Edward David Anderson is Iola Mills’ second Artist-in-Residence musician. His public performance on Saturday, June 13, will start at 6 p.m. and last until 8 p.m.
Why did Ed Lemar create this program?
Here’s what Ed related about the inspiration for creating the program.
“As an original songwriter myself, I wanted to provide a place where people can have uninterrupted focus time to work on their craft. Over 30 artists applied, and the artist we chose had a clear vision of what they would do with that time and space. The goal is to allow them to create, record, and perform at least one new song at the mill at the end of their stay. The performances are Free to everyone.
“People will also have the opportunity to interact with the artist after the performance during a songwriters’ circle on Sunday at noon. This is an informal time to talk, bounce around ideas, create, and learn where a song comes from. We hope this series will complement the Iola/Scandinavia Songfest, which happens in July, as well as the growing community of local songwriters, including me, Eric Bestul, Stef Lee of Sloppy Joe, Eric H Smith, Galynne Goodwill, Red Ben Lila, Donovan Brooke, Brogee Pease, and more. We wanted to make the event Free so that ticket prices wouldn’t prevent anyone from enjoying the music,” he noted.
Edward David Anderson brings a musical mix
In an exchange with HeadspringIS ahead of the show, Anderson reflected on his musical upbringing, creative influences, and what he hopes audiences take away from his songs.
HeadspringIS: How did your early experiences and upbringing shape your journey into music, particularly within folk and country traditions?
Anderson: As a child of the ’70s, music was within an earshot at all times. I have vivid memories of my parents spinning records in our wood paneled basement and dad popping in 8-tracks in the Dodge pickup truck. And the radio was always on in the AMC Pacer, too. Lots of rock & roll, Stones were king in our household. Beatles too. Dad dug Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Faces, CSNY, etc. And then when my sisters were teenagers, my brother and I shared the room next to them and had a steady diet of AC/DC, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc., coming through the walls.
So, while there was no shortage of rock & roll, there wasn’t a ton of country and folk. Although the family across the street listened to Willie and Waylon and Cash. And mom dug James Taylor and John Denver. So, I guess that’s where the early exposure came from. And Neil too, he could and still can do it all. Sit with an acoustic or turn up an electric and lead a band. Play a ballad on piano or pluck a banjo; Neil’s probably my biggest influence coming up. I loved that he was so versatile … and the songs. The songs are timeless, and I learned a ton of them. In fact, my early gigs before I started writing were primarily made up of Neil and Dylan and Petty tunes, all of which delve into country and folk.
HeadspringIS: Can you share a moment from your childhood or formative years that stands out as pivotal in your musical development?
Anderson: When I was 16, I was a three-sport athlete and played wide receiver on the football team. One particular pass route changed the course of my life. I was running a comeback down the sideline, stopped on a dime, and ran back toward the sideline. The ball was thrown high and away, so I went up to get it. When I came down, I was hit instantly and ended up needing a knee operation.
While I was laid up, my dad put an old acoustic guitar in my hands and taught me how to play the chords. Showed me “La Bamba” and “Oh Donna,” which were songs he played as a teen. In fact, legend has it he was sitting and strumming a guitar at a party the first time he and my mom met. So, I was hooked pretty instantly and couldn’t put the thing down.
Eventually, it was my mother who asked, “Why don’t you try writing some of your own songs?” So I did and here we are nearly four decades later!
HeadspringIS: What draws you to your musical genre, and how do these influences appear in your artistic voice and compositions?
Anderson: Well, I’m sorta all over the place. I wasn’t kidding when I said Neil was the model. I loved that there were and are multiple sides to his musicality, and that’s the approach I’ve always taken. So, I dig bluegrass as much as I love funk and soul music, or heavy rock & roll or jazz or country or blues, etc. It’s all in there.
And I’ve gotten proficient on about a dozen instruments. New sounds and tones always bring out new songs. So, I write different kinds of tunes and am hard to put in a box. It keeps things interesting but probably isn’t the best way to achieve “success” in this mysterious business.
I’ve never made a record where all the songs sound the same. And the records each have their own personality. Most everything is autobiographical too. Somebody told me to “write about what you know” when I was first starting out, and that’s what I’ve done. At a certain point, I realized that there are no rules in songwriting and started making up characters and situations and stories while putting together tunes, but even then, everything is informed by my life experiences.
And I’ve had an interesting run thus far. Earned a master’s degree, have had multiple record deals, have gigged in 46 of the 50 states, toured and opened and played with my heroes, been married 26 years to an incredible woman, we have a beautiful 6-year-old daughter, etc. And all of it seeps into the songs.
HeadspringIS: Could you describe a personal challenge or transformative event that deeply impacted your approach to music and storytelling?
Anderson: About 15 years ago, the band that I had put everything into, Backyard Tire Fire, that had management and an agent and everything going for it, sorta imploded. We toured all over the states and Canada and certainly made our mark, but in hindsight, I think I pushed everybody too hard. So we went on an “indefinite hiatus,” and I was forced to start from scratch and reinvent myself as Edward David Anderson. It was quite painful at the time, but looking back on it, I think it made me a better musician.
I was able to secure a new record deal and agent, my wife quit her day job, we bought a little RV and took our dog and cat on the road. It was a new chapter, and I’m grateful for the experience. I became more self-sufficient and continued churning out the songs and recordings.
Eventually, I put the Tire Fire back together after an eight-year break. I missed playing music with my brother and friends, so now we work in a much different capacity, gigging about a half dozen times a year. We’ve got our first full-length album, produced by our old pal Steve Berlin (six-time Grammy-winning member of Los Lobos), coming out early next year!
HeadspringIS: How do you weave your personal history and emotions into your performances, and what stories are you most eager to tell through your music?
Anderson: My discography is a literal road map through my life experience. A trail of breadcrumbs, if you will.
It’s all there, from victories to the defeats to the road weariness to the love songs, I’ve written something about all of it. And when I play on my own, I definitely talk about where these songs come from.
I’m not a musical prodigy and am certainly not reinventing the wheel, but I think one of my strong points as a songwriter is that folks can identify with what I’m singing about. I’m a self-taught Midwestern son of a plumber. Mom worked at church. I love baseball and books. And being outside. And I’ve spent my entire adult life searching for meaning through words and music.
HeadspringIS: How do you hope audiences connect with your songs, especially those rooted in your music’s traditions, when experiencing your work here at the Mill?
Anderson: I think in any show situation, as an artist, you hope folks truly listen to the songs. And see themselves in them. Maybe look at things from a slightly different point of view. And ultimately forget about their troubles for a couple of hours and enjoy the experience of gathering together with other music-loving humans to take in what you’re putting out there. The room looks ideal, and I’m very much looking forward to this residency and show!
Anderson’s performance at the historic Iola Mills promises an intimate evening of original songs shaped by classic American sounds and personal reflection. The free or low-cost community event offers a chance to experience his evolving catalog in a warm, historic setting.
Other Mill activities
On June 26, Brogee Pease will perform starting at 6 p.m. Live Music Original Songfest will take place July 17-19. Then on Saturday, Aug. 15, Upright Down will play starting at 6 p.m.
The Snapper Triathlon will occur on Saturday, Sept. 12, Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 26, Witches Paddle on Sunday, Oct. 25, and the annual Haunted Mill on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Every Sunday this summer, Iola Mills will host a songwriter’s circle at noon, followed by community singing at 1 p.m.
