Premiere: Roger Street Friedman plays to a Tough Crowd

Third release, Rise, soars

This New York native was bitten by the music bug early, writing songs and developing studio engineering skills, but, in “real life,” Roger Street Friedman held a day job for some 25 years. Ultimately, experiencing the death of both parents, his marriage and birth of his two children steered Friedman back to music, well-supplied with insights. The success of his two albums, the The Waiting Sky and Shoot the Moon opened the gate for a serious return to music.

Friedman met Larry Campbell when the muti-instrumentalist, Grammy-winning producer and longtime Levon Helm and Bob Dylan collaborator Campbell played on The Waiting Sky. Campbell told him, “You write really good songs. I think you have something here.” The encouragement from an important source encouraged Friedman, and the two kept in touch.

As the producer, Campbell brought with him a team including his own wife Teresa Williams, Lucy Kaplansky and engineer Justin Guip. Working with Campbell on Rise, Friedman said he learned “how important the producer is, how recording is so much different than playing live and how important the process is, the vibe–having the right players, how every element has a place and how one thing could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back if you’re not careful. And most of all, how important it is to serve the song. It’s a real balancing act.”

The songs are rooted in Friedman’s experience, which, like everyone else’s, has its highs on lows, but wallowing is not in Friedman’s repertoire. With a wife, family and responsibilities, he balances touring, writing and staying connected to the home front. This song, “Tough Crowd,” was born at a performance, journeyed to home and, finally, to songwriting.

Friedman explained the history to Elmore: “We were on tour in the Northeast and at one particular small venue there was a couple sitting up front who literally sat expressionless throughout the whole show. I remember thinking that they weren’t enjoying the show and would probably get up and leave after a song or two….and the phrase “tough crowd” popped into my head. They wound up staying for the entire set, afterwards saying how much they enjoyed the band! Not too long after that I said something dumb to my wife, who held my feet to the fire on my statement; we were both laughing about it and I said “Baby, you’re a tough crowd!”. I wrote the phrase down, and at my next co-writing session with Elliott Bronson I pulled out the title, and off we went. The song became about a woman—but it’s also about an audience.”

Led by Larry Campbell, the Rise team included Friedman’s rhythm section of Jim Toscano and Matt Schneider, keyboard phenom Jason Crosby (Phil Lesh, John Mclaughlin), Teresa Williams and Lucy Kaplansky on backing vocals. The album was mixed by Justin Guip at Milan Hill Studios in Milan, NY.

Learn more about Roger Friedman HERE