NICK JAINA is an alt-folk bandleader
from Portland, and his is the story of one man’s
willingness to be obsessed at his own risk. He is a
fine writer of prose and if it weren't for his infatuation
with music and performing he’d probably be sitting
up in his room churning out novels instead of songs.
His band, featuring members of Jolie Holland, Loch Lomond,
and Laura Gibson, is the result of playing in the streets,
touring, sometimes living hungry, and sometimes selling
out shows to his ravenous fans.
From his high concept records, to his busking in front
of national monuments, and his tours through out the
US (even Alaska), NICK has suffered for his sonic experiments.
He has run out of money, slept in his car, booked tours
from the road, and sacrificed relationships at home
for the good of his art. The result is an incredible
musical talent, live show, and backing band unparalleled
in Portland. On tour they often play two shows; one
in the club they were booked, and one prior in the street
to bring new fans into the club. At the end of the day
though all of this patience and dedication has made
JAINA sort of a loner. Conflicted and uneasy - like
captain Ahab at the end of the bar, the white whale
tugging at the back of his mind. But like Hank Chinaski
said in barfly: “No writer who wrote worth a damn
wrote in peace."
His experiments in form began with Wool (nicknamed “The
Piano Record.”), which he wrote entirely without
his trademark guitar. Then came A Narrow Way. After
he'd formed his current band and toured it ragged they
tracked the album as a 10 piece live without the benefit
of overdubs.
His new record, A Bird In The Opera House, in a way
is a venture in the opposite direction from A Narrow
Way: a carefully crafted studio album. When the band
got off the road last year, NICK moved into his friend
Lee Howard’s house, having been offered the opportunity
to record in his new basement studio. JAINA moved into
the little upstairs bedroom and started playing some
of the electric guitars lying around the house, which
ended up informing the pop-ier electric feel of the
album. Later, Lee gave NICK an old Kay guitar (the kind
that Sears used to sell for fifty bucks) and told him
to keep it in his room for a week and write five new
songs on it - hence the title, "Another Kay Song."
NICK JAINA made A Bird In The Opera House in the in-between
moments - at the times that the studio was otherwise
empty, or late at night when Lee wanted to try out a
new amp or microphone. It was a gradual process, allowing
JAINA time to sit up in his room and think about the
direction of the songs. To deconstruct them, and put
them back together. To live in them without consequence.
The result is an intimate album that is positive and
upbeat but also rich and dark. It adventures, endeavors,
reflects and drifts just like any great story.
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