When you question successful artists in almost any field, one of the common themes that emerges is a belief that what you resist the urge to add to a composition is every bit as important, if not more so, as what does end up in the final mix. Â Eliza Gilkyson and her son, Cisco Ryder, can claim to be a standard bearer of that philosophy as producers of her newly released The Nocturne Diaries. Â The result is an album that really projects the feeling of Gilkyson and a few musician friends playing at your favorite acoustic music club. Â They lugged a couple of $500 amps down the narrow stairs, set up in a too small corner, and played the set list with the feeling drawn unabashedly from the joy of getting to play music for a living.
Gilkyson comes from a musically talented family, including brother Tony (Lone Justice, X) and father Terry whose various TV & movie scores include an Oscar nomination for his work at Disney. Â Even then, I’d argue Eliza got more than her share of the family’s songwriting talent. Â (She also has a sister who’s an exec at Warner Brothers Music, so even when they aren’t playing they’re influencing what music you hear.)
It’s hard to zero in on particular songs on the record that stand out.  Fast Freight is one of her dad’s songs that’s she’s turned into something akin to Woody Guthrie recording a song for a Disney movie, with a slightly haunting melody and guitar providing subtle hints of 30’s locomotives.  Eliza Jane is an uptempo waltz featuring Rich Brotherton and Warren Hood on mandolin and fiddle, respectively.  No Tomorrow slows things down and also features Hood.  Touchstone goes a little more Appalachian, with harmonies and autoharp ala the Carter family  of decades ago.  I suppose my favorite, though, is An American Boy.  It’s a creepy song (and I mean that with the utmost respect) about a barely averted Columbine.  So far.
 As a member of Austin’s Music Hall of Fame, you probably wouldn’t say Gilkyson is unknown.  A wider appreciation of her talents has somehow eluded her grasp, however.  The Nocturne Diaries is a chance for you to see what you’ve been missing.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.