Lee Casement: Redemption in Disguise”

Mar 12, 2014

Local musician Lee Casement of Verona is pleased to announce the upcoming CD release party of the third and final installment of “In the Guestroom”, a trilogy of CDs that he has been writing and recording with a number of musical buddies and family members over the last five years.

The first CD was recorded in May 2011 and the second in December 2012. The last one, titled “In the Guestroom Part 3: Redemption in Disguise” will be released on Friday March 28, 7:30pm at The Next Church in Kingston.

Casement describes the new CD as a “more stripped down effort” compared to the two earlier works. This one showcases just three musicians: Casement playing an assortment of guitars, bass, organ and keyboards; Shaun Weima playing the same as well as lap steel guitar and singing the lead vocal on one track; and Jeff Babcock playing drums and percussion. Weima and Casement co-wrote all of the music on the 11 tracks, which feature one instrumental work and 10 tunes with lyrics written by the 10 singer/songwriters who perform them on the CD.

The CD was recorded at Weima's Ianspotting Studios in Kingston and Casement describes the over all feel of the new work as more folksy rock than all out in your face rock and roll. “By far the rockiest tune on the CD is the song ‘Angels Telling Lies’, the track sung and with lyrics by Sideshow, a well known DJ on K-Rock Radio in Kingston.”

Casement said his musical influences have changed over the last few years. “I'm definitely listening to a lot more folk these days which is likely why this CD is a bit mellower and the tunes more slow and relaxed than those we recorded on the earlier CDs.” Casement listed his current influences as bands like The National, and The Evening Hymns and it is these musical influences he says that have made him pay more attention to the “more subtle layers in the music.’”

Fans can sample the new CD in a video of its opening track, “Blood and Faith”, which features Casement and Weima accompanying singer Bill Cassidy. This ethereal opener has multiple layers of delicately crafted sound and also features some very atmospheric harmonies. The video was actually shot in Casement's sister’s garage using a black backdrop and it demonstrates the overall mellow tone of the new CD. Other highlights from the CD include the tune “Victoria Street Hymnal”, from which the title of the CD comes. The tune was co-written by Casement and his cousin Lisa Menard with the lead sung by Madyson Doseger. It sounds like a modern day church hymn, a song of praise with the hook line “Glory, glory rise.”

Another highlight for Casement is a tune on the CD “No Movement”, sung by his uncle Grant Bresee, who was one of the people who introduced him to music. “Getting Grant to agree to sing it on the CD took a bit of convincing. I'm definitely partial to this tune for that reason,” Casement said. He has also convinced Grant to perform the song at the upcoming CD release party.

Asked how he has changed as a musician over the last five years, Casement said he feels that he is better able to craft songs. “In the beginning I would have just a few scattered ideas and some chords but now I tend to start writing with much more than that.” Casement also plays more instruments now than he used to, including the organ, which he took up playing just this past year. Asked how he has changed as a person Casement said, “I think I have become more patient. I tend not to be a perfectionist but working with others has allowed me to push further into areas that I might have otherwise left unexplored.”

Casement mentioned that a few friends have approached him about making a fourth CD and said, “Right now I think that this will be the last but who knows what the future might bring.”