Nora O'Connor
Nora O'Connor | |
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![]() O'Connor performing at The Hideout on October 30, 2017 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Nora O'Connor |
Also known as | Nora O'Connor Kean |
Born | 2 April, year unknown |
Origin | Chicago, Illinois |
Genres | Folk, Country |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, Guitar |
Years active | 1994–present |
Labels | Bloodshot Records |
Nora O’Connor is a Chicago-based musician. Though primarily known for her vocals, O'Connor also plays guitar and bass. For much of 2013, O'Connor toured internationally as a singer in Iron and Wine, and she continues to record and perform with longtime collaborator, Andrew Bird. O'Connor plays bass and sings back-up for Kelly Hogan (supporting Hogan's release "I Like To Keep Myself In Pain" on ANTI- Records) and in 2010, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy enlisted O'Connor and Hogan as primary vocalists on gospel legend Mavis Staples’ Grammy Award-winning album You Are Not Alone. In the studio and on the stage, O'Connor has backed (among others) Neko Case, Jakob Dylan, The New Pornographers, Archer Prewitt, Hushdrops, Justin Roberts and Robbie Fulks.
Her first solo CD on Bloodshot Records, Til the dawn, was released on August 24, 2004. However, an earlier CD, the very rare Cerulean Blue, was released by Uncommon Ground Coffeehouse in Chicago.
In the mid-1990s, she formed the Nora O'Connor Band, with herself on lead vocals and guitar, Lisa Wertman Crowe on bass and vocals, Tony Ventura on guitar and Mark Cameron on drums.
Other Collaborative Projects:
- The Flat Five: a "song interpreters" band[1] made up of Kelly Hogan, Nora O'Connor, Scott Ligon, Casey McDonough and Alex Hall, typically perform annually at the Hideout (Chicago) holiday show.[2]
- The Lamentations: gospel duo with Kelly Hogan and Nora O'Connor.[1]
- The Love Hall Tryst - Songs of Misfortune: mostly a capella British folk music performed by indie supergroup composed of originator John Wesley Harding, Kelly Hogan, Nora O’Connor, and Brian Lohmann.[3][4]
O'Connor has two sons, and lives in Evanston, Illinois.
Discography
Solo
- Cerulean Blue (1996, Uncommon Ground)
- Til the Dawn (2004, Bloodshot Records)
The Blacks
- Dolly Horrorshow (1998, Bloodshot)
- Just Like Home (2000, Bloodshot)
- In Sickness and Health EP (2010, 6-song digital download, Bloodshot)
The Flat Five
- It's A World of Love and Hope (2016, Bloodshot)
Miscellaneous
- Happy – Robbie Fulks (2010, Yep Roc)
- You Are Not Alone – Mavis Staples (2010, ANTI-)
- Tomorrow – Hushdrops
- Me, Myself and Wine – Lady Parts (2015, Bloodshot)
References
- ^ a b Loerzel, Robert (December 13, 2009). "Flat Five at the Hideout". Underground Bee. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Kot, Greg (December 10, 2010). "Rare show by Flat Five tops concerts". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Pendarvis, Jack (November 9, 2005). "Home > Music > Features: John Wesley Harding's Love Hall Tryst". Paste Magazine. Paste Media Group. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- ^ Edelman, Judith. "Misfortune: A Novel - Wesley Stace / Songs of Misfortune - The Love Hall Tryst". Pure Music. Retrieved 11 November 2013.