After years of training, touring and exploring the musical world, the brothers Alexy have settled down on the back porch of Teague's Holyoke home to make some Minnesota music.
"The Hobo Brothers of Uncle Frank" is the first joint project between Ian and Teague Alexy. The self-titled album will be released at the Norshor Theater on Friday, under Teague's independent music label. Consider It "correspondence music."
"Hobo Nephews" is described by the brothers as rootsy rural music. "Ian and I pulled out songs we felt most suited sitting on the back porch with a harmonica and banjo," Teague said.
And that's exactly how they did it. Work on "Hobo Nephews" began last fall, in Holyoke, where Teague lives. The home is set in the country, about 35 miles south of Duluth, complete with a river and railroad. The brothers worked through the winter and when spring arrived, they were ready to record.
Teague and Ian are primarily guitarists, although Ian said his brother plays a mean mouth harp. But they needed more instruments than guitars and harmonicas. So the brothers drew up a wish list of Minnesota musicians and friends they wanted to participate.
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Surprisingly, everyone agreed. Members of Teague's band Medication, Erik Berry from Trampled by Turtles, Lance Rhicard of the Sara Softich Band and Nicholas "the Feeling" Mrozinski of the White Iron Band all contributed instrumental stylings. Sara Thomsen and Bonnie Barker, local folk singers, crooned on a couple of tunes and Diamond Dave Whitaker and Jim and Allen Richardson, of Gonzo Science, contributed beat poetry and dialogue for the album. "Everyone came out to Holyoke to record," said Teague. "It was really all just a good excuse to come out, eat good food and play music."
"Hobo Nephews" was mixed at Dirty Ol' Town in Duluth by Kevin Grapski, who also played bass on a couple tracks.
Even though the Alexy's are Minnesota transplants, "Hobo Nephews" captures the vibe of northeastern Minnesota and the angst of the Iron Range in the coal miner's ballad, "Relic of the Past." "We wanted to write songs about simple things, not world problems," Teague said.
Other songs on the album follow the brother's through the seasons with simple songs like "Old Coal Train," "Frozen Car" and "Holyoke."
But actually writing the songs was not as simple. Ian said there is a misconception of the brothers playing together since they could hold guitars. "We are different in terms of the way we approach song writing," Ian said. "Teague is influenced by Bob Marley, kind of directly spiritual, while I like to write more lyrically abstract, like Neil Young."
The brothers' musical relationship began about two years ago, Ian said, though the two would collaborate when they could. Before moving to Minnesota the brothers lived on opposite coasts, Ian out East and Teague out West, making joint projects difficult.
"This is the first time we have sat down and focused on something together," Ian said.
They are going to be focusing on it through the summer. "The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank" will be playing tunes from their self-titled album at their CD release party Friday at the Norshor, the Greenman Festival July 15-17 and the Feel God Festival in Stevens Point, Wis, Aug. 12-14.
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The album is available at the Electric Fetus, as well as music from their other bands, Teague Alexy and Medication, Spilled Milk and Ian's album "Rootedness."
