Orson’s Well was formed in 2000 by a group of actors at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, bringing together an eclectic combination of classic rock, blues, and vocal harmonies mixed with a modern style. Sponsored by Jagermeister, Orson’s Well developed a loyal following in Chicago. In 2001, the band released its album, Serve The Verve, followed by a Midwest tour. They continued performing for several years until their final 2004 performance in Chicago. But everyone had a lot of time on their hands last year (gee, why?) and the band collaborated over Zoom to put something out for the 20th anniversary of Serve the Verve. In this interview, Bill Tisdale tell us about the process that went into creating True Come Country, and why the band chose to focus on America’s violent culture.
Explain the title of your album.
“True Crime Country” has a bit of a double meaning. It clues you into the style of the song and gives you an idea of what it might be about, but hopefully by the end of the song the listener will realize that we’re also referring to a specific place. We all live in True Crime Country.
Does your album have an overarching theme?
The theme is our national obsession with violence in America – on our streets as well as in the entertainment we consume. Our lead singer (and composer of this song) is a producer of True Crime television, which gives him a unique perspective on this subject.
Do you start off with the music or lyrics first? Why?
It varies from song to song but this one definitely started out with the lyrics. Scott had the idea of an obsessed viewer of the True Crime genre who decides to take what she’s learned and apply it to her own life. It was one of those songs that just flowed from pen to page without much self-censoring or revision, and eventually became more of a macro theme than originally intended.
What have you missed about touring?
It’s been 20 years since Orson’s Well has been on tour. We had a lot of fun zipping around the country in that old Chevy Astro van. We miss life on the road and the thrill of winning over new audiences. These days, we make music together virtually from 3000 miles apart, but we all hope to get together in person to rock a live show again.
How are you using your platform to support marginalized people?
We are allies in the fight for equality and justice for all races and genders. When we started out, we were just about good-time rock and roll. But times have changed and so have we. The video for “Worth This Song” – the first track we recorded when we reunited in 2020 – features several images from Black Lives Matters protests and Women’s Marches, some of which I took while marching alongside hundreds of thousands of like minded people from all walks of life. We wanted to make a strong progressive statement right out of the gate – and that was a big shift for a band that had previously been almost non-political. As our awareness continues to expand and we continue to evolve both as individuals and as a band, we look forward to doing more wherever and whenever possible.