Mollie O’Brien

Biography

When it came to picking songs for their debut studio album as a duo, Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore knew exactly what they needed. “We wanted to find great tunes that nobody had heard,” Mollie says. Saints and Sinners (out September 14) is filled with classic folk, gospel, American blues and show tunes by Tom Waits, Jesse Winchester, Harry Nilsson, Richard Thompson and George Harrison -- crowned with the rare Mollie-penned songs, “New Boots” and “Mighty Close To Heaven” and Rich’s lilting instrumental, “Cuba.” The title track, an exceptional, hymn-like tune, embodies the cast of characters Mollie and Rich inhabit. “Some of the people in these songs have pretty sorry personalities,” Mollie says, pointing out the assortment of losers, gamblers, criminals and schemers. Working with producers Ben Winship and Eric Thorton, the couple created richly woven textures with tuba, bouzouki, accordion, fiddle, trumpet, trombone, oboe, and steel guitar. To pull it off they enlisted an all-star cast of musicians including The Subdudes’ John Magnie, Mollie’s brother Tim O'Brien, Brad Goode, Glenn Taylor and E-Tones drummer Christian Teele. With sounds of ragtime, jazzy blues, Dixieland, tango and saloon cabaret -- it is the definition of Americana music. Saints and Sinners marks a return for Mollie, whose last nationally distributed album, Things I Gave Away, was released on venerable Sugar Hill Records in 2000. Longtime fans are already singing the praises of Saints & Sinners. “Mollie O'Brien and Rich Moore are two national musical treasures,” says legendary roots rocker Dave Alvin. “They are truly among the best out there keeping American music alive and vital.” Celebrated songwriter Darrell Scott calls Saints & Sinners a “sure and honest recording of Saturday nights and Sunday mornings that runs as deep as family.” Mollie and Rich will be touring with the release, including an album release show in their Denver hometown at Swallow Hill. Saints & Sinners Track Listing 1. Keep it Clean (Charley Jordan) 2. New Boots (Mollie O’Brien/Rich Moore/Ben Winship) 3. Losers (Dave Van Ronk) 4. The Ghost of You Walks (Richard Thompson) 5. Lonely for Awhile (Jesse Winchester) 6. Dead and Lovely (Tom Waits) 7. Saints and Sinners (David Francey) 8. Everything I’ve Got (Rodgers and Hart) = 9. Don’t Bother Me (George Harrison) 10. I’m Shakin’ (Rudy Toombs) 11. Mighty Close to Heaven (Coats/O’Brien) 12. Think About Your Troubles (Harry Nilsson) 13. Cuba (Rich Moore)

Discography

Saints and Sinners, September 14, 2010 Release Date

900 Baseline, 2007

Things I Gave Away, 2000

Big Red Sun, 1998

Tell It True, 1996

Tour Dates

09-02-2010 Sonora, CA
Strawberry Music Festival

10-04-2010 Rockville, MD
Saint Mark Presbyterian Church

10-05-2010 NYC, NY
City Winery

10-06-2010 Philadelphia, PA
World Cafe Live

10-07-2010 Annapolis, MD
Ram’s Head

10-09-2010 Sydney, NS
Celtic Colours International Festival

10-10-2010 Sydney, NS
Celtic Colours International Festival

10-11-2010 Sydney, NS
Celtic Colours International Festival

10-14-2010 Roanoke, VA
Kirk Avenue

10-15-2010 Staunton, VA
Mockingbird

10-16-2010 Ashland, VA
Ashland Coffee & Tea

10-19-2010 Decatur, GA
Eddie’s Attic

10-20-2010 Asheville, NC
The Grey Eagle

10-21-2010 Charlotte, NC
The Evening Muse

10-22-2010 Johnson City, TN
The Down Home

10-22-2010 Knoxville, TN
Blue Plate Special

11-12-2010 Fort Collins, CO
Avogadro’s Number

11-13-2010 Denver, CO
Swallow Hill/Daniels Hall

11-20-2010 Glenwood Springs, CO
Center for the Arts

03-26-2011 Aberdeen, NC
Palustris Festival

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