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Musical Friends Along The Way (And More)

ARTISTS MARY LOU HAS WORKED WITH/MUSIC THAT INSPIRED HER...ETC.

Rusty Anderson.

Featured musician on "Got No Shadow". Also worked with a host of other acts, incl. Paul McCartney.

The Bevis Frond's own label, Woronzow Records.

  • As you all know, Mary Lou has covered serveral songs by Nick Saloman's band and Nick Saloman is also heavily featured on "Got No Shadow". Drummer Andy Ward plays on "Salem 76".

    Blake Babies.

  • Legendary Cambridge, MA, band featuring John Strohm, Freda Boner and Juliana Hatfield. After the band broke up in early 1992, the three members (Strohm, Boner and new guitarist Mike Leahy) formed a short-lived band with Mary Lou that played the Middle East in Cambridge twice and did "He'd Be A Diamond" even back then. According to Mary Lou, the band lasted "for about five seconds."

    Billy Bragg.

  • Apart from covering a couple of his songs, Mary Lou also played with Billy at SXSW some time ago.

    Jon Brion

  • Worked both as a producer and musician with The Eels, Fiona Apple, Elliott Smith and also can be found as one of the guests on "Got No Shadow.

    Buffalo Tom.

  • The Buff's singers Bill Janovitz sings the second vocal on "Aim Low".

    Eva Cassidy.

  • Mary Lou started doing Sting's "Fields Of Gold" after she heard the late Eva Cassidy's version.

    Shawn Colvin.

  • Longtime friend and inspiration. Mary Lou played tons of Shawn songs before either of them had a record deal.

    Elizabeth Cotten.

  • Worked as a maid for the famous Charles Seeger family, later became one of the most influencial folk guitarists of her era. Mary Lou performs her song "Shake Sugaree", which also has been covered in recent years by Bob Dylan.

    Sandy Denny.

  • Yet another major influence and Mary Lou lookalike (check the over of her album "Sandy"). Apparently Sandy's song "By The Time It Gets Dark" is a particular favorite of Mary Lou's daughter, Annabelle. Denny also used to be in the early incarnation of Fairport Convention.

    Nick Drake.

  • Amazing english singer songwriter, died in the mid 70s. Gets namechecked in "His Indie World".

    Donna Dresch.

  • Used to be in the amazing Team Dresch, a prototype KRS band, even though they only released one 7" on the label (and two excellent albums on Chainsaw). Appears on Mary Lou's "Some Jingle Jangle Morning (When I'm Straight)" 45 on KRS.

    Bob Dylan. [bob links.]
    Bob Dylan. [bobdylan.com.]

  • "His Bobness" is included in this list for obvious reasons. You may also notice the similar design of the "Bob links" and this site... Not purely coincidental.

    Foo Fighters.

  • Apart from the obvious Nirvana connection, which I'm not going to explain here, Foo Fighters drummer Will Goldsmith also plays on "Got No Shadow".

    Josh Freese.

  • Drums on "Martians Saints!" and the Work recording of "Some Jingle Jangle Morning" (When I'm Straight). Also played with the Vandals and Juliana Hatfield, is currently a member of Guns N' Roses!

    The Green Pajamas.
    The Green Pajamas. [too.]

  • Legendary band from Seattle, WA, recently made a comeback with their excellent "Seven Fathoms Down and Falling" album on Woronzow and Rubric Records. Mary Lou covers their amazing "She's Still Bewitching Me" from said album and also covers "She Turns Me On".

    Guided By Voices.

  • Mary Lou played one of her first major tours supporting GBV in 1995 and much to Robert Pollard's surprise, she's covering his song "Blimps Go 90" as well.

    Harvard Square.

  • Popular busking spot for Mary Lou in Cambridge, MA.

    Juliana Hatfield. [julianasite.com]

  • Longtime Mary Lou friend, contributed backing vocals to the first "Lights Are Changing".

    Kill Rock Stars.

  • Mary Lou's sometime record label.

    Kevn Kinney.

  • This singer/songwriter, formerly in the band Drivin' N Cryin' gets namechecked in "His N.D. World" and he often sounds like a male version of Mary Lou on his records (or vice versa).

    Little Feat.

  • Maybe not a major influence musically, but Mary Lou's album title "Got No Shadow" was partly inspired by the Little Feat song of the same name (off the "Sailer's Shoes" LP).

    Mary Lorson & Saint Low.

  • Another old friend, Mary Lorson. Used to be in the excellent madder Rose, is now leader of the equally great Saint Low.

    The Magnetic Fields.

  • Mary Lou does not only cover several songs from the amazing "69 Love Songs" Box Set, she also sang a song at The 6ths only ever live show, The 6ths being another of Stephin Merritt's projects.

    Martin Guitars.

  • To say it with Mary Lou's own words: "God Bless Maxi Mouse amps and Martin guitars."

    Roger McGuinn.

  • Founder of The Byrds, plays on "Got No Shadow".

    Don McLean's "American Pie" - the whole truth.

  • Very interesting/funny/exhausting piece on one of Mary Lou's alltime favorite tunes.

    Joni Mitchell.

  • Major influence, gets namchecked in "His Indie World".

    Morphine.

  • Drummer Jerome Dupree plays on the Sean Na Na Split-EP.

    The Raging Teens.

  • The band led by Mary Lou's boyfriend Kevin Patey. They supported Mary Lou on her 1998 tour, and The Raging Teens' keyboard-player Amy Griffin also played in Mary Lou's band. In addition to that Mary Lou has contributed a couple of tracks to the band's debut album on Annabelle Records and in turn the RTs back up Mary Lou on the track "Bang Bang" from the Sean Na Na-Split.

    The Rolling Stones.

  • Mary Lou has covered at least two Stones songs [interestingly enough your webmaster's two alltime favorite Jagger/Richards-songs], "Wild Horses" and "Dead Flowers" and also has been known to do "Don't Tear Me Up" by Mick Jagger live.

    Tom Rothrock & Rob Schnapf.

  • Produced "Got No Shadow". Also worked with Elliott Smith, Richard Thompson and Beck and run the fine record label, Bongload in California.

    Rubric Records.

  • Label led by long-time Mary Lou friend Dave Gwiazdowski, current US home of The Bevis Frond and The Raging Teens (and now Mary Lou, too).

    Elliott Smith. [sweetadeline.net]

  • No comment necessary, I believe.

    Kevin So.

  • If you're at a Mary Lou show these days, fellow Boston singer-songwriter might as well be the surprise guest. Excellent guitarist and writer of very interesting and often very funny songs.

    Richard Thompson.
    Richard Thompson on BeeKnees.com.

  • This North London folkie and erstwhile Fairport Convention member was a major influence on Mary Lou, who covers tons of his songs, most recently "Beeswing".

    Villa Villakula.

  • Tinuviel's record label, Tiniviel being the woman who was responsible for Mary Lou's Kill Rock Stars debut with "Camden Town Rain".

    Lucinda Williams' official website. A Lucinda Williams Fanpage.

  • Yet another big Mary Lou favorite, who covered Lucinda's busker anthem "Hard Road" (funnily enough called "Hard Rock" on her official website) on her most recent EP.

    Neil Young.
  • Gets namechecked in "His Indie World", Mary Lou also covers his classic "Barstool Blues".