Malcolm Lucard's
"Wild World" of Folk Music

A good story propelled by a strong groove. An unusual arrangement backed by funky guitar picking. A pretty melody setting the tone for a funny lyric. These are the basic ingredients of a song by Malcolm Lucard, who is now taking his souped-up brand of folk music (and his suitcase full of songs) out around the state after releasing his debut CD (now distributed through HapiSkratch Entertainment: www.hapiskratch.com).

Photos: Scott Bauer

Lucard's CD unleashes 11 original songs, from the cheerful, sardonic opening romp, "Moonboggle Boogie," to the upbeat bluegrass number "Two-Headed Calf," or the funky and somewhat ambiguous love songs ("Smelly Toes," "She Wants One," and "I Don't Need a Tattoo") for which Lucard is best known.

Sometimes called "quirky," Lucard's lyrics "inhabit a wild world of moon colonies, smelly toes, two-headed calves, senility, human cockroaches and heart attacks," writes the Colorado Springs Gazette. "It's a world of funky rhythms and musical surprises and power chords played by trombones."

Lucard doesn't mind the "quirky" label. "I like songs that have interesting or funny lyrics that make you laugh or think," Lucard says, "as well as diverse and unusual arrangements that can really move you, or make you want to dance."

Malcolm shows his sensitive side with tunes such as "Pretty in Gray" and "Die Young, Stay Pretty," while jam-miesters can wiggle their booties to full-band groovers such as "Cockroach" and "Heart Attack Blues."

What's his live show like? It's a bluesy, bluegrassy meltdown of country, folk, ska, jazz, tango and good old rock and roll. You never know what to expect. He might take out his mandolin and play an old Civil War tune or a John Hartford cover; he'll dig out one of his resonator slide guitars for a old blues tune, a cover of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "Spell On You," or even a Violent Femmes number. Along with original tunes, here's a few artists he covers: Duke Ellington, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Jean Ritchie, Ani DiFranco, Miles Davis, Greg Brown, Muddy Waters, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Hank Williams, etc.

When not playing solo, Lucard likes to gig with Irrational Exuberance, a six-piece folk-blues-reggae-jazz-jam-punk band that grew out of Lucard's CD project. Along with Lucard on guitar and mandolin, the band includes the bluesy, articulate trombone playing of Jeremy Van Hoy; the powerful agile vocalizations of percussionist and singer Crystal Brandle; the jazzy, funkifestations of bass player Matt Hollensbe; the tasteful and rockin' grooves of drummer John Litchenberg, and the ever-colorful fingerings of keyboardist Greg Borom.

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