Parsonsfield (band)

Parsonsfield
Parsonsfield in New York City, 2016
Background information
Origin

Mansfield, Connecticut

Leverett, Massachusetts
Genres Folk, rock
Years active 2011–present
Labels
Website parsonsfield.com
Members
  • Antonio Alcorn
  • Chris Freeman
  • Harrison "Whale" Goodale
  • Erik Hischmann
  • Max Shakun

Parsonsfield is a multi-genre band founded in 2011 in Mansfield, Connecticut. The band consists of Chris Freeman, Antonio Alcorn, Max Shakun, Harrison Goodale, and Erik Hischmann. The original members met while attending the University of Connecticut. The name comes from the town of Parsonsfield, Maine, where they recorded their debut album.[1] The band tours in the USA and Canada from their base in Leverett, Massachusetts.[2]

History

Beginnings

The band began as an offshoot of the university's folk music club. Chris Freeman, Antonio Alcorn, and others met weekly in the student union to play traditional music. The gatherings were open to anyone, and didn't hold any performances; nevertheless in late 2010, through a misunderstanding, members of the club were offered an opening set at Toad's Place in New Haven, Connecticut. Freeman and Alcorn put together an impromptu band, and soon recruited music students Harrison Goodale (bass) and Max Shakun (guitar) to continue playing shows.[1]

Career

In 2013 the band signed to Signature Sounds Recordings and released their self-titled debut album, Poor Old Shine, produced and recorded by Sam Kassirer (Josh Ritter, Lake Street Dive, Langhorne Slim) in Parsonsfield, Maine.[3] Erik Hischmann, the session drummer hired for the album, joined the band soon after recording was completed.[4]

In July 2014 the band changed its name to Parsonsfield.[5] The following month marked the band's second studio release, Afterparty EP, featuring covers of songs by Mississippi John Hurt, Bert Jansch, and Huey Lewis and the News, as well as traditional songs and one original.[6]

In September 2016 the band released its third studio album, Blooming Through The Black, also produced by Sam Kassirer (Josh Ritter, Lake Street Dive, Langhorne Slim), and recorded in Collinsville, CT in an abandoned axe factory on the banks of the Farmington River.[7]

In March 2018, Parsonsfield released their fourth studio album, WE - produced by Dan Cardinal (Josh Ritter, The Low Anthem, Darlingside) and recorded at Dimension Sound Studios in Boston, MA. This marks their first time recording in a traditional studio. The first single, "Kick Out The Windows" was released in February with a companion video, which premiered by American Songwriter. [8]

Film, television and theater

In winter 2013, and winter 2014–spring 2015, Parsonsfield wrote and performed an original soundtrack to The Heart of Robin Hood, a theatrical production playing eight shows per week in Cambridge, Winnipeg, and Toronto.[9] After returning from Canada, the band relocated to Leverett, Massachusetts.[2]

In March 2016 Weeds or Wildflowers, track 1 on Poor Old Shine, was featured on AMC's The Walking Dead (Season 6, Episode 12).[10]

In September 2016, Parsonsfield wrote and performed an original score for the 1922 silent documentary Nanook of the North.[11]

Members

In live performances, members of the band all sing, and often switch instruments and trade places on stage. Besides their primary instruments, various members play saw, synthesizer, glockenspiel, melodica, and auxiliary percussion.[12]

  • Chris Freeman – banjo, guitar, pump organ, lead vocals
  • Max Shakun – guitar, pump organ, synthesizer, vocals
  • Antonio Alcorn – mandolin, banjo, vocals
  • Harrison "Whale" Goodale – upright and electric bass
  • Erik Hischmann – drums

Other work

Hischmann (drums) is credited as assistant engineer for The Beast In Its Tracks (Josh Ritter),[13] Bad Self Portraits (Lake Street Dive),[14] and various other albums including Poor Old Shine.[3]

Discography

Studio albums

Poor Old Shine (2013)
No.TitleWriter(s)PublisherLength
1."Weeds Or Wildflowers"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)2:52
2."Footsteps In My Ear"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:09
3."Country Pocket"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:35
4."Ghosts Next Door"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:30
5."Punching The Air"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)4:22
6."Right Now"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:38
7."Empty Rocking Chair"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:49
8."The Hurry All Around"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)4:05
9."Love Song"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)4:07
10."Tear Down The Stage"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)4:50
Total length:36:56
Afterparty (2014)
No.TitleWriter(s)PublisherLength
1."Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me"Mississippi John HurtZap Music Publishing (BMI)3:59
2."Strollin' Down The Highway"Bert JanschUniversal Music Publishing (BMI)3:39
3."Anita, Your Lovin'"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:11
4."The Power of Love"John Colla, Hugh Cregg, Chris HayesCause & Effect Music, Kinda Blue Music, Huey Lewis Music3:19
5."Hang Me"Traditional / Last Verse written by Jonah Tolchin 3:10
6."Lay Some Flowers On My Grave"Traditional 5:49
Total length:23:07
Blooming Through The Black (2016)
No.TitleWriter(s)PublisherLength
1."Stronger"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:33
2."Blooming Through The Black"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:26
3."Across Your Mind"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:44
4."Water Through A Mill"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:41
5."Barbed Wire"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)4:22
6."Ties That Bind Us"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)2:59
7."Don't Get Excited"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:52
8."Everyone Dies"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:50
9."Mental Remedy"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:00
10."Hot Air Balloon"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:18
Total length:35:45
WE (2018)
No.TitleWriter(s)PublisherLength
1."Light of the City"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)4:09
2."Go Find Yourself"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:30
3."Santa Monica"Art Alexakis, Greg Eklund, Craig MontoyaIrving Music Inc3:38
4."Take Me Back"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:46
5."Kick Out the Windows"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)3:48
Total length:18:51

Singles

Year Single Writer(s) Publisher(s) Album
2016"Ktaadn"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)Ktaadn - Single
"Stronger"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)Blooming Through The Black
"Barbed Wire"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)
"Everyone Dies"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)
2018"Kick Out the Windows"ParsonsfieldParsonsfield, LLC (BMI)WE

References

  1. 1 2 "Meet Parsonsfield". No Depression. 2014-07-30. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  2. 1 2 "A Minute In the Pioneer Valley with Parsonsfield". The Bluegrass Situation. 2016-10-03. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  3. 1 2 "Poor Old Shine, by Parsonsfield". Parsonsfield. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  4. ↑ erikhischmann (2013-06-26). "Sellersville Theatre". Erik Hischmann. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  5. ↑ "Formerly Poor Old Shine". PopMatters. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  6. ↑ "Afterparty (EP), by Parsonsfield". Parsonsfield. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  7. ↑ "Album Premiere: Parsonsfield, Blooming Through The Black". American Songwriter. 2016-09-07. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  8. ↑ McKenna, Brittney (2018-02-07). "Watch Parsonsfield's New Video For "Kick Out The Windows"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
  9. ↑ HAMAD, MICHAEL. "Parsonsfield Grateful For Its 'Robin Hood' Good Fortune". courant.com. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  10. ↑ Egner, Jeremy (2016-03-06). "'The Walking Dead' Season 6, Episode 12: Cookies, Zombie Heads and a Misguided Maggie". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
  11. ↑ "Nanook of the North and Parsonsfield make a perfect match at FreshGrass | Berkshire Local". Retrieved 2016-12-11.
  12. ↑ Corsano, Joanne. "2016 Concerts ~ Parsonsfield ~ at NicePace NoteBook". nicepace.net. Retrieved 2016-12-11.
  13. ↑ The Beast In Its Tracks [Deluxe Edition] (LP), retrieved 2016-12-07
  14. ↑ Bad Self Portraits (CD), retrieved 2016-12-07
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