JOSH HARTY: He Makes It Personal

By Jeannette Madden
Music Editor

Native North Dakotan Josh Harty will appear at The Listening Room on June 3, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. Harty, a third generation musician, started playing music in nursing homes and churches with his dad when he was five years old. Now in his early thirties, Harty
plays what he likes to call “blueish alt country” music and is set to release his third album “Nowhere” in Europe on June 15 and in the U.S. on July 30.

Harty’s music runs from straight up country (You & I, Long Time Coming Down) to songs that bring to mind Minneapolis musicians’ Erik Koskinen and Molly Mahrer and her Disbelievers (Empire Bar, Minna Miller). One can’t help but wonder if Empire Bar is
an ode to Fargo’s Empire Tavern as Harty was raised in Fargo.

Most musicians have a set song writing process but not Harty. When asked how he writes his music, he responds “I have no idea. It varies from time to time. There’s no real failsafe.” But when asked about inspirations or musical influences he says “I don’t
know; the newspaper I guess. As far as influences I tend to like a lot of older music, things like Crosby Stills and Nash, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard. Folks of that ilk; a lot of old blues characters all the way up to newer folks like R. L. Burnside, the Black Keys
even. It somehow tends to come out in a sort of bluesish alt country fashion. I’m not sure how that transformation takes place but I think it does.”

Harty added that that he considers himself more of a musician than a songwriter, but again, he’s not sure. “I would like to think it would be equal parts both because I think it takes both things to make a cohesive song or an album, for that matter. You have to have
a little bit of both but I suppose being a musician kind of covers all the bases.”

Harty mostly tours alone. “Sometimes as a duo and sometimes even as a trio,” he said, “but for the most part, it’s just myself. I have a five piece band that I play with between where I live in Madison, Wisconsin and Milwaukee and Chicago.” Playing
listening spaces over night clubs is a preference for Harty. As he says, “As I’m getting older I don’t enjoy starting at midnight as much as I used to so it’s nice to play at places that go on earlier.” And he says that when he’s when he’s performing solo he tries to
make his shows as personal as possible. “I let the people there try and connect rather than just giving a performance where you feel like a monkey standing up to dance. It’s a lot cooler for everybody involved to make it personal. That’s what I try to do. I don’t know
if it comes across; I don’t often get to watch myself. But, that’s what I hope for.”

Harty says his future is unknown. “I don’t see myself winning a Grammy anytime soon but I’m sure there are going to be a couple of records out there yet and a few more trips across the world, hopefully.” He’ll be starting that next trip when he hits the road again
in July after the U.S. release of “Nowhere” going to the Northwest and Northeast before heading to Europe.

Opening for Josh Harty is Brooks West. The first guitar West picked up belonged to his uncle, a wheat farmer in North Dakota (and not a guitar player himself). Since then, this Fargo, North Dakota native has gone on to write over one hundred songs, blending
elements of contemporary folk, country, and pop. The son of a mortician and a school teacher, Brooks has a unique outlook on life that shapes his repertoire. His songs cover subjects ranging from death and destruction to love and hope and even the occasional
ballad to office supplies.

Listen to Josh Harty here: http://tiny.cc/JoshHarty
Josh Harty’s website: http://www.joshharty.com/

Watch Brooks West here: http://brookswestmusic.com/videos/
Brook West’s website: http://brookswestmusic.com/

Questions and comments: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Where: The Listening Room is part of The Spirit Room located at 111 Broadway in downtown Fargo
When: June 3, 2011 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Donation $10, 100% of donations go to the artists.