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"Everything Red Molly sings is delivered with tick-tight arrangements, crystalline vocals, and caramel harmonies. But what is most striking is the ardor they bring to everything they do, whether snuggling into the sweet parochialism of an old spiritual, or the gritty pathos of a Gillian Welch tune. They come on less like stars strutting for their minions than pals sharing their favorite songs. In the friendly world of the coffeehouse, that remains a starmaking quality." On a July evening in 2004, at their campsite at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Laurie MacAllister, Abbie Gardner and Carolann Solebello harmonized for the very first time. As they sang their campmates off to sleep, they knew they had stumbled into something extraordinary. Audiences seem to agree. Since that summer night, Red Molly has garnered a devoted regional fan base, and has begun laying the groundwork for national touring. These ladies have a lot of fun on stage, and it’s contagious. Red Molly consistently brings concert-goers to their feet with stunning three-part harmonies, crisp musicianship, and a warm, engaging stage presence. The magic of Red Molly stems partly from the richness and diversity of each member’s “pre-Molly” experiences. Laurie (vocals, guitar, banjo) left a career in psychology to pursue her love of singing. She worked for several years as a backup singer, and also released two solo albums, These Old Clothes (1999) and The Things I Choose To Do (2004). Abbie (vocals, Dobro, guitar) has a background in jazz, bluegrass, classical and a cappella music. She released two solo albums, My Craziest Dream (2004), a collection of swing standards featuring her father Herb Gardner on piano, and Honey on My Grave (2006), a collection of acoustic originals. In May 2008, she released a duo album, Bad Nights/Better Days, with Anthony da Costa. Carolann (vocals, guitar, bass, mandolin) spent several years as a professional theater actor before releasing her solo album, Just Across the Water (2000). She went on to release two albums with power folk quartet CC Railroad, Smile Whatever (2001) and Black Horse Motel (2004). In July 2006, Red Molly’s first full-length CD, Never Been to Vegas (2006), was released. Recorded on a December evening before a studio audience of fans and friends, Never Been to Vegas is a collection of fourteen carefully-chosen songs that span more than a century of great American songwriting. Never Been to Vegas quickly climbed into the Top 30 on the Radio & Records Americana chart, a rare accomplishment for an independent album. And listeners of WUMB radio Boston voted the CD one of the Top 10 CDs of 2006. Red Molly's newest release, Love and Other Tragedies (2008), is their first full-length studio album. Produced by Ben Wisch, it finds the women of Red Molly adding a little spice to their winning recipe. The new album features a fuller, more “polished” sound than their previous releases, due in part to the contributions of guest artists Mike Weatherly (upright bass), Duke Levine (mandola, lap steel), and Jake Armerding (fiddle). In addition, the ladies incorporated more original songs into the mix this time. Songs written by Laurie, Abbie, and Carolann mingle admirably with songs by well-known contemporary writers Gillian Welch and Susan Werner, up-and-coming artists Amy Speace and George Wirth, traditional American gospel tunes, and standards from the bluegrass and jazz worlds.
Click here for a printer-friendly version (PDF). "Red Molly is one of the most entertaining trios I've ever seen and I predict they're on their way to national stardom. You have to see them live so you can not only hear their great vocals and instrumental work but so you can also appreciate their witty banter and on-stage presence. Their new CD captures the excitement of their live stage shows and everyone should include it in their personal collections. They're simply fantastic!" "To say we were pleasantly surprised would be a gross understatement. They rock! Their musicianship is flawless. And their voices ... their harmonies sound like they've been singing together for years. Their energy is intoxicating. Their show was our first ever sell-out. For weeks afterward, people were asking, 'Are you getting Red Molly back for next season?' YES!" "Red Molly came and made us all so happy. My only regret was that they only had one set; I could have listened to them all night! What they do is so NEEDED: keeping the old music alive, but making it refreshing, new, and unique." "They are just great. I don't think I have ever had as many requests to get someone back as I did for them. Great individual voices that sound wonderful together. See them if you can." "These chicks create a sound straight out of their living room, with enough polish for a concert hall. Their voices transcend all." "With gorgeous harmonies on original work and tasteful covers, plus slide guitar and multi-instrumental versatility, Red Molly brings a breath of fresh air into the singer/songwriter world. Here's hoping we'll be hearing from these three women for a long time." "Red Molly is one of the finest female groups I have heard in a long while. Their artistry will captivate you. If you want to be mesmerized by shimmering harmonies, I urge you catch one of their shows." "Red Molly breathes new life into classic and contemporary Americana. A performance like theirs is the reason why I'm so fortunate to be doing this kind of radio." "Red Molly is a powerhouse NY trio that pulls out all the stops for their energizing stage performances. Laurie's clear, sensual voice shines through. Carolann's connection to the beat allows the band to run. Abbie wields the velvet hammer in the form of her Dobro. Red Molly's connection to the audience is intimate and strong." "Red Molly plays high-energy, satisfying string band music with a hint of pop and a dash of country, and blends their voices in soul-pleasing three-part harmony." "Red Molly has taste, talent, and voices to die for. They make music the way it should be made: raw, powerful, and beautiful. With this band, you hear and feel the soul inside the songs. It's music to make the spirit soar."
How was Red Molly formed? Which one of you is Molly? Did you get the name Red Molly from that Richard Thompson song? When did Red Molly put out their first FULL-LENGTH CD? When will Red Molly put out their NEXT full-length CD? Who are your influences? Abbie’s mom introduced her to bluegrass music at the tender age of three, while her father (a professional jazz pianist) introduced her to swing and Dixieland jazz. Her own influences range from Ray Charles, Bonnie Raitt, and Aretha Franklin to Patty Griffin, Prince and Jerry Douglas. Abbie’s husband (a member of The Amish Outlaws) is a metal-head and she even gets some rhythmic inspiration from that genre. So if you put together the melodies of standard jazz, the rhythms of heavy metal, the harmonies of bluegrass, and the soul of blues and funk, you get Abbie. While a student at Fordham University, Carolann listened to WFUV and fell in love with acoustic music. It was the folk revival of the late 80s and early 90s: Suzanne Vega, Tracy Chapman, Indigo Girls, Christine Lavin, Richard Shindell. She then became acquainted with American roots music and learned to play bluegrass while living in east Tennessee and Kansas. Are your harmonies arranged? How did they evolve? How do you pick songs? Why do you sing songs written by other people? What’s that thing that Abbie plays? Why does Laurie sing Long Island Cowboy? Didn’t Abbie write it? How old is Red Molly? |
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