Wailin' Jennys overcome name confusion

It was an unwanted lesson in bad timing that hit Winnipeg three-piece folk act the Wailin' Jennys after its members settled on its cutesy and seemingly inoffensive name in February It was an unwanted lesson in bad timing that hit Winnipeg three-piece folk act the Wailin' Jennys after its members settled on its cutesy and seemingly inoffensive name in February.

Hastily named by a Winnipeg promoter after country superstar Waylon Jennings, the group wasn't exactly looking to pay tribute to the aging country star. But they didn't mean to offend either. Yet shortly afterwards, Jennings expired at the age of 64 just as the "Jennys" were schmoozing at a music conference in Florida.

"It was bad timing," said Cara Luft, one of the vocalists of the all-female folk act. "We were at this huge conference and people were actually angry at us. They thought we were making fun of him or something."

Of course, part of the confusion may have been that the Wailin' Jennys, while including the odd Emmylou Harris cover in their repertoire, are a far cry from the road-weary outlaw music of Jennings.

Boasting three-part harmonies, a love of Celtic music and an acoustic-based sound, the Wailin' Jennys has gone beyond a part-time pursuit for Luft, Nicky Mehta and Ruth Moody and eclipsed their individual solo careers.

Launched six months ago, the act was put together for a few odd shows in Winnipeg when the band's infectious sound caught on in that city's healthy folk circles.

"The word just kind of spread and it exploded a little bit," said Luft. "Three of us had our little followings and people thought the idea of three of us together would work really well."

So, after quickly recording a demo tape of six songs, the trio put together a repertoire and embarked on a tour of southern Ontario. This summer they have become a popular attraction at various folk festivals, including the Ottawa Folk Festival and Blue Skies near Kingston.

"At first we brought in songs that were fun to sing, that was the whole purpose," Luft said. "For those first two shows in Winnipeg we brought Emmylou Harris, Julie Miller -- I brought a Kim Mitchell song to the group as a joke. Now that we are playing more and more we've cut back on the covers and brought in more originals."

Writing individually, Luft, Moody and Mehta cover a lot of bases as songwriters. Luft brings more upbeat rock songs to the fold. Moody, who once played with Juno-nominated Celtic act Scruj MacDuhk, brings a love of Celtic while Mehta covers traditional ballads with her writing.

But Luft suggests it's the band's sound, and its reliance on harmony vocals, that sets them apart.

"There is a resurgence in harmony singing and everything that sounds somewhat traditional," she said. "I don't know how else to explain the sudden interest in our stuff."

But the trio tend to take advantage of it. They will be recording a debut album in the fall and Luft said she hopes to be able to co-write with her co-Jennys for the release.

In its six months of existence, the band has really only played together three months because of other responsibilities as solo performers.

"The dilemma is that we need to get all this new material and we haven't had time to write it," she said. "People keep asking us and we tell them we've only been together for three months. We haven't had time."

Wailin' in Winnipeg

Three of Winnipeg’s finest folk performers, Cara Luft, Nicky Mehta and Ruth Moody, have banded together in a folksinging trio called The Wailin’ Jennys Three of Winnipeg’s finest folk performers, Cara Luft, Nicky Mehta and Ruth Moody, have banded together in a folksinging trio called The Wailin’ Jennys. Singing original compositions and rootsy covers, The Wailin’ Jennys got together for what was supposed to be a one off gig at Winnipeg’s Sled Dog Music and caf_

The Next Big Thing: Bound For Glory

All aspiring musicians like attention. But hype is a double-edged sword. Getting called The Next Big Thing can turn an obscure artist into a household name-or it can crush young bands under the weight of unreasonable expectations All aspiring musicians like attention. But hype is a double-edged sword. Getting called The Next Big Thing can turn an obscure artist into a household name-or it can crush young bands under the weight of unreasonable expectations.

With this caveat in mind, I've selected four aspiring acts from the hundreds that make music in Winnipeg for the Free Press' second semi-annual shortlist of artists on the brink. The criteria for selection were simple: They needed to be relatively new, they had to be doing something innovative, unusual or popular and make some kind of impact in their respective genres.

What didn't matter was whether they're going to be the Next BigThing.

The Wailin' Jennys

Formation: January 2002

The Sound: Three female singer/songwriters merged into a single voice.

The Goods: Sometimes, new musical projects take on a life of their own. That's what happened to former singer/songwriters Ruth Moody, Cara Luft, and Nicky Mehta after they collaborated for what was supposed to be a one-off gig at tiny Sled Dog Music in January.

Within days, the roots trio was besieged with gig offers that dwarfed the work being offered each individual solo artist. They now have summer gigs lined up at folk festivals in Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto, Brandon, and Vancouver Island, without even so much as a recording to their name.

"We were just amazed by the response," says Mehta, who put out a contemporary folk solo album last year.

"This thing has an energy of its own and we decided to just go with it," adds Moody, who left Scruj MacDuhk in October after five years with the folk troupe. "It's an example of hard work in each of our own (careers) paying off."

The Wailin' Jennys, which takes its name from deceased country artist Waylon Jennings ("We chose it before he died," says Mehta.) has two big things going for it. First, there's the way the component voices interact-Moody is a natural soprano, Mehta sings mezzo, and Luft is an alto. Secondly, they package themselves as four acts in one to folk festivals, who are able to program three separate singer/songwriters on to workshop stages as well as the trio.

"This allows us to all have fun again," Mehta says. "I'm excited to go on tour."

Every Little Once in a While

Every little once in a while I hear something that changes everything, when all the right forces and elements combine into a truly beautiful, clear and true musical experience The Wailin' Jennys Sled Dog Music Jan. 18 & 19, 2002

Every little once in a while I hear something that changes everything, when all the right forces and elements combine into a truly beautiful, clear and true musical experience.

The first performance of The Wailin' Jennys, the newly unveiled trio project of Nicky Mehta, Cara Luft and Ruth Moody (formerly of Scruj MacDuhk), was certainly an event of this kind. Anyone familiar with the folk music scene in Manitoba and Canada generally certainly knows that each of these women is a successful, talented and progressive artist in their own right, but the confluence of these three is a phenomenon in the making. I don't tell people to mark my words often, but this time it would be well advised. The Jenny's played to a crowded room in the tiny Sled Dog Music Store and Cafe, displaying amazing acapella harmonies, remarkable instrumental skills on guitar, mandolin, keyboard, flute, and drums, a respectful well-honed knowledge of! traditional music, terrific original songs and a few playful covers including Kim Mitchell, Scott Dibble, Led Zepplin, The Waterboys and more.

Currently working hard on their individual music careers, the Wailing Jennys are a busy group of touring pros who I'm sure will come together every little once in a while, and the simplest and most telling thing to say about their new project together is that I'll be there next time they play and you shouldn't miss it.