Kip Boardman
Upon The Stars
Ridisculous Records
By Kevin Minihan
 Sometimes
-- usually when I am bored stiff -- I ponder what it would have
been like to experience a different musical place and time.
But which one to choose? There are so many incredible choices.
One scene, however, that I always come back to is late 60's/early
70's southern California. Gram Parsons, early Eagles, the end
of the hippie movement, the birth of country rock, what a party
that must have been. While I obviously can't go back in time,
I have discovered a current LA artist, Kip Boardman, who has
captured the vibe of that era on his solo debut Upon The Stars.
Kip has played sideman to many musicians (Ramsey Midwood, Mike
Stinson, Jerry Wagers, and Randy Weeks), but he really comes
into his own as a singer and songwriter with this album. Although
most of the record was recorded in Boardman's living room (which
usually is a recipe for a scratchy sonic disaster), the sound
quality is surprisingly good. The occasional muffle here and
there actually gives this disk an honest, organic sound.
Kip has a very distinctive voice. His high-pitched, nasal
vocals shake with just the right amount of authenticity. As
for the sound of this disc, think Todd Rundgren meets Willie
Nelson with a Steely Dan playing piano in the background. The
second track, "Bottom Line," is a humorous song about
a man who suffers constant abuse from his so called 'lover' that
shows Boardman's delightful inventiveness and off-kilter view.
If I only had a dollar
for every time you abused me
I'd be the richest cripple you'd ever find
The uptempo number features plenty of loose strumming guitars
and a great piano riff by Boardman that adds character to the
song. The sound reminds me of a slightly off-tune stand up piano
that practically everyone's grandma had stuffed into some dusty
back room of her house.
"Waterfall" is a gentle, swaying track filled with
some great pedal steel work by John McDuffle. It deals with
the pain and scars suffered during a painful journey ending in
love lost. Each verse slowly builds to a great harmonizing chorus
that soars with the help of Amy Correia.
Someday, someday soon I'll get to the waterfall
Wash my stinking wounds, held in its sway
Someday, someday soon I'm gonna understand why it all fell away
Kip Boardman has put together a great debut effort with Upon
The Stars. It is a rich, smooth piece of work just rough
enough around the edges to keep it interesting. Will Kip now
become a full time solo artist? Probably not. He seems to be
content standing at the back of the stage, hiding behind his
beard and bass. But judging from this release, we now know that
there is a very talented writer/arranger hiding inside him.
Hopefully, he will let it out for us to enjoy every once and
awhile.
*www.milesofmusic.com
Contact Kevin Minihan at minihan-at-rockzilla.net
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