page 9 MARCH 17, 2005 Music O'Connor steps out on her own From Festival, 5 underground right now, he says that this is a good By Joey Hood work, Til the Dawn. It's a documented stand-out track on 7/7 the Dawn, a record of scrappy tooth-and-nail life proud declaration of O'Connor's musi- thing because it provides loyal fan bases at shows, With her austere, simply stated tim- lessons, evocative of the campfire cal strengths. and there's a lot of vari- bre and wistfully nuanced ruminations story songs from O'Connor's cult-coun- "I feel like this album represents ety in what a ska band on the painful ebbs of Midwestern life, try heroes. who I am and where I come from," can do. Bloodshot Records' Nora O'Connor is Since the summer 2004 release of O'Connor said. "I would like to see finally gaining attention on her own Til the Dawn, O'Connor's star has con- Truthfully speaking, 7/7 the Dawn is ska exposed to wider terms. tinued to rise from in-demand session O'Connor's second album. In 1996, audiences through the O'Connor spent the past decade player to legitimate artist. Her hardy O'Connor debuted in the underground mainstream media, but languishing in indie-rock side projects alto and nasally growl has music crit- Chicago scene with Cerulean Blue, an only if the right people by providing crestfallen harmonies for ics falling over themselves, circling admittedly shaky album that under- get their hands on it," the glam-country outfit, The Blacks, O'Connor's name next to prolific label- scored O'Connor's naivete. and adding her woebegone wail to mates and . "With (7/7 the Dawn) came knowl- Hardy said. Because of his hard tracks from The New Pornographers, "Making (7/7 the Dawn) was a great edge and a sense of confidence. I work promoting the show, , Jeff Tweedy and Mavis way to work with all my musician don't think with Cerulean Blue, I really Hardy believes that it will Staples. friends," O'Connor said in a recent had a clue (about the record-making In fact, O'Connor's favorite musical phone interview with .:flash. "When I process.) I didn't know how to manage have a great turnout. Maybe there will even be moment came in 2003, when the clos- told my friends, they were willing to economically," O'Connor said. some "skanking," a eted singer-songwriter accompanied come in and record." "Now, I feel like I'm more in my ele- the frizzy-haired Staples onstage at O'Connor, 37, is calling from her ment. It's a change that I'm in charge unique ska dance. "It was cool when I was The Metro in Chicago. Chicago home, the place she vividly and have to make decisions; but it a kid," Hardy said. "I Two years later, this first generation describes in "My Backyard" as light- feels good to be out there represent- always find it humorous. I Irish-American is taking center stage hearted yet ridden with occasional ing myself. It's more me." # with her critically acclaimed master- melancholy. "My Backyard" is the say do it if you want to." *

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