Culture
Gladden House Sessions 2017: Sallie Ford
By: Maria Meece and Clarence Thomas
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Portland, OR native Sallie Ford has found roots and inspiration from a host of vintage sounds; incorporating a freewheeling combination of rock swagger, jazz stylings, and forthright storytelling into her songs. Ford’s newest album, Soul Sick (released February on Vanguard Records) included 11 personal songs that delve into dark and treacherous territory, with Ford openly wrestling with depression and anxiety throughout.
Ford’s Gladden House set took place on Saturday, June 3, the third day of the 2017 Nelsonville Music Festival. Harnessing just the sound of a singular, blistering electric guitar, she shared songs from the newest album, as well as a selection from 2013’s Partisan Records release, Untamed Beast. Ford was interviewed by Ohio University’s Josh Antonuccio before her performance, discussing the inspirations behind her music and the development of the songs on Soul Sick. Under clear blue skies, the set began with “Roll Around” (Untamed Beast), “Unraveling” (Soul Sick) and concluded with “Middle Child” (Soul Sick).