The Be Good Tanyas

The Be Good Tanyas are a Canadian folk music group formed in Vancouver in 1999. Their influences include folk, country, and bluegrass. The style of music they perform can be referred to as alt-country or Americana.

History

The Be Good Tanyas formed in 1999 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Samantha Parton had been living on the road as a tree planter and wandering and making music, when she met Jolie Holland. The two began playing songs, including one called "Be Good Tanyas" that had been written by a friend of Hollands. When the duo was joined by a mutual friend, Trish Klein, it is said this was the beginning of the Be Good Tanyas. Frazey Ford, who had been planting trees with Parton, joined and the group went on their first tour, opening for Bill Bourne. Holland left the group in 2000 but did return to contribute to the first album ''Blue Horse''. In the early years of the group, Frazey Ford, Trish Klein, and Sam Parton played together at open mics and tree planting camps in the Kootenays region of British Columbia.

In 2000 they embarked on a North American tour that ran from Vancouver to New Orleans, before returning to British Columbia to record their first album ''Blue Horse'' released in 2001. The album, described as a "simple yet provocative and enchanting collection of tunes", is said in the same article, to have been recorded in a "run down shack on the outskirts of Vancouver... hich..provided the perfect home for the Tanyas to spin their charming tales into songs."

The second album, ''Chinatown'', followed in 2003. Matthew Good noted in a review of Chinatown, that the album represented the group's...ell deserved.."unblemished reputation for interpreting traditional folk songs that and penning moving originals." Their third album, '' Hello Love'', was released on October 10, 2006, with one critic noting that "Ford's curiously breathy and intimate singing creates an immediate connection with the listener...'' nd'...all the music has a kitchen-porch feel punctuated by the meditative plunk of the mandolin and banjo."

The Tanyas gained U.S. exposure when the Showtime series ''The L Word'' selected one of their songs, "In Spite of All the Damage", for inclusion in the series' soundtrack. A live version of "In My Time of Dying" was also included in the third episode of the third season, in which Frazey Ford was featured as a nun and played the song in the opening sequence. The song "The Littlest Birds" was played during the first season of the Showtime series '' Weeds'' and was included in that season's soundtrack. The band's music has also been included in the CTV series '' The Eleventh Hour'' and in the feature film '' Because of Winn-Dixie''. Their cover of Townes Van Zandt's "Waiting Around to Die" was also used in "Bit by a Dead Bee", an episode of AMC's ''Breaking Bad''. Their rendition of " What Are They Doing in Heaven?" was played on the episode "Searchers" of the AMC series '' Hell on Wheels''.

After the release of the first two Be Good Tanyas albums, Trish Klein collaborated with Alison Russell under the band name Po' Girl, a project that as of 2010 has resulted in seven albums: '' Po'girl'', ''Vagabond Lullabies'', ''B-side recordings'', ''Home to You'', ''Deer in the Night'', ''Live,'' and ''Follow Your Bliss''.

In 2007 all members of the band pursued their own projects.

In 2010 Frazey Ford released her debut solo album, '' Obadiah'', an album which featured a close collaboration with Trish Klein who is credited as writer on several songs. Ford toured ''Obadiah'' with Klein and her band through Europe and North America through 2010–2011.

In 2011 it was announced the Be Good Tanyas would return to performing, beginning with an appearance at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Following this the band released a retrospective of their work, ''A Collection'' (2012), which featured selections from previous albums and two new songs. This release saw them touring throughout North America and Europe including an appearance in San Francisco at the Outside Lands festival. While there the band was invited to Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir's studio (Tri Studios) where they recorded and videotaped three songs.

In September 2012, Parton suffered a concussion as a vehicle in which she was a passenger was struck from behind by a pickup truck. Medical procedures on her head during her convalescence revealed an aneurysm behind Parton's left eye as well as a benign tumor. Parton took a leave of absence as the band continued touring North America and Europe in 2013 with fellow Vancouver musician and visual artist Caroline Ballhorn filling in.

In 2014 Ford released her second solo album ''Indian Ocean''. The album was recorded at the Hi Recording Studio in Memphis, Tennessee with various members of Al Green's original backing band, the Hi Rhythm Section, and Trish Klein contributing electric guitar on two tracks. ''Indian Ocean'' is described by one reviewer as triking.."a fine balance between light and dark, between elegiac, soul-lifting musicality and confessional, soul-baring lyricism." Ford toured worldwide in support of ''Indian Ocean'', and announced in 2019 her third solo album ''U Kin B The Sun'', released the following year to critical acclaim.

In 2016 Parton resumed touring, accompanied by former band member Jolie Holland, and in September 2017 they released their long-awaited album ''Wildflower Blues'', on Cinquefoil Records.

Members

* Frazey Ford ( guitar, vocals)
* Samantha Parton (guitar, mandolin, banjo, vocals)
* Trish Klein (guitar, banjo, vocals)

Former members

* Jolie Holland

Discography

Albums

* '' Blue Horse'' (2001)
* ''Chinatown'' (2003)
* '' Hello Love'' (2006)
* ''A Collection (2000–2012)'' (2012)

Singles

Official music videos

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Other contributions

*'' Live at the World Café: Vol. 15 – Handcrafted'' (2002, World Café) – "The Littlest Birds"
*'' 107.1 KGSR Radio Austin – Broadcasts Vol. 10'' (2002) – "Light Enough to Travel"
*'' Northern Songs: Canada's Best and Brightest'' (2008, Hear Music) – "Ootischenia"

References

Further reading

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Interviews

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Reviews

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External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Be Good Tanyas, The
1999 establishments in British Columbia
All-female bands
Canadian indie folk groups
Musical groups established in 1999
Musical groups from Vancouver
Canadian musical trios
Nettwerk Music Group artists