Howe Gelb, ‘Sno Angel Winging It (Live) CD + DVD

For the initiated, ‘Sno Angel Winging It is revelatory. In just around 45 minutes or so, the film offers a vivid glimpse into Gelb’s world from several vantage points. Whether he’s in his pajamas talking about the grown-up realization that at some point one has a finite amount of shows left in him or her, and trying to make every one count as though it were the last; or the wonderfully bizarre spectacle of this unlikely group of people playing a festival on a beach in San Sebastian, Spain; it’s a revealing document of life as a creative working musician.

Howe Gelb with the Voices Of Praise Choir
Photo from Howe Gelb’s MySpace page

There’s ‘Sno Angel‘s beginnings in the studio with just Gelb and Arcade Fire drummer Jeremy Gara; charming footage of Howe the family guy improvising new lyrics to “But I Did Not” at home with his kids’; and there’s revealing commentary from slide guitarist Fred Guignon explaining Gelb’s “sly control” of the band, one in which the only rule is that “you can play anything, as long as you play it boldly.” For gear geeks there are close-ups of pedalboards and Gelb’s heavily modified Telecaster, and a pleasing amount of footage that amply illustrates just how underrated Gelb is as a guitarist.

It really is quite difficult to describe the film and why it’s amazing in less time than it would take to just watch it for yourself, but it’s absolutely worth checking out. If you’re already a fan, it’s a wonderful peek into the world of one of the most endearing songwriters of our time, and a great set of snapshots of that particular moment, featuring some songs that weren’t on the studio album. If you’re not a fan yet, it could very easily make one of you.

The CD works just as well as a soundtrack to the film or as a particularly good live album in its own right. There are rawer versions of ‘Sno Angel tracks, gems from the Giant Sand back catalog revisited, alternate versions of later material, and a couple of blistering covers of Rainer Ptacek songs. The late Ptacek was the original slide guitarist in Giant Sand and Gelb’s mentor and friend. The two Rainer songs here—”That’s How Things Get Done” and “Worried Spirits,” recast with the overwhelming soul Voices Of Praise bring to them—are worth the price of admission alone.

“Robes of Bible Black” and especially the stunning vocal harmonies on “Nail In The Sky” are goosebumps-inducing. There’s also plenty of Gelb’s lovely piano-based material, such as “Spiral” and the gorgeous and somewhat tongue-in-cheek “Vortexas,” a love letter to Gelb’s Tucson home. “Ballad of the Tucson 2” seems all the more appropriate given the current controversy in Arizona. “But I Did Not,” “Love Knows (No Borders),” and “That’s How Things Get Done” could all easily serve as motivational music during difficult times on political or personal levels.

Throughout the record, Gelb and crew manage to wrap so much of the human condition up into what is ultimately joyous music that it could hearten even the most jaded. Part of the magic that is Howe Gelb’s music is the enthusiasm and energy present; you could call it youthful, I suppose, but it’s tempered by the wisdom and experience that only a few more years and miles could provide. ‘Sno Angel Winging It is a particularly outstanding document of one of Gelb’s more interesting projects, and an extremely uplifting experience.

‘Sno Angel Winging It was released in November 2009 via Ow Om Finished Recorded Products and can be purchased via their website. For more on Howe Gelb, please visit his Official Site.

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