Details of
Ida2
by Ida Clare
Liner Notes:
Producer: Ida Clare
Engineer: Nick Stevens
Recorder At: Downtown Recording
Mastered By: Downtown Recording
About the Album
In 2018 Ida Clare released their first recording, a self titled collection of original songs. It’s been a long wait, but now they are back with a brand new album of original material - Ida2.
The band has retained their Americana sound, although one can hear the influences of Tex/Mex and Reggae as well. However, lest one think they have abandoned their roots, the unique driving banjo style of Robin Thixton never lets you forget that Ida Clare is a band firmly rooted in Bluegrass music, but that’s just the roots. The branches are continually dancing in the musical breeze.
The songs on this album are about life - songs of love and death, friendship and betrayal, despair and hope, along with songs of perseverance and renewal. The lyrics are thoughtful but not maudlin. You might cry in your beer, but it’s more likely you will want to get up and shake a leg. Lea Cockrell’s vocals are powerful as she effortlessly delivers the nuanced emotion the songs require.
Ida Clare likes to create new music. The enthusiasm and energy are obvious. Wheatley’s mandolin and Stevens’ bass playing provide a strong tight rhythm on which the songs are built. Here’s the thing though, it’s not about the individual musical artistry or Wheatley’s impressive lyrics. As you listen, you can tell it's all about the songs - the feel, the groove, the emotion. You will want to listen to Ida2 over and over again. This recording was created with the audience in mind.
Here is what people are saying about Ida2:
“In a world full of tired arguments between purists and progressives, this record breaks a few rules, while checking off plenty of bluegrass boxes. Ida Clare doesn’t need street cred to call themselves a bluegrass band, but the freshness of these songs, with their underlying bluegrass sensibilities, places them ahead of the pack.” says Aaron Bibelhauser, fellow Louisvillian and singer-songwriter/band member of Wolfpen Branch.
“Ida Clare! I’m so excited for this band and release. It comes out swinging with I Still Cry and takes us on a helluva ride. The way they weave roots music from several genres into their Americana sound is very organic and does not seem over-produced or contrived. This is a band that can convey this material and same feelings live. Great songs, great energy and performance. A dose of real music. Check it!” from Darren Nicholson, IBMA award winning singer, songwriter, musician.
Walter Volz from Bluegrass Breakdown on 88.1 FM in St. Louis shared that “Ida Two, is not your Grandpa’s grass! The great original songwriting, the powerful vocals by Lea, the masterful picking of Robin, Jim & Nick, all blend perfectly together. Just as some of the bluegrass bands of the 70’s & 80’s pushed the boundaries of their music; Ida Clare is expanding the boundaries to include not just bluegrassers’ but lovers of all music.”
“I’ve listened to this new project from Ida Clare several times now and I still can’t get enough of it. It’s got everything I like in bluegrass, though this is much more than a bluegrass band, they are an “everything” band. The songwriting stands out the most. These are not bluegrass songs, sometimes I feel like I’m listening to something the Eagles or Jackson Brown or Bonnie Rait would be doing. Is it Americana? Bluegrass? Who cares, its music performed by seasoned professionals who know what they’re doing.” ~ Tim Carter ~ banjo player, Hayseed Dixie and Damn The Banjos.
Ida2 will be available for sale or download on all major streaming networks on March 1, 2023 https://songwhip.com/idaclare/ida2
If you would like a hard copy CD, please email us at idaclareband@gmail.com.