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Martin Devaney

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Shows

Date Event Location
Friday, October 6 @ 9:00PM Fri, Oct 6 @ 9:00PM Martin Devaney and Faith Boblett at the Aster Aster Cafe, Minneapolis, MN Aster Cafe, Minneapolis, MN
Thursday, October 19 @ 7:00PM Thu, Oct 19 @ 7:00PM Devaney and Friends with Rich Mattson and the Northstars White Squirrel Bar, St. Paul, MN White Squirrel Bar, St. Paul, MN
Wednesday, October 25 @ 7:00PM Wed, Oct 25 @ 7:00PM Martin Devaney Carbone's Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN Carbone's Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN
Thursday, November 2 @ 7:00PM Thu, Nov 2 @ 7:00PM Martin Devaney Rok Music Lounge, St. Paul, MN Rok Music Lounge, St. Paul, MN
Thursday, November 16 @ 7:00PM Thu, Nov 16 @ 7:00PM Devaney and Friends with Sarah Morris and Eli Gardiner White Squirrel Bar, St. Paul, MN White Squirrel Bar, St. Paul, MN
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Music

Plaid on Plaid by Martin Devaney

Plaid on Plaid

Martin Devaney

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  1. When You Were Young 04:31
  2. Mistakes Were Made 03:42
  3. Getting Cold 03:17
  4. One Condition 03:44
  5. Let Your Hair Down 03:33
  6. Holding Patterns 03:07
  7. About My Girl 02:55
  8. Decade Down 03:24
  9. Drone 03:01
  10. Give Me Hope 04:28
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Good For Now by Martin Devaney

Good For Now

Martin Devaney

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  1. Secret Civil War 01:51
  2. Cosmo's Cave 02:17
  3. Collarbone '94 01:41
  4. Jimmy Preschool 02:48
  5. Cautionary Tale 02:36
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House of Rust by Martin Devaney

House of Rust

Martin Devaney

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  1. Magnolia Diner 04:59
  2. You Can't WIn 03:57
  3. Whiskey Kisses 03:10
  4. Lowertown 03:07
  5. Crosby Block 03:20
  6. Weddings and Funerals 05:02
  7. Blue Highways 04:51
  8. Last Call 02:29
  9. House of Rust 02:37
  10. In A Solemn Town 03:18
  11. Keep It Dark 03:13
  12. Prairie Girl 03:07
  13. Fountain Cave 01:21
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The West End by Martin Devaney

The West End

Martin Devaney

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  1. Hold On To Your Money 04:34
  2. House Off the Beaten Path 03:44
  3. Don't Wait 04:05
  4. A Friend Is A Rose 03:57
  5. Wise Blood 05:10
  6. All About the 9th 02:17
  7. Underwood 04:19
  8. Vow of Silence 04:25
  9. The Man Who Got Away 04:34
  10. Nashville By Nightfall 04:24
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Letters Never Sent by Martin Devaney

Letters Never Sent

Martin Devaney

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  1. Flowers On the Doorstep 04:46
  2. An Open Letter 04:13
  3. Drought 04:01
  4. Almost Alone 04:25
  5. Five Day Affair 03:29
  6. On Learning To Love 04:23
  7. One For the Road 03:23
  8. Blessing and the Blame 03:31
  9. Soundtrack to Our Success 02:20
  10. Aftermath 02:56
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La Mancha by Martin Devaney

La Mancha

Martin Devaney

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  1. Is That You? 04:09
  2. Theme For An Anonymous Waitress 04:00
  3. Meeting Like This 03:19
  4. Say Anything 03:16
  5. Falling Away 03:26
  6. (Friends Don't Let Friends) Drink and Dial 04:05
  7. Empty Moon 04:00
  8. Nobody Writes Letters Anymore 03:29
  9. How To Be Alone 03:52
  10. Magazine 03:43
  11. Outside Looking In 01:22
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September by Martin Devaney

September

Martin Devaney

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  1. Impressions 04:19
  2. Nobody's Saint 04:33
  3. September 02:34
  4. Spotlight On You 05:11
  5. Dear Elizabeth 04:42
  6. Paint the Town Blue 05:02
  7. 1953 02:14
  8. Don't Give Your Soul Away 03:15
  9. The Secret 04:36
  10. Wish Me Luck (Mockingbird) 04:41
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Somebody Somewhere by Martin Devaney

Somebody Somewhere

Martin Devaney

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  1. Carry On 04:30
  2. Cardboard Ballerina 05:41
  3. To Rebecca 04:29
  4. Landlord's Daughter 02:56
  5. Losin' End 04:34
  6. Skyline 04:06
  7. Ballad of a Windy City Queen 07:29
  8. Down In Middletown 04:26
  9. River Road 04:35
  10. 14th Ave. Lullaby 06:00
  11. Bowling (On Valentine's Day) 05:44
  12. Things To Come 02:39
  13. Somebody Somewhere 05:43
  1. Carry On 04:30
  2. Cardboard Ballerina 05:41
  3. To Rebecca 04:29
  4. Landlord's Daughter 02:56
  5. Losin' End 04:34
  6. Skyline 04:06
  7. Ballad of a Windy City Queen 07:29
  8. Down In Middletown 04:26
  9. River Road 04:35
  10. 14th Ave. Lullaby 06:00
  11. Bowling (On Valentine's Day) 05:44
  12. Things To Come 02:39
  13. Somebody Somewhere 05:43
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Bio

Songwriter Martin  Devaney is known as the unofficial mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota. Since the release of his first record in 2002, he has released seven full-length albums and a 7-inch EP, along with records from side projects Crossing Guards and Folios. He also has spent time playing saxophone in the bands Roma Di Luna, Mike Gunther and His Restless Souls, and Heiruspecs, with whom he was a founding member. Over the last twenty-plus years he's crossed the country playing both solo and with various cohorts and collaborators along the way, building a fan base the old fashioned route, show by show, song by song. Devaney "has a made a career out of championing the underdogs of the world" (89.3 The Current) and always fostered community in the MN scene through his record labels Eclectone Records (2002-10) and Pig's Eye Records (2013-present).   Dubbed "the ubiquitous barroom bard" by the Minneapolis Star Tribune and a "charming, bushy-haired songsmith" by No Depression, Devaney writes from the heart of a working class troubadour. 

News

Devaney and Friends Residency  

A month from tonight we're kicking off a new series at the White Squirrel Bar on Third Thursdays. Devaney and Friends* will bring together just that to open each show, followed by a special guest act or two. I've never done a regular residency show before and I'm grateful for the chance to kick off something like this in my neck of the woods. Been inspired by a few things this past year that really brought out the best in what a music community looks like and reminded me of some favorite such events in the past. 

I usually don't write a ton during the summer and this year has really been different somehow. We'll be debuting some of the new tunes on 9/21 along with Rank Strangers and Bootcut, the countrified offshoot of Eleganza! 
8pm

More on all that and some other stuff soon,
md 
*For this inaugural edition:
Ryan Lovan, drums,
Matt Palin, bass
Josh Peterson, guitar 

poster by Fort Ryno

08/21/2023

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Setting the Record Straight Vol. 1 

Over the years, when you get a new tune going, you've got the chance to fine tune it over several live outings, or get it down in the studio as blueprint and go from there. A lot of times after playing something live (especially in a band setting), the song will start to reveal itself and maybe a new guitar part occurs to you, or a “concert ending” replaces a fadeout, etc. Other times, a song can get too overcooked and this usually happens in the studio at the mixing phase and you miss something. 

“You Can't Win” off of the House of Rust is one of those times I should have been listening a little closer. The title came from a long lost book by a fella named Jack Black (not that one) that I highly recommend, if you can track it down, and the verses came together over a couple years, live versions, and band members. We cut the tune completely live in the studio at Sparta Sound with Rich Mattson in the fall of 2011 and it came out about two years later on a record I rather neglected at the time, but have come to love and will be revisiting a bit this fall for its 10th anniversary. 

Long story longer, among many lines in the song that I dig, is one in the first verse turnaround that goes “head is starting to spin, got a belly full of gin…” except that on the recording, I sing "head is starting to swirl"." With the ravages of time, I can't recall if we missed that, or just decided to keep it because the performance was good and since it was live, I couldn't punch a new vocal in. In any case, in recent years, when the tune gets played, it always stings a bit that I didn't fix it. But hey, songs are living things, and the record is just…there forever. Oh well. 

In the spring and summer of 2020 (remember that one?), I set out to post a tune a week from the Shed Bar in the backyard of our house in St. Paul on YouTube. The Shed Bar sessions were my contribution to that weird climate, as I kinda kept the livestream thing to a minimum. That time wasn't great for just about everyone and I was nearing the end of a very prolonged battle with the bottle, so these videos aren't always my finest moments, but they are honest and the tunes therein stand up for themselves. Here's the performance of the song from 5/4/20. Please hit the ol' subscribe button on the channel if you like the tune, and I'll be looking to add more stuff there, including some Shed Bar Sessions once again. Stay tuned for some news on shows, where we will certainly trot this one out. 

There will be a “Setting the Record Straight” Vol. 2 post at some point soon…hopefully not many more than that. 

take care,

md

07/21/2023

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in shed bar sessions

July 8 with Rockford Mules at Mortimer's 

It's been a long time since I've played on a bill with these guys, but they're back with a new record coming this fall and were kind enough to invite us on for one of their “Sinner's Brunch” shows. Doors at 4:30, we hit at 5:30. All ages show at Mort's! 

06/26/2023

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Photos

Tony Nelson 2018

Tony Nelson 2018

Tony Nelson, 2018

Tony Nelson, 2018

Tony Nelson, 2018

Tony Nelson, 2018

Tony Nelson, 2018

Tony Nelson, 2018

Tony Nelson, 2021

Tony Nelson, 2021

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