Listen to Danny Carroll talk about song-writing, social anxiety, and politics, and perform some of his music, in this month’s Music at Marrowbone Books podcast.
Danny Carroll draws a lot on the specific, on the everyday, in his song-writing.
That might mean drawing inspiration from contemporary politics and the lack of empathy, reflecting on how political systems are reflected in such mundane choices as buying your coffee, or living with anxiety.
Some of Carroll’s song-writing starts with an essay. That’s to get his thoughts straight. “Once I have all the words, I feel emotionally attached or invested in the idea.”
Then he’ll simmer that down with others in the band into the succinct and snarky commentary on modern life that runs through the songs of Shrug Life.
Listen to him talk about all that and more, and perform some tracks, in this month’s Music at Marrowbone Books podcast.
And, they’re clearly having fun with it.
This is “a relatable, moving and hopeful portrait of a group that disintegrated in a very un-rock ‘n’ roll way”. And then gets another chance.
Both Francie Conway and Hugh Buckley have been teaching at the legendary institute since its opening chords in 1989.
It's a reminder not just of the power of letting go, but also of listening. “I kind of genuinely think that listening is an ethical act,” says Damien Lennon, of Zeropunkt.
