'Every goth girl wanted to be Siouxsie.' The Shroud singer Lydia Fortner on paying tribute to the Banshees
Plus, that time Toby Keith played Chukchansi Park.
The mission of Spellbound (if a band even needs a mission to exist) is one that’s kind of nearly impossible.
The collected musicians were brought together to pay tribute to Siouxsie and the Banshees, a band not always known for follow the norms of songwriting and arrangements.
Add to that, they are playing as fans of the music, for fans of the music, and the fans will know if it’s wrong.
“We’re trying to be as true to the albums and live recordings as possible,” says Lydia Fortner, who fronted the Fresno dark wave band The Shroud in the 1990s and is returning to the stage after 11 years to perform with Spellbound, Saturday, Feb. 17 at Fulton 55. She is joined in the band by Manny Diez, Nate Butler, Nathaniel Diez Musso and Vince Corsaro.
Here’s an email conversation I had with Fortner (with a addendum by Butler) to find out more about the show.
How did this particular group of musicians come together for this project?
“Manny assembled us to help him achieve his desire to play the John McGeoch-era Banshees tunes.
We all knew each other already from previous bands and other music related situations, so Manny kind of recruited all of us.
He messaged me about doing it, and then asked Nate … then we got Vince on board, and Manny brought in his nephew Nathaniel.
Fun fact: Vince and Nate have played with the Shroud for some live shows, and Manny played on a Shroud recording, so it’s a very Shroud-tinged lineup!”
I assume that being in a goth band when you were, Siouxsie and the Banshees was at very least an influence. How did you approach learning the songs? Either you individually or as the larger band or both.
“Oh yes, Siouxsie was a huge influence! I think every goth girl wanted to be Siouxsie when they grew up. It was actually Nate that turned me on to the Banshees back when we were 18 or 19 years old. So, I guess that would be like 1984 or so. I had just met him, and he played the Banshees new album ‘Hyaena’ for me, and I was blown away. I was actually a Duran Duran fan at the time, but Nate turned me goth and I never looked back!
To learn the songs I listened to them a lot, and sang along, and also have lyrics printed out so I can make notes about song structure and whatnot.
I already knew most of the Banshees tunes we are doing pretty well, especially the ones from ‘Juju,’ but I wasn’t as into the ‘Dreamhouse’ album so those ones I’ve had to work on a bit more.
Working on this project I really have gained a new appreciation for the music. I had always loved it, but now I am paying closer attention to the song structure and instrumental lines, and really understanding what an amazing band they are.
However, I have to say that Siouxsie’s vocal production and range are very different than mine, so actually singing her songs is difficult for me. When I was coming up learning to be a gothy singer, I actually practiced more with Robert Smith and Rozz Williams’ singing, they were more in my range.
I’m not trying to be a Siouxie impersonator or anything, because that would be impossible. Which is challenging, because she’s so iconic, it’s hard to not try to copy every nuance on the recordings and all her movements in the videos. But I’m approaching it as Lydia of the Shroud singing Banshees tunes, and just letting my inner Siouxsie come out.”
Butler, on the band’s approach to the show: “After agreeing on a list of songs to play, everyone in the group went off to learn their respective parts on their own, and then we came to together to rehearse once a week.
As we rehearsed, everyone would determine what they did and didn't already know, and what needed to be added, and perhaps make suggestions to one another. Then, we’d all go home and do some more ‘woodshedding’ (rehearsing on one’s own) before coming back to try it again.
At every rehearsal things begin to gel a bit more, and we sometimes making subtle adjustments, like, ‘Hey, maybe you could add this thing here?’
In a way, it’s actually easier than being in an original music band, in that we all know what the goal is, whereas in an original music band, everyone argues over how things should go.
This project had been especially satisfying for me, because all of the musicians are so committed to getting it right for the fans of this music. Also, it’s been great to work with musicians who are all so on top of their game; that is, I’m only worried about my own part, because I know everyone else has worked so hard on their parts, and no one wants to let anyone else down.
I guess a shorter answer would be to say that everyone learns their part at home, and then we all come together to make sure we all learned it the same way, haha! But this act wouldn’t have come together if the musicians involved weren’t as skilled and experienced as they/we are.”
Spellbound plays 9 p.m. Saturday at Fulton 55 with DJ Morgue Rat, Obsidian Project and more. $10.
Remembering when Toby Keith opened Chukchansi Park
Toby Keith has the distinction (in my mind anyway) of ushering in a certain kind of bro-y-ness to country music. It’s the red solo cup U! S! A! faction of the genre.
The one that Kris Kristofferson put in its place (if stories can be believed. And who knows).
Of course, finding out more about the country singer since his death last Monday, the guys seemed to contain multitudes, as they say.
There is no denying the stardom.
For a time there was no bigger name or draw in country music. Which is why it was a big deal when it was announced Keith would be the first musical act to play the newly christened Chukchansi Park back in 2006.
The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians had just inked a naming rights deal on the downtown stadium and there was renewed interest using the ballpark as a year-round entertainment venue. The city hoped that Keith’s performance (and that of Ana Gabriel the following month) would be the first of many concerts at the Chuck (a good nickname that never took).
While the concert was big news, it was one of just seven to happen at the stadium over the next decade (the other concert of note being John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson in 2009).
Grizzly Fest was at Chukchansi Park in 2016 and 2017 before leaving for Woodward Park. More recently the venue has been used for large-scale regional Mexican concerts.
The Chukchansi performance was Keith’s last in Fresno.
Wait, that can’t be right, can it?
That’s it for this week. Remember you can now hear me on the Homegrown Show Sundays at 8 p.m. on New Rock 104.1 FM. Follow my other writing at The Fresno Bee. If you have anything you think I need to be looking at or listening to, feel free to let me know: jtehee@gmail.com