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Today we are pleased to join forces with Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Barry Oreck for the exclusive premiere of We Were Wood, his new album that weaves together stories from history, searing social commentaries, and challenging matters of the heart. The record features brilliant musicians Bob Harris (Vassar Clements, Johnny Cash) on multiple instruments, Kevin Garcia, (Steel Wheels, The Duhks) on percussion, and Ben Farmer (Price of My Pig, Gobble de Gook) on accordion.
Known for evocative storytelling, rhythmic and stylistic variety, and songs that move and motivate, Oreck explores a range of topics from the personal to the political, touching on societal and ecological issues as well as the perils of aging and long-forgotten love. His music does not fit neatly into a single genre; his major influences include Steve Goodman, Stephen Sondheim, Odetta, and Tom Waits. Oreck is also a long-time NYC performer and choreographer in dance and theater and a teacher/researcher in arts education.
The songs on We Were Wood include two ballads based on historical events; both look at the nature of power and property in very different settings. Build Me A City: The Ballad of Robert Moses recounts the reshaping of New York City by Robert Moses, an unelected tyrant who permanently altered the city for better and for worse. The Norris Dam tells a similar story of people in rural Tennessee who sacrificed their land and future to the Tennessee Valley Authority.
About the album, Barry comments “This is my most varied and, in many ways, satisfying record. It runs the gamut of topics and styles from biting historical ballads to contemporary folk rockers and sweet love songs. It’s my fourth record with this great band and fully highlights our tight harmonies, interlocking instrumental work, and rhythmic complexity.”
