https://www.caseyneill.com/
Casey Neill is a songwriter from Portland, Oregon performing high
energy indie folk, infused with haunting melodies and weather beaten
narratives. Neill performs as a solo act as well as with his band, The Norway
Rats. He tours throughout the USA, Japan, and Europe at clubs and
listening rooms as well as festivals such as Newport Folk, Pickathon, and
Bumbershoot. The new Casey Neill & The Norway Rats album Subterrene is
a major leap forward that No Depression calls "a milestone in Neill and
company’s trajectory thus far" while Rolling Stone says "(Neill's) songs mask
their complexities beneath a simple, singalong-worthy surface... these
swimming waters have serious depth."
"These are songs with stories well told. This is what it's all about" - STEVE
EARLE
"Soul-searing songs “ - UTNE READER
Casey Neill’s career launched in 1997, after inking a three record deal
with acoustic label Appleseed and contributing tracks to their Pete Seeger
Tribute collection along with Bruce Springsteen, Billy Bragg, and Bonnie
Raitt. A compilation of his material entitled 'Memory Against Forgetting' was
released by Indigo Girl Amy Ray's Daemon imprint in 2005. Following a few
years treading the boards in New York City, Casey moved back to Portland
and it's thriving music community. In 2007, a far more electric Casey Neill
record ’Brooklyn Bridge' was released and The Norway Rats were formed.
'Goodbye to the Rank and File' followed in 2010 and “All You Pretty Vandals’
in 2014. A collaborative songwriting project titled Big Bridges led to three
sold out tours of Japan. At Newport Folk Festival, Casey was part of the all
star Speak Out band with Lucius, Margo Price, Nate Rateliff and more. This
historic set was released on LP as part of Record Store Day 2018. Casey is
a frequent member of power pop band The Minus 5 along with Scott
McCaughey and Peter Buck of R.E.M. (who both guest on Subterrene).
Critic Marco Rivera described it best for music blog Splendid: “Be it
through raucous rockers, fragile acoustic ballads, passionate bursts of punk
fury or soulful touches of Irish folk, Neill's narrative talent and concern for
real people's struggles stand out. (Neill) evokes an epic feel that fits perfectly
with the implicit grandiosity of this emotional material, delivered with a raspy,
affectionate voice that recalls Life's Rich Pageant-era Michael Stipe. The
results are so evocative, you'll be tempted to steep further in these
memories, the better to share Casey Neill's particular blend of personal and
historical experience.”