Watching my first “live” Carl Hauck performance, a Youtube video of his January WEFT appearance, was somewhat of a shock. I would have never pegged singer/songwriter Carl Hauck as a twenty-something. I would never have expected the young face, the collegiate threads, the youthful humility. What I did expect is the ease with which Hauck cradles his guitar, the smoothness with which his fingers pluck at the strings, dancing back and forth with naturalness that suggests that music is where Hauck belongs.
Hauck is a recent University of Illinois grad, now living in Chicago, already with years of songwriting under his belt. With the richness and eloquence of Windjammer, his upcoming album, to be released this Friday at Mike n’ Molly’s, Hauck impresses with his artful lyricism and thoughtful composition. Hauck makes sparse, emotional folk accented with elegant horns and strings. While he never strays far from his pensive, patient approach, Hauck’s honest songwriting and attention to detail bring his music from simple folk into something intensely personal, both soothing and heart-wrenching.
Windjammer opens with “Martial Riesling”, a delicate, finger-plucked melody that strums along with the lilt of an Andrew Bird piece, with Tricia Scully’s soft, lovely voice echoing Hauck’s. One immediate strength of Windjammer is its obviously well-chosen cast of supporting characters, including Santah’s Otto Stuparitz and Steve Plock, Good Night and Good Morning’s Pat Elifritz, and Butterfly Assassins’ Bryan Kveton. From the saxophone in “Coffee on the Rocks” to vibraphone in “Rooster” and supporting vocals scattered throughout, each layer of sound is carefully woven in, preserving Hauck’s never-heavy-handed style.
The title track showcases Hauck the storyteller, bringing vividness to every sense with a few simple phrases — “splinters burrow in a hasty step”, “a search at dusk for a shoestring”. Rich cello weaves in and out of the fragmented images, a story told in remembered bits and pieces. “Coming Away” is the only song that has what can truly be called a beat, with drums leading Hauck off into warm nostalgia and electric guitar and bass pairing with piano to create Windjammer’s most upbeat track.
The second half the album returns Hauck to the quiet, slow-paced finger-picking songs he takes his time with, with “Rooster” and “Terms of Endearment” offering a delicate double-header of Hauck at his most bare. Each relies on acoustic guitar and vocals to carry the listener through, with “Rooster” eventually building to a downright lush climax of vibraphone and saxophone.
Windjammer is a worthwhile listen for fans of folk and straightforward songwriting, with enough variety to keep you coming back. While Windjammer isn’t officiall released until November 9, you can grab it tonight (Friday) at Mike n’ Molly’s. Hauck plays around 10 p.m., followed by Jesse W. Johnson and The Brothers Burn Mountain.
Stream “Marital Riesling” below
Photos by Phil Hauck