Featured Artist: School's Open
Venue: School II, Chanhassen, MN
Time: 7:00pm
"What musical genre do I fit in?" The question Francis Duxbury III posed to himself was answered by a friend after a moment of reflection, "Comfort Music." Duxbury agreed, amused by his friends insight, and has described it as such ever since.
Duxbury, along with Bill Travers (of Four on the Floor) recently celebrated the release of their newest CD, Francis Duxbury III and Bill Travers: Hide Me. Vocal harmonies with Laura Moe (of Dodd Road) are peppered throughout the CD, including the title track, "Hide Me." The folk-rock comfort music is as inviting as Duxbury's lyrics are revealing. His lyrics cover a wide range of subject matter from the universal themes of love and heartache to personal stories of loss. Examples of this range include "Good Night Marge," about the loss of a grandmother, written for his grandchildren, Julia and Gabe, and their father. Another is "Right Back with You," written for "the men and women in service of our freedom and for the ones they leave behind" (Duxbury, liner notes).
Duxbury has been writing song lyrics since he was fifteen. He is thankful for the gift to write and doesn't question his ability "because then I wouldn't." Duxbury attributes much of his writing technique to artists such as John Denver, from whom he learned to create lyrics without depending on a structured form.
Bill Travers is Duxbury's friend and supporter of the past ten years. They share a history of playing the same jam sessions. Individual styles, they admit, make them an unlikely musical team; however, there is a mutual respect that became critical to the creation of Hide Me. About five years ago, Duxbury decided to take some weeks off from playing gigs; those weeks rolled into a five-year hiatus. Travers encouraged Duxbury to play again, insisting that Duxbury had "too much talent to be doing nothing." Somewhere among the coaxing of Travers and the loss of their mutual, beloved friend Cheater Slick (Jim Tiseth), to whom the CD is dedicated, Duxbury found his way back among his peers.
Together, Duxbury and Travers are a treat to see. Duxbury, with quick movements magnified by a wonderfully outgoing personality, appears to be everywhere in the room at once. Travers, on the other hand, enjoys the evening settled back on his heels, reflecting the celebratory atmosphere through a mischievous? glimmer in his eyes. Moe adds an additional layer to the dynamics of the group that may intrigue them enough to make the trio official.
The two host an open mic/jam session every Sunday evening at the VFW in South Saint Paul. Stop by to support them during these cooler seasons and let their music transport your mind to a balmy summer evening around a campfire.
www.myspace.com/francisduxburyiii
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