August Wells are Ken Griffin (Rollerskate Skinny, Kid Silver and Favourite Sons) with New York pianist John Rauchenberger. Together they make an other worldly chamber music, think Sinatra singing Lou Reed songs. Their single โCome On in Out of That Nightโ is a fine example of Griffinโs song writing andย warm timbre.
New York city is Kennethโs base for over a decade. And it is here that he met Irish/German pianist John Rauchenberger.
โJohn and I met through friends, he has a house very near my apartment. When we played together we realised we didnโt have to talk very much to each other!โ
The restrained, understated approach to the music August Wells make is very much in contrast with the sound associated with Griffinโs previous musical endeavours such as the underrated shoe-gazers Rollerskate Skinny.
Their song โSpeed to my Sideโ from 1995 is one of Irish musicโs lost classics.
Today Ken Griffin takes a more measured approach.
โIt takes a long time to develop a relationship with silence. I think artists tend to move towards the more minimal approach over the years. There are no drums on the album so it has that almost coming apart feeling, that it is not going to hold together but it does. I like that sort of feeling in the music.โ
New York remains an inspiration in Kennethโs music and the pared back approach of August Wells is winning the duo a new generation of listeners.
He wryly comments, โThere is a very active illusion here that it is the centre of the universe. It keeps people trapped here in a weird way. It is a great city to write in. You can pretty much keep yourself stimulated for the whole day and night here.โ
There is no chance of a Rollerskate Skinny reunion anytime and a reissue of their classic album โHorse Drawn Wishesโ is also unlikely as the back catalogue is, Ken states, out of his hands.
โI could spend a few months getting on top of it all but I kinda like to move forward.โ
That said though, an Irish made film called โDare To Be Wildโ due for release in September features โSpeed to my Sideโ by Rollerskate Skinny in the filmโs pivotal scene.
The romantic adventure is written and directed by Vivienne DeCourcy.
So we might just be hearing a whole lot more of โSpeed to my Sideโ again in the coming months.
August Wells play Dolanโs this Thursday July 28.