The legend of Belle Starr’s been inspiring creativity for a century now: there’s been dime store novels by too many authors to name, movies and songs from artists like Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler that have riffed on the Texas outlaw’s tale.
New to that legacy is a collective of some of Canada’s brightest musical talents: Kendel Carson, Miranda Mulholland and Stephanie Cadman. The three Canadian fiddle stars have joined forces and formed a new band named Belle Starr. They released a debut EP last year and have a new eponymously titled full length album out this year.
All three have accomplished careers well beyond their years: Carson has released a fine solo album, toured as an opening act for John Prine and plays as a guest with any number of touring bands; Mullholland is a regular member of Great Lake Swimmers and has played on albums by Justin Rutledge and the Cowboy Junkies; Cadman is a noted solo artist and choreographer whose reputation proceeds her. If this were the early 80s, it’d be tempting to trot out the supergroup label. Mercifully it’s not, so let’s just say there’s quite a bit of talent between the three women of Belle Starr.Vancouver’s Railway Club was the venue for the first show of the band’s first ever national tour. With a history rolling back to the 1930s, it’s a good place to start a new legacy.
The show took an interesting twist from the get-go: the sight of Kendel Carson strapping on an acoustic guitar is a new one, and it’s a bit disconcerting at first. A killer rendition of John Hiatt’s Cry Love put those guitar skills to good use. The song is the opening track of the trio’s new album, and one of its highlights. Dolly Parton’s Jolene followed with all three Belle’s sharing vocal duties and producing beautiful harmonies.Mulholland took the need for the instrumental Charity Kiss, apparently inspired by a blind date with a clown (pro tip: lay off the novelty horn, Bozo.) With all three of the band members on fiddle again the song did a nice job of showing off the band’s most notable talents.
The band’s set continued, alternating between original compositions and covers that included Neil Young’s Love is a Rose, Justin Rutledge’s Be a Man and the Talking Heads’ This Must be the Place.
That diverse collection of songs says a lot about Belle Starr’s past and future. The band’s album is a tribute to the music its members grew up listening too. It’s a fine collection of songs that pays tribute to the past and sees the band finding a sound of its own. From the well known to the more obscure (the album includes a cover of the Skydiggers’ 20 year old hit Pull Me Down) the album has a cohesive sound that comes from a band that’s at ease with its sound. It’s a highly listenable collection of songs that points towards a bright future as the band creates more original music.Watching the band live what impresses most is the seamlessness which the members move between parts. All three of the Belle’s take various turns on lead and backing vocal, and the fiddle work of all three is impressive.
When you’re watching the video for This Must be the Place below keep in mind this little detail of the story about its filming: the night before they filmed it, Mulholland caught Carson up late studying. When she asked her what she was doing, the explanation was simple and–in hindsight–obvious: “I’m learning how to hotwire a car.”Keep that in mind when you catch them live, and it may be a good idea to make sure your doors are locked when you park.
Belle Starr is currently touring across Canada in support of their newest album, which is available on iTunes. Complete tour dates are available on the Belle Star web site.
