Review in Ulster County Press

BY ANDREW HICKEY
Ulster County Press
Chase Pierson never intended to start a
country band. He didn’t even consider him-
self a musician. But, like in a country song
he might write over the following two years,
Pierson got divorced.
“It came out of the blue,” Pierson said.
“Two years ago, I got divorced. I started
messing around - writing a few country
songs - and people liked them.”
As Pierson developed his talent as a song-
writer, he also grew himself a band chock
full of talented Woodstockers - Mechanical
Bull.
“There were no country rockabilly bands
around here, so I figured, why the hell not.”
And why the hell not cobble together a
veritable who’s who of Woodstock musi-
cians to round out your band and chip in on
your newly released sophomore album, “A
Million Yesterdays”? (releases Nov. 1 on
Woodstock MusicWorks)
Pierson, who helms Mechanical Bull on
guitar and vocals, combined with eight local
musicians to press the second album. Adam
Widoff, a multi-instrumentalist and produc-
er from Woodstock, kicks in on guitar, bass,
drums, organ and piano. Woodstock’s Dave
Malachowski, who has played with everyone
from Shania Twain to Garth Hudson, is on
guitar. Chris Zaloom appears on slide guitar;
George Quinn on bass, guitar and mandolin;
J-Bird Bowman on drums and vocals;
Chase’s brother Josh Pierson on banjo and
saxophone and John Medeski, of Medeski,
Martin & Wood, on organ.
“We have some great legendary old Wood-
stock people,” Pierson said of Mechanical
Bull, whose roster fluctuates between three
and seven members, depending on the ven-
ue.
Perhaps the most prominent contributor
besides Pierson is singer Avalon Peacock, a
Woodstocker who lends a voice sorrowful
enough to make you want to get drunk and
gentle enough to remind you that you al-
ready are.
In fact, on Mechanical Bull’s Myspace
page, the band’s influences listed are “dys-
functional marriages, alcoholism and the
American dream.”
That tongue-in-cheek round-up also sheds
a little light on Pierson’s development as a
songwriter. Mechanical Bull’s first album,
“All Hat No Cattle,” was “more of a bitter-
sweet comedy,” Pierson said, “tragic songs
about relationships.”
But Pierson, who admits that he never
thought of himself as much of a musician
and had to overcome shyness to sing to a
crowd, grew in confidence and ability.
“Then I started writing for fun,” he said,
referring to the process of creating the sec-
ond album. “Everyone was kind of sur-
prised. Mechanical Bull is supposed to have
this edge. I’m glad I went in that different di-
rection.”
“A Million Yesterdays” is actually more of
a mix of three themes - light-hearted jaunts
like “Biggest nerd in the class;” soulful,
haunting ballads like “Dreaming days;” and,
good old my-dog-died-and-my-truck-broke-
down country songs like “Debts” (which in-
cludes one of the most infectious lyrics on
the album, growled by Pierson and sung by
Peacock - “I got debts no honest man can pay”).
Pierson moved to the Woodstock area about 10
years ago and, in addition to harvesting the exist-
ing, rich music scene and rounding up talent for
Mechanical Bull, he calls the area an inspiration on
it’s own.
After growing up in the Berkshires, Pierson
went on to live virtually all over the country. But,
he said, “this area has always felt like home. Aside
from the being really beautiful, I like the country,
rural feel and slowed down pace of life. It’s a really
cool community of creative and nurturing people
up here.”
Pierson first got the itch for country music while
living in Boston in his early 20s after hearing what
he describes as rockabilly.
“I was like, shit, I’m gonna move to Texas and
check this out,” Pierson said. “I got in my car and
drove to Austin.”
There, he immersed himself in country music
and the real-deal, Texas music scene. Eventually, he
wandered his way back Northeast and landed in Ul-
ster County.
“Mechanical Bull wouldn’t have evolved outside
of Woodstock,” he said.
With the release of “A Million Yesterdays,” Pier-
son said, Mechanical Bull is aiming to spread their
version of Woodstock country across the northeast.
“I think we’re going to give it a shot. It’s a lot of
fun for us,” he said, adding that the band is plan-
ning a tour of the northeast. “You never know with
these things.”
In fact, Mechanical Bull has had success with
their first album, Pierson said. The folks from Hol-
lywood came calling and scooped up the rights to
“All Hat No Cattle” to use in a film.
For now, you can catch Mechanical Bull at the
Bearsville Theater in Woodstock on Nov. 1 for their
album release party. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the
show starts at 9 p.m. with special guest Erin Sax
Seymour. Tickets are $10. The Bearsville Theater is
at 291 Tinker St. in Woodstock and can be reached
at 679-4406 or at www.bearsvilletheater.com.