Carson McHone recently released her covers EP ODES via Merge with covers of Margo Guryan, Conway Twitty, Arthur Russell, and the MC5, and today the cover of Margo Guryan’s “It’s Alright Now” gets a video. Carson breathes new life into the ’60s sunshine pop cult classic, adding in more of a mod rock vibe that she attributes to The Kinks and The Who, and the video features Carson and her band putting a cheeky twist on live-in-studio music videos. Carson tells us over email:
“It’s Alright Now” is one of my favorite Margo Guryan songs—it’s got her quintessential chord progression that seems to snowball and then somehow end up back where it started. The lyrics have that comic irony to them that actually ends up being so revealing—not unlike many classic country songs. We rocked the song a bit, taking a heavier Kinks-y/Who approach with those jabbing electric guitars while still alluding to the syncopated rhythms in the original. It was fun to build out the harmony parts—with some fine tuning help from [band members] Daniel [Romano] and Tommy [Major], of course. It was kind of my first time doing this, and it was really rewarding to hear it all come together. I love this song, and it’s been a joy to cover both in the studio and live. So happy to shed another light on Margo’s work, in my own way.
Big thanks to Kenneth Roy Meehan who shot the video, and to the rest of the band—Daniel, Ian [Romano], and Tommy—who performed with me at our studio, Camera Varda, where we cut the EP. Also a special thank you to Jon Rosner, Margo’s stepson, who gave his blessing for us to share this video with you now.
Check it out below. Carson also has a tour coming up, including a newly-added NYC show on August 21 at TV Eye with the aforementioned Daniel Romano‘s band Outfit and Uni Boys. All dates are listed below.
Carson McHone — 2024 Tour Dates
Aug 16 Rochester, NY – Skylark Lounge*
Aug 17 Boston, MA – Sonia at Middle East*
Aug 18 Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom*
Aug 19 Washington, DC – DC9*
Aug 20 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s*
Aug 21 New York, NY – TV Eye*
Sep 01 Bristol, UK – The Louisiana^
Sep 04 Winchester, UK – The Railway Inn^
Sep 05 Hassocks, UK – Mid Sussex Music Hall^
Sep 07 Colchester, UK – Little Rabbit Barn^
Sep 08 London, UK – The Green Note^
Sep 12 Donegal, IE – Balor Arts Centre^
Sep 13 Clonmel, IE – Moynihan’s Bar^
Sep 14 Kilkenny, IE – Cleere’s Bar^
Sep 15 Dublin, IE – Cobblestone^
Sep 29 Utrecht, NL – TivoliVredenburg Club Nine^
Oct 01 Leiden, NL – Bus Club^
Oct 02 Groningen, NL – SPOT/Der Aa-Theater
* w/ Daniel Romano’s Outfit & Uni Boys
^ Duo show w/ Daniel Romano