ARTIST: Thao With The Get Down Stay Down
TITLE: We Brave Bee Stings and All
LABEL: Kill Rock Stars
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 187kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 32m total
RELEASE DATE: 2008-01-29
RIP DATE: 2008-01-25
Track List
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1. Beat (Health, Life, and Fire) 2:31
2. Bag of Hammers 2:49
3. Big Kid Table 3:48
4. Swimming Pools 2:08
5. Geography 3:14
6. Feet Asleep 3:40
7. Yes, So On and So On 2:52
8. Fear and Convenience 4:03
9. Violet 2:44
10. Travel 1:47
11. We Go 2:34
Release Notes:
After picking up her guitar at the age of 12, Thao Nguyen began performing and
recording as a pop-country duo with a high school friend. Raised in Falls
Church, Virginia with her single mother, she often practiced her songs while
working at her mother's laundromat. She often cites Lilith Fair as an
inspiration for her desire to become a young singer/songwriter. After recording
an EP that differed from her initial style, she began performing as a soloist
with her acoustic guitar.
Nguyen would meet drummer Willis Thompson while studying for her degrees in
Sociology and WomenÆs Studies at College of William and Mary and his in
Environmental Studies and Music. Willis Thompson was a member of Camp Tigerclaw
, Acousticore, and Murphy's Kids. He is also a contributing member to the band
The Light Footwork whose singer/guitarist Jay Underwood briefly played bass for
Thao and coined the name The Get Down Stay Down during one dubious southeastern
tour. Thao Nguyen and Willis Thompson met Adam Thompson (no relation) during a
show at the Harrison Street Coffee Shop in Richmond, Virginia. At the time, Adam
Thompson was performing as a solo jazz-influenced act under the moniker The OK
Bird. Frank Stewart, member of the bands Durian and Verbal, would produce the
first full-length album Like The Linen in 2005 and join the band as a lead
guitarist. Although only Willis and Nguyen initially performed live on tour, the
four members began touring as a group during the Kill Rock Stars' Sound the Hare
Heard tour during the summer of 2006. The name of the band was originally
suggested by a former bassist of the band. Nguyen would expand the initial
suggestion of "The Get Down" to "The Get Down Stay Down". Thao Nguyen still
occasionally performs as a soloist, including a European tour with Laura Veirs
and the Tortured Souls in August 2006.
They are now being managed by Slim Moon, former president of the Kill Rock Stars
label. After sending Like the Linen to Laura Veirs, Thao was able to get
connected to Tucker Martine, Veirs' drummer and producer for The Decemberists
and Sufjan Stevens. In August of 2006, the group began recording with Martine in
Seattle for an upcoming album and have since completed it.