Neko Case
Neko Case performing at the Henry Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, 2007
Background information
Born	September 8, 1970 (1970-09-08) (age 37) Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Origin	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Genre(s)	Indie rock, alternative country
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals, percussion, piano, guitar
Years active	1994–present
Label(s)	Mint, Bloodshot, Lady Pilot, Matador, Anti-
Associated acts	Neko Case and Her Boyfriends The New Pornographers The Corn Sisters The Sadies Cub Maow Kelly Hogan Jon Rauhouse

Neko Case (pronounced /ˈniːkoʊ ˈkeɪs/)^[1] (born September 8, 1970 in Alexandria, Virginia) is an American alternative country singer-songwriter, best known for her solo career and her contributions as a member of The New Pornographers. Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Alexandria is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Vancouver (vænˈkuːvɚ is a coastal British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Indie rock is genre of Alternative rock that primarily exists in the independent Underground music scene Alternative country is a term used to describe a number of Country music subgenres that tend to differ from mainstream or pop country music Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with Speech. The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Mint Records is a Vancouver British Columbia, Canada -based Independent record label founded in January 1991. Bloodshot Records is an Independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois which specializes in roots -inflected Indie rock, a Chicago Blacklisted is a 2002 album by Neko Case. Guest musicians on the album include Howe Gelb, Kelly Hogan, Mary Margaret O'Hara Matador Records is an Independent record label, famous for a roster of highly-respected Indie rock artists and bands ANTI- is an American Record label founded in 1999 as a sister label of Epitaph Records. The New Pornographers is a Canadian Indie rock supergroup formed in 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Corn Sisters is a Country music duo consisting of Neko Case and Carolyn Mark. The Sadies are a Canadian Indie rock and Alternative country band from Toronto Ontario. cub was an Indie rock band from Vancouver British Columbia which formed in 1992 and disbanded in 1997. Maow was a Canadian Indie rock band from Vancouver British Columbia. Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Alexandria is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Alternative country is a term used to describe a number of Country music subgenres that tend to differ from mainstream or pop country music Singer-songwriter is a term that refers to Performers who write, compose and sing their own material including Lyrics The New Pornographers is a Canadian Indie rock supergroup formed in 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Case recorded and toured for several years as Neko Case & Her Boyfriends before switching to just her name. She primarily writes her own material, but also performs and has recorded cover versions of songs by artists such as Loretta Lynn, Tom Waits, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Randy Newman, Bob Dylan, and Hank Williams. In Popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition ( Performance or Recording) of a previously recorded commercially released Loretta Lynn (born Loretta Webb on April 14, 1934) is an American Country music Singer-songwriter; she was one of the leading Thomas Alan Waits (born 7 December 1949) is an American Singer-songwriter, Composer, and Actor. Buffy Sainte-Marie (born Beverly Sainte-Marie, February 20, 1941 or this date in 1942 is an Academy Award -winning Canadian First Randall Stuart “Randy” Newman (born November 28 1943 is an Academy Award –winning American Singer/songwriter, arranger, Composer Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major Hank Williams ( September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American Singer-songwriter and Musician who has She frequently infuses humorous narratives into her live sets.

She is protective of her artistic independence, combining punk's do it yourself ethic, a strong business sense, and clear opinions about her artistic goals. The DIY ethic ( Do it yourself ethic refers to the ethic of being self-reliant by completing tasks oneself as opposed to having others who are likely more experienced complete She has spurned offers from major record labels because they don't offer her enough control of her music, remaining affiliated with Mint Records in Canada and Bloodshot and ANTI- in the United States. Mint Records is a Vancouver British Columbia, Canada -based Independent record label founded in January 1991. Bloodshot Records is an Independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois which specializes in roots -inflected Indie rock, a Chicago ANTI- is an American Record label founded in 1999 as a sister label of Epitaph Records.

Biography

Early life

Case was born in Alexandria, Virginia to teenage parents of Ukrainian ancestry. Alexandria is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. Her family traveled around while she was young before settling in Tacoma, Washington, the city she considers her hometown. She left home when she was fifteen.

In 1994, Case moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, to attend the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. Vancouver (vænˈkuːvɚ is a coastal British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C Emily Carr University of Art and Design (formerly the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design) is a public post-secondary University located on Granville Island in While attending school she played drums in several local bands, including the Del Logs, the Propanes, the Weasles, Cub (which featured I Am Spoonbender's Robynn Iwata), and Maow. cub was an Indie rock band from Vancouver British Columbia which formed in 1992 and disbanded in 1997. I Am Spoonbender is an American Multimedia group formed in San Francisco in early 1997 by Dustin Donaldson with Brian Jackson Maow was a Canadian Indie rock band from Vancouver British Columbia. All of these bands were local punk groups except for Cub and The Weasles, which Case described as a "country music supergroup". Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. SuperGroup is a Reality show on the channel VH1. The show puts together five Heavy metal musicians packed into a large mansion that must play a show after

In 1998, Case graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, which meant the loss of her student visa eligibility. In the USA the Bachelor of Fine Arts, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard Undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the A visa (short for the Latin carta visa, lit "a document that has been seen" is a document issued by a Country giving an individual She left Canada for Seattle, Washington. Before leaving, however, Case recorded vocals for a few songs that ended up on Mass Romantic, The New Pornographers' first album. Mass Romantic is the critically acclaimed first album by the Indie rock supergroup The New Pornographers. Her lead vocals on songs like "Letter from an Occupant" are straightforward, full-volume power-pop performances, entirely shedding any country elements. Released on November 28, 2000, Mass Romantic became a surprise success. For the town in Argentina, see 28 de Noviembre. Events 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Although the band was originally conceived as a side project for its members, The New Pornographers decided to tour and eventually to record a second, third, and a fourth album.

As well as The New Pornographers, Case frequently collaborates with other Canadian musicians, including The Sadies and Carolyn Mark, and has recorded material by several noted Canadian songwriters, in particular on her 2001 EP Canadian Amp. The Sadies are a Canadian Indie rock and Alternative country band from Toronto Ontario. Carolyn Mark is a Canadian Alternative country Singer-songwriter. An extended play ( EP) is a Vinyl record, CD, or Music download which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify Canadian Amp is a 2001 EP by Neko Case. The recording features Case performing four covers of material by Canadian songwriters along As a result, she is also considered a significant figure in Canadian music—both CBC Radio 3 and the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada have referred to Case as an "honorary Canadian". CBC Radio 3 is a radio station that consists of three major parts devoted to Canadian arts and music a Sirius Satellite Radio station (channel 86 a weekly SOCAN (the Society of Composers Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) is the Canadian Copyright collective for the right to communicate to the public ^[2]

"I hope I can comfort people a bit—maybe show people that making music is fun and accessible to them as well. I'm not out to become Faith Hill, I never want to play an arena, and I never want to be on the MTV Video Music Awards, much less make a video with me in it. Audrey Faith McGraw, known professionally as Faith Hill (born September 21 1967 is an American country singer known both for her commercial success The MTV Video Music Awards were established in the end of the summer of 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top Music videos of the year I would like to reach a larger audience and see the state of music change in favor of musicians and music fans in my lifetime. I care very much about that. "^[3]

Seattle

Case fully embraced country music on her 1997 album with Her Boyfriends, The Virginian. The Virginian is a 1997 album by Neko Case and Her Boyfriends. The album contained original compositions as well as covers of songs by Ernest Tubb, Loretta Lynn and even the 1974 Queen song "Misfire". Ernest Dale Tubb ( February 9, 1914 – September 6, 1984) nicknamed the "Texas Troubadour" was an American Singer Loretta Lynn (born Loretta Webb on April 14, 1934) is an American Country music Singer-songwriter; she was one of the leading Queen were an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist When the album was released, critics compared Case to honky-tonk singers like Lynn and Patsy Cline. A honky tonk (also called a honkatonk, honkey-tonk, or tonk) is a type of bar with musical entertainment that is common in the Southwestern Patsy Cline (b Virginia Patterson Hensley September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American Country

On February 22, 2000, Case released her second solo album with Her Boyfriends, Furnace Room Lullaby. Events 1495 - King Charles VIII of France enters Naples to claim the city's throne 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Furnace Room Lullaby is an album by Neko Case and Her Boyfriends, released in February 2000 on Mint/Bloodshot Records It introduced the "country noir" elements that have defined Case's subsequent solo career. That tone was evident even from the cover photo, featuring Case sprawled out corpse-like on a concrete floor. On the album itself, her vocal style moves away from outright honky-tonk but retains her twang, garnering comparisons to musicians such as Cline, Lynn, Hazel Dickens, Tanya Tucker, and Dolly Parton. Hazel Dickens (born June 1, 1935, Mercer County, West Virginia) is an American bluegrass singer Tanya Denise Tucker (pronounced /ˈtænjə ˈtʌkɚ/ (born October 10 1958 in Seminole Texas) is an American country music artist who had her first hit " Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American Country music Singer / Songwriter, Author, actress The title track was included on the soundtrack to Sam Raimi's film The Gift, and "Porchlight" was featured on the soundtrack to The Slaughter Rule. Samuel Marshall "Sam" Raimi (born October 23, 1959) is an American Film director, producer, Actor and The Gift (2000 is an American movie, directed by Sam Raimi, and written by Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson The Slaughter Rule is an Independent film, released in 2002 and starring Ryan Gosling and David Morse.

Case sometimes tours with her friend Canadian singer and songwriter Carolyn Mark, as The Corn Sisters. The Corn Sisters is a Country music duo consisting of Neko Case and Carolyn Mark. One of their performances, at Seattle's Hattie's Hat restaurant in Ballard, was recorded and released as an album, The Other Women, on November 28, 2000. Ballard is a Neighborhood located in the northwestern part of Seattle, Washington. The Other Women is a 2000 album by The Corn Sisters, a duo consisting of Carolyn Mark and Neko Case. For the town in Argentina, see 28 de Noviembre. Events 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.

Chicago

At about the time Furnace Room Lullaby was released, Case left Seattle for Chicago because she felt that Seattle wasn't hospitable to its local artists. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States.

Case's first work in Chicago was an eight-song EP that she recorded in her kitchen. Canadian Amp, her first recording without Her Boyfriends, was released on her own Lady Pilot label in 2001. Canadian Amp is a 2001 EP by Neko Case. The recording features Case performing four covers of material by Canadian songwriters along She wrote two of the tracks. Six tracks are covers, including Neil Young's "Dreaming Man" and Hank Williams' "Alone and Forsaken". Neil Percival Young OM (born November 12, 1945, Toronto Ontario) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter, Musician Four of the covers were written by Canadian artists. The EP was initially available only at Case's live shows, but it eventually saw wider release.

Case recorded her third full-length album, Blacklisted, in Tucson, Arizona. Blacklisted is a 2002 album by Neko Case. Guest musicians on the album include Howe Gelb, Kelly Hogan, Mary Margaret O'Hara Tucson (ˈtuːsɒn is the seat of Pima County Arizona, United States, located 118 miles (188 km) southeast Her first album credited to Case alone, without Her Boyfriends, it was released on August 20, 2002. Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Some believe the title Blacklisted alludes to Case being banned for life from the Grand Ole Opry because she took her shirt off during a performance on August 4, 2001,^[4] though Case herself has denied this. The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly Country music radio program and concert broadcast live on WSM radio in Nashville, Tennessee Events 70 - The Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. ^[5] Asked about the incident in 2004, Case said "I had heatstroke. People would love it to be a 'fuck you' punk thing. But it was actually a physical ailment thing. "^[6]

Most of the album's fourteen songs are originals, except for covers of "Running Out of Fools", previously a hit for Aretha Franklin, and "Look for Me (I'll Be Around)". Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25 1942 Franklin has had a total of twenty number-one singles on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart, two of which became #1 hits on the Blacklisted finds Case even deeper in a "country noir" mood, and was described by critics as lush, bleak, and atmospheric. Case cited filmmaker David Lynch, composer Angelo Badalamenti, and Neil Young's soundtrack to the film Dead Man as influences. David Keith Lynch (born January 20 1946 is an American director, Screenwriter, producer, painter, Cartoonist, Composer Angelo Badalamenti (born March 22 1937 is an Italian-American Composer, known for his movie soundtrack work for movie director David Lynch, notably Dead Man is a 1995 film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. One track, "Deep Red Bells", was inspired by Case's memories of being a vulnerable young woman in the Seattle area while the Green River Killer was at large. Gary Leon Ridgway (born February 18, 1949) known as the Green River Killer, is one of the most prolific Serial killers in American

In April 2003, Case was voted the "Sexiest Babe of Indie Rock" in a Playboy. com internet poll, receiving 32% of the vote. Playboy asked her to pose nude for the magazine, but she declined their offer. Playboy is an American Men's magazine, founded in Chicago Illinois, by Hugh Hefner and his associates which has grown into Playboy She told Entertainment Weekly magazine that "I didn't want to be the girl who posed in Playboy and then—by the way—made some music. Entertainment Weekly (sometimes abbreviated as EW) is a Magazine published by Time Inc I would be really fucking irritated if after a show somebody came up to me and handed me some naked picture of myself and wanted me to sign it instead of my CD. " In more recent interviews she's declined to discuss the survey at all. (In the late 1990s, Case did pose for cheesecake-style photos published in the Seattle magazine Kutie. A pin-up girl or pin-up model is a model whose mass-produced pictures see wide appeal as Pop culture. )

New Pornographers follow-up albums

The New Pornographers' second album, Electric Version, was released on May 6, 2003. Electric Version is a 2003 album by The New Pornographers. Track listing All songs written by Carl Newman except as noted Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Case sang lead on even more of the songs on this album, and toured with the group again.

On April 3 and April 4, 2004, Case played two shows with longtime collaborators The Sadies at Lee's Palace in Toronto, which were recorded for release as a live album, The Tigers Have Spoken, in October of the same year. Events 1043 - Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The Sadies are a Canadian Indie rock and Alternative country band from Toronto Ontario. Lee's Palace is a Concert hall located on the south side of Bloor Street West east of Lippincott Avenue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario A live album &ndash commonly contrasted with a Studio album &ndash is a recording consisting of material (usually music recorded during stage performances The Tigers Have Spoken is a 2004 live album by Neko Case. The album was recorded at three live shows one in Chicago and two in Toronto,

Twin Cinema, the New Pornographers' third album, was released on August 23, 2005, with Case again providing vocals on several tracks. Twin Cinema is the third album by Canadian Indie rock group The New Pornographers. Events 79 - Mount Vesuvius begins stirring on the feast day of Vulcan the Roman god of fire Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In addition to providing backing vocals on several songs, Case performs lead vocals on two ballads, "The Bones of an Idol" and "These Are the Fables". She opted out of most subsequent touring duties with the band; however, her parts were taken over by Kathryn Calder. Kathryn Calder is a member of Immaculate Machine and The New Pornographers.

Fox Confessor Brings the Flood

Fox Confessor Brings the Flood was released on March 7, 2006. Fox Confessor Brings the Flood is a 2006 album by Neko Case. It was her first solo studio album in four years Events 161 - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The album was recorded primarily in Tucson, over the course of two years as Case worked on the live The Tigers Have Spoken and continued to play with The New Pornographers. Critics hailed the record not only for Case's trademark vocals but also her use of stark imagery and non-standard song structures. Fox Confessor Brings the Flood wound up on many "Best of 2006" lists, such as No. 1 on the Amazon. com music editors' picks and no. 2 on NPR's All Songs Considered. All Songs Considered is a weekly online multimedia program started in January 2000 by NPR 's All Things Considered director Bob Boilen The album debuted at no. 52 on the Billboard Top 200 albums list. The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard

Case was honored as the Female Artist of the Year at the Plug Independent Music Awards on February 2, 2006. Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[7]

Acting career

On January 28, 2008, Case's voice appeared in the Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode "Sirens". Events 1077 - Walk to Canossa: The Excommunication of Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor is lifted 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Aqua Teen Hunger Force (also known as ATHF) is an American Animated television series shown on Cartoon Network as part Case is also scheduled to participate in a new series with Aqua Teen Hunger Force co-creator Dave Willis entitled Cheyenne Cinnamon and the Fantabulous Unicorn of Sugar Town Candy Fudge. Dave Willis (born May 1, 1970) is an American Voice actor, Writer, and producer mostly known as one of the creators ^[8]

Discography

With Maow

• I Ruv Me Too (7" EP) (US: Twist Like This Records, 1995)
• Unforgiving Sounds of Maow (CA: Mint Records, 1996)

Solo

• The Virginian (with Her Boyfriends) (CA: Mint Records; US: Bloodshot Records, 1997)
• Furnace Room Lullaby (with Her Boyfriends) (CA: Mint Records; US: Bloodshot Records, 2000; reissue, US: ANTI- Records, 2007)
• Canadian Amp (EP) (Lady Pilot, 2001)
• Blacklisted (CA: Mint Records; US: Bloodshot Records; EU: Matador Records, 2002; reissue, US: ANTI- Records, 2007)
• The Tigers Have Spoken (CA: Mint Records; US: ANTI- Records, 2004)
• Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (US: ANTI- Records, released March 7, 2006; reissue, US: ANTI- Records, 2007)
• Live from Austin, TX (New West Records, released January 9, 2007)

With the Corn Sisters

• The Other Women (CA: Mint Records, 2000)

With the New Pornographers

• Mass Romantic (CA: Mint Records; US & EU: Matador Records, 2000)
• Electric Version (CA: Mint Records; US & EU: Matador Records, 2003)
• Twin Cinema (CA: Mint Records; US & EU: Matador Records, 2005)
• Challengers (Matador Records, 2007)

With the Sadies

• Make Your Bed/Gunspeak/Little Sadie (7") (US: Bloodshot Records, 1998)
• My '63 / Highway 145 (by Whiskeytown) (Split 7") (US: Bloodshot Records BS 037, 1998)

Videography

• Live From Austin TX Neko Case (DVD) (US: New West Records/Austin City Limits/KLRU, 2006)

See also

• Music of Vancouver
• List of musicians from British Columbia
• Music of Virginia

References

External links

• Neko Case's official site
• Neko Case's page at Mint Records
• Neko Case's page at Bloodshot Records
• Neko Case's page at ANTI- Records
• Mehr, T. , (November 6, 2002). Events 355 - Roman Emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. "Nobody's Angel", Seattle Weekly. Seattle Weekly is a freely distributed Newspaper in Seattle, Washington, United States.
• Shepherd, J. , (October 31, 2002). Events 445 BC – Ezra reads the Book of the Law to the Israelites in Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 91 NLTse See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. "Neko Noir", The Stranger. The Stranger is an Alternative weekly newspaper in Seattle Washington, USA noted for its Social commentary, Political opinion
• Site for National Public Radio's live webcast of Neko Case's show at the 9:30 club in Washington, D.C.
• Neko Case interview with The Onion A. For the vegetable see Onion. The Onion is an American " fake news " organization V. Club
• Neko Case discography
• "Rebel Yell: The Outlaw Voice of Neko Case" CBC Radio 3 Session
• "My Flaming Hamster Wheel of Panic About Publicly: Discussing Poetry in This Respected Forum by Neko Case" essay in Poetry Magazine, November 2007. CBC Radio 3 is a radio station that consists of three major parts devoted to Canadian arts and music a Sirius Satellite Radio station (channel 86 a weekly Poetry, published in Chicago Illinois since 1912 is one of the leading monthly Poetry journals in the English-speaking world
• Neko Case live at Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles free concert download on National Public Radio, originally broadcast November 16, 2007.