Alex Caton is one of the city’s most underrated songwriters and overlooked performers. Her self-titled album, one of the first records I found at my C-VILLE desk, is crisp with all the subtle country and blues bite of Blue Ridge traditionals filtered through Caton’s restrained originals and gorgeous covers like Rolling Stones’ “Factory Girl.”
Now, Caton has a new record on the horizon, thanks to a steady writing regimen, some serious banjo practice and a chance encounter with Levon Helm’s band after Helm’s gig at The Paramount Theater. Details after the photo.
"Factory Girl" returns to the factory: Alex Caton readies her second solo album.
"I’ve been a longtime fan of The Band and Levon," said Caton, who caught Helm’s gig. "[My husband and I] went to Miller’s after the show and were hanging out, and the band pretty much sat at our table." Caton’s husband mentioned her desire to record at Helm’s studio, and, according to Caton, "We met the right guy, and then the other right guy."
Caton’s record is still a few months out, but she mentioned that local squeezebox guru Matty Metcalfe recorded with her, to bring "some of that Willie Nelson, slip-fingered piano-playing." She also said the album will feature covers of tunes by The Band and Led Zeppelin. I bet she could do a killer version of "The Battle of Evermore," a la The Lovemongers.
Get an early listen during Caton’s gig with Bruce Molsky at Gravity Lounge on Wednesday night ($10-15, 7pm).