​ ​spontaneous​ ​--​ ​an​ ​extension​ ​of​ ​the​ ​songwriting​ ​process​ ​that​ ​went​ ​into these​ ​songs.​ ​Howard,​ ​Andrews​ ​and​ ​the​ ​band​ ​lived​ ​in​ ​that​ ​house​ ​for​ ​eight​ ​days,​ ​barely​ ​fitting​ ​it​ ​in between​ ​two​ ​tours.​ ​As​ ​is​ ​Howard’s​ ​custom,​ ​the​ ​house​ ​was​ ​the​ ​studio.​ ​He​ ​brought​ ​all​ ​the​ ​gear, recording​ ​everyone​ ​in​ ​the​ ​same​ ​room​ ​to​ ​a​ ​live​ ​board,​ ​live​ ​off​ ​the​ ​floor.​ ​“A​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​the​ ​record​ ​is either​ ​the​ ​first​ ​take​ ​or​ ​we​ ​did​ ​just​ ​one​ ​overdub,”​ ​Andrews​ ​says.​ ​“Nothing’s​ ​overthought.”​ ​The band​ ​set​ ​up​ ​in​ ​a​ ​circle,​ ​watching​ ​each​ ​other​ ​across​ ​the​ ​room​ ​as​ ​they​ ​played​ ​each​ ​song​ ​live.

As​ ​a​ ​result,​ ​the​ ​album​ ​sounds​ ​intimate​ ​and​ ​warm,​ ​as​ ​if​ ​listeners​ ​are​ ​in​ ​the​ ​house​ ​with​ ​them, watching​ ​it​ ​all​ ​unfold.​ ​While​ ​​May​ ​Your​ ​Kindness​ ​Remain​​ ​is​ ​Andrews’​ ​fullest​ ​sounding​ ​record​ ​to date,​ ​the​ ​songs​ ​and​ ​her​ ​vocals​ ​are​ ​never​ ​eclipsed.​ ​“Mark’s​ ​really​ ​good​ ​about​ ​stripping​ ​the​ ​song down​ ​to​ ​the​ ​bones,​ ​and​ ​asking,​ ​‘Where​ ​is​ ​the​ ​song​ ​in​ ​this?​ ​And​ ​how​ ​do​ ​we​ ​make​ ​the​ ​song​ ​come out​ ​while​ ​still​ ​having​ ​great​ ​instrumentation?’”​ ​Andrews​ ​recalls.

Still,​ ​the​ ​album’s​ ​arrangements​ ​are​ ​meticulous.​ ​Unlike​ ​the​ ​predominantly​ ​acoustic​ ​guitar​ ​based Honest​ ​Life​,​ ​​May​ ​Your​ ​Kindness​ ​Remain​ ​​builds​ ​around​ ​Andrews’​ ​songs​ ​with​ ​heavy​ ​lead​ ​guitar (Dillon​ ​Warnek)​ ​and​ ​keys​ ​riffs​ ​(Daniel​ ​Walker,​ ​Charles​ ​Wicklander).​ ​Having​ ​played​ ​with​ ​Andrews for​ ​years,​ ​the​ ​rhythm​ ​section​ ​(Alex​ ​Sabel,​ ​bass;​ ​William​ ​Mapp,​ ​drums,​ ​percussion)​ ​fills​ ​the sound​ ​as​ ​naturally​ ​as​ ​you’d​ ​expect.​ ​There​ ​was​ ​no​ ​click​ ​track​ ​for​ ​Mapp,​ ​adding​ ​to​ ​the​ ​album’s sentient,​ ​live​ ​feel.

Every​ ​instrument​ ​and​ ​sound​ ​on​ ​the​ ​album​ ​has​ ​their​ ​proper​ ​place,​ ​across​ ​diverse​ ​styles:​ ​proud piano​ ​ballads​ ​(“Rough​ ​Around​ ​the​ ​Edges”);​ ​easygoing,​ ​country-tinted​ ​rock​ ​(“Kindness​ ​of Strangers”);​ ​and​ ​biting,​ ​sarcastic​ ​folk​ ​gems​ ​(“I’ve​ ​Hurt​ ​Worse”).​ ​Gospel​ ​singer​ ​C.C.​ ​White​ ​adds backing​ ​vocals​ ​throughout,​ ​including​ ​on​ ​the​ ​stunning​ ​title​ ​track,​ ​a​ ​striking​ ​statement​ ​of​ ​purpose that​ ​blooms​ ​at​ ​the​ ​end​ ​thanks​ ​to​ ​layers​ ​of​ ​soulful​ ​harmonies.​ ​“When​ ​C.C.​ ​was​ ​singing​ ​her​ ​parts,” Andrews​ ​remembers,​ ​“I​ ​just​ ​laid​ ​there​ ​on​ ​the​ ​floor,​ ​both​ ​comforted​ ​and​ ​blown​ ​away.”

Andrews’​ ​own​ ​vocals​ ​are​ ​notably​ ​more​ ​powerful​ ​and​ ​soulful​ ​--​ ​especially​ ​on​ ​the​ ​organ-heavy blues​ ​number​ ​“Border”,​ ​with​ ​a​ ​ragged​ ​weariness​ ​that​ ​honors​ ​the​ ​immigrant’s​ ​resilience​ ​in​ ​the face​ ​of​ ​blatant​ ​thoughtlessness​ ​and​ ​racism;​ ​and​ ​“Took​ ​You​ ​Up”,​ ​a​ ​take​ ​on​ ​accepting​ ​love​ ​as​ ​a simple​ ​offering​ ​before​ ​any​ ​illusion​ ​of​ ​wealth​ ​or​ ​success.​ ​Her​ ​vocal​ ​performances​ ​reflect​ ​her recent​ ​listening​ ​habits,​ ​which​ ​include​ ​Motown​ ​and​ ​soul,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​albums​ ​by​ ​the​ ​eclectic​ ​rock band​ ​Little​ ​Feat.​ ​They​ ​also​ ​point​ ​to​ ​her​ ​confidence​ ​and​ ​growing​ ​range​ ​as​ ​a​ ​live​ ​vocalist.

“I​ ​subconsciously​ ​started​ ​incorporating​ ​more​ ​vocal​ ​stretching​ ​in​ ​my​ ​songs,​ ​just​ ​because​ ​of​ ​how fun​ ​that​ ​was,”​ ​she​ ​says.​ ​“I’ve​ ​always​ ​been​ ​really​ ​inspired​ ​by​ ​soul​ ​singers.​ ​I​ ​can​ ​sing​ ​like​ ​that​ ​-- but​ ​I​ ​never​ ​really​ ​had​ ​before.”

In​ ​the​ ​end,​ ​​May​ ​Your​ ​Kindness​ ​Remain​​ ​finds​ ​Andrews​ ​at​ ​home​ ​in​ ​her​ ​restlessness,​ ​embracing her​ ​intuition.​ ​It​ ​has​ ​stretched​ ​her​ ​vocals,​ ​her​ ​sound​ ​and​ ​her​ ​songwriting​ ​to​ ​new​ ​depths​ ​and produced​ ​a​ ​brave​ ​record​ ​--​ ​a​ ​record​ ​that​ ​is​ ​unafraid​ ​of​ ​addressing​ ​the​ ​complexities​ ​of​ ​life​ ​in order​ ​to​ ​find​ ​common​ ​ground​ ​and​ ​understanding,​ ​no​ ​matter​ ​how​ ​divided​ ​this​ ​world​ ​may​ ​seem.

Earlier Event: April 25
Margaret Glaspy
Later Event: July 19
Upstate