Who are we - and what's up with the name?
Inspired by the sad and beautiful music of Bert Jansch, Anne Briggs and Jackson C Frank, Steve Koch and Colleen Hodgson put together HMHFAS for the pure pleasure and challenge of presenting songs by those artists. Along the way we also pulled in some other dark Americana treasures from Townes, Hoyt and others.
We've been a bit coy about the name for a while but since you're all asking... here's the scoop.
'He Mistook Her For A Swan' is the refrain from the strange and beautiful traditional song Polly Vaughan. Specifically the Anne Briggs haunting version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOi6t_3zICE
Its a traditional song with many versions including a Canadian one from Newfoundland called Molly Brawn. Its not exactly a murder ballad, more of a manslaughter ballad and the story offers a glimpse into a changing world. What to make of it? Here are a few ideas:
Check out our new YouTube Channel! The He Mistook Her For A Swan Emergency Broadcasting System
Zepplinesque and the Handsome Neds
Our very own Colleen Hodgson rocking with Zepplinesque. Steve several hundred years ago with the Handsome Neds
Here are a few videos of us in other zany configurations!
Colleen singing the haunting Townes Van Zant song Black Crow Blues with Grier Coppins amazing band the Urban Highlanders. A song we also do in HMHFAS
Check them out:
https://www.urbanhighlanders.com/
Steve kicking out the jams with the Screwed (Steve Saint vocals, John Borra Bass, Cleave Anderson drums) at the Dakota in Toronto a few years back
The Ugly and the John Borra Band
Steve and our friends Screamin Sam, Tony Torcher (RIP) and Greg Dick playing loud and fast.
John Borra Band with Steve & Colleen, Cleave Anderson and our buddy Don Kerr of the Rheostatics on Cello. OK it does suck that you can barely see Colleen cause of that post, but you can sure hear her sing!