Sometimes you just have to run with the moment. A random conversation between Nashville residents Afton Wolfe and Jaimee Harris about cult movie hit “Big Lebowski” was the spark behind this impressive collaboration. Those familiar with the movie will recall that Townes Van Zandt’s cover of The Rolling Stones’ composition closes out the movie. Harris and Wolfe subsequently covered the song – a la the Van Zandt version – at a Lebowski celebration.
They apparently enjoyed it so much that they took it into the studio. Their recording is, of course, akin to Van Zandt’s version yet they somehow lean even further into the melancholy. The combination of their voices – Wolfe’s more gruff than Van Zandt’s while Harris’ sweeter – give it tremendous texture, all the more so as Dayne Bee adds a third voice to the arrangement with her violin.
Both Harris and Wolfe shared their thoughts on the collaboration. Said Harris:
This collaboration came about by the most delightful chain of reactions. I ran into Afton at a John Prine tribute at Dee’s and heard him talking about the upcoming LebowskiFest. ‘Are you going to that?’ I asked. Afton told me he was leading the house band and invited me to play the Townes Van Zandt version of ‘Dead Flowers.’ A dream gig all around! We had so much fun singing it live together, Afton wisely suggested we capture this snapshot. I’m so glad he did.
Wolfe added:
Dead Flowers is one of my favorite songs, because it’s demonstrably one of the greatest songs ever but this idea was a direct result of mutual nerdiness when I was the Music Director for Nashville’s First Annual LebowskiFest last year, and I asked Jaimee to sing this. It was such a fun night, and from there, we tried it in the studio, it sounded good, and it went from there.
I always preferred Townes Van Zandt’s version anyway, and that’s the one from The Big Lebowski, so when we started doing it, I wanted to lean into that sadness with some slight counterpoint changes, and of course Jaimee’s brilliant singing augmented by Dayna Bee’s emotive violin and Daniel Seymour’s deep bowing.
Twangville is honored to premiere “Dead Flowers” by Jaimee Harris and Afton Wolfe.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.