May 2008:  T...the short story...I've been working on a new album which is scheduled for release this year (for a preview, visit myspace/annycelsi).  It will feature new songs and new stories as well as a very freaky cover song I know you will dig.

Nelson Bragg  (Brian Wilson Band, The Now People) is producing with Steve Refling engineering.   Along with my band of Nelson on drums, Shawn Bryant on bass and Jonny DuFresne on guitar, we've had musical participation from Phil Parlapiano (John Prine, Rod Stewart, Lowen & Navarro), Adam Marsland (of his Chaos Band), Kevin Jarvis (Ben Vaughn, Steve Wynn, Lucinda Williams) and Carl Byron.  Once that's done, there will be touring! 

In the meantime, I recorded a track for an upcoming tribute to Ricky Nelson being produced by Adam Waltemire of Pop Garden Radio.   It's a cover of Rick's cover of Bob Dylan's song "She Belongs to Me" and features Nelson and I duett-ting a'la Kris & Rita, George & Tammy or Johnny & June.  Other artists on the tribute will include Adam Marsland, Walter Klevinger, Brian Ray, The Barry Holdship Four and more.  Check out a sample at myspace.com/foolrushintribute.

One of my resolutions this year is to update the website.  Wish me luck with that.

Anny

Following Annyland, Anny continued to write, record and perform, drawing bandmates from the vibrant pool of musicians and songwriters lining the star-paved streets of Los Angeles.  Her unique twist of phrase and undeniable melodic hooks attracted the attention of other artists to her songs as well.  Curb Records artist Jana made “Shovelful of Dirt” a highlight of her nationwide concert tour.  Folk festival favorite Claudia Russell picked up “Whiskey Walk” for her debut release “Song Food,” a move which resulted in Anny’s first BMI check (for $11.70).  And at a listening party hosted by producer Marvin Etzioni, alt-country diva Grey Delisle heard Anny sing “’Twas Her Hunger Brought Me Down,” a song inspired by a Theodore Dreiser novel. That song ended up on Grey’s self-released “Homewrecker."  Anny’s own recording of the song is also featured on “Chapter One: Songs Inspired By Literature,” a compilation CD to benefit adult literacy, along with such artists as Aimee Mann, Suzanne Vega, Grace Slick and Bruce Springsteen.

 “Little Black Dress & Other Stories” started out as a two-song project to help home-town friend Kevin Jarvis try out his new recording studio.  As the months went on and the song list continued to grow, Jarvis, a sought-after drummer who has toured and recorded with Steve Wynn, John Wesley Harding, Grant Lee Phillips, Lucinda Williams, Shawn Mullins and Ben Vaughn, turned out to be a tasteful and inspired producer/engineer as well.  He was also instrumental in bringing some premier musical talent to the table, including Randy Weeks (Lonesome Strangers), Phil Parlapiano (John Prine, Rod Stewart, Tracy Chapman), Robert Lloyd (Steve Wynn, Victoria Williams, John Wesley Harding), Bill Bonk (Aimee Mann, Grant Lee Buffalo) and Hank Van Sickle (John Mayall).  Along with contributions from Steve Barton (Translator) and Adam Pike (The Syrups), who regularly play in Anny’s Black Dress Band, the CD was nearly complete.  Two songs previously recorded with Etzioni were included, one of which, “Little Black Dress,” expresses the spirit of the entire album:  “No matter what life throws at you, you’ve got to put on your little black dress and keep going.  The woman in these songs can change a tire in that dress if she has to.  And she’ll still look good, and she won’t spill her martini, either.”

That philosophy was soon to be tested in an unexpected way.  As the final touches were being made to the recording, Anny was sidelined by a work injury (thanks, day job!) and found herself more or less flat on her back for several months, “drinking wine, watching bad movies and counting the dust balls under the couch.”  Severely depleted both in energy level and finances, unable to sing or even hold a guitar for long periods, and waiting on a mixing/mastering/artwork process that, as in every case, seems to take forever, it felt to Anny like the CD was never going to be released.  Instead, it took on a whole new creative dimension.  As an exercise in expanding the scope of the album, Anny spun a series of short story fragments that loosely described the universe of each song, breaking down the walls confining the characters to their verse/chorus world.  Once the concept took shape, it brought the entire collection into focus, complimented by the “pulp fiction” cover art provided by Anny’s brother, illustrator David Chelsea.  The stories, which are included in the CD’s packaging, can be read as an entrée into the music, or vice versa.  “I grew up listening to albums, which had great big covers and usually something interesting to read or look at while the record was playing,” says Anny.  “It seems to make the whole listening experience more meaningful, and I wanted to add something that would do the same for this CD.” At a recent performance, the stories were read aloud by actor Arye Gross (Minority Report, Big Eden, Six Feet Under) as a prelude to the band’s performance of each song.  This cabaret-style integration of theatre and music was a rousing success, and a taste of something different from the usual Hollywood rock band presentation.

Finally, here's a lovely painting of my house by the artist Roderick Smith: