Vintage-style logo for 'Falling Fences,' established in 1824, with decorative scrollwork and rays emanating from the center.

Falling Fences

LP • 2014

Spotify • Apple Music

For the Record

By 2014, Sean Canan and I had settled into Sunday nights at McGurk's Irish Pub, with Ryan Kennedy joining us each week on upright bass. I was writing songs again, and somewhere along the way it became obvious that we had become more than "the guys playing at McGurk's on Sunday nights." We felt like a real band.

The name came almost as naturally. Driving through Forest Park one fall morning, I remembered the phrase, "Even fences have ears," and suddenly the words Falling Fences came to me. I couldn't wait to ask Sean and Ryan what they thought about becoming a band. Their faces said yes before either of them spoke. "Good," I said. "Then how about we call ourselves Falling Fences?"

With a new name came a new beginning. We launched a Kickstarter campaign, returned to Centro Cellar Studio with Wil Reeves, and recorded our debut album. Looking back, Falling Fences captures the excitement of a band discovering its identity for the very first time. It was the beginning of something Sean and I have been fortunate to carry together ever since.

Track Listing

  1. Shot to the Devil

  2. The Great Harpoon at Dawn

  3. The Ghost of 1824

  4. Sittin’ by the Fire

  5. Dear Illinois

  6. Peola Road

  7. Little Cersei

  8. Going Home (In a Streetcar Named Desire)

  9. The By and By

  10. Charmaine

  11. Aideen

  12. Take Me Back to My Mississippi River Home

Video

A band of four musicians performing in a studio, with a brick wall background. One is playing upright bass, one is singing and playing an acoustic guitar, one is on drums, and one is playing an electric guitar.

Going Home
Live at KDHX • St. Louis, MO

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Making the Record

A man with a bald head, glasses, and earrings is taking a photograph outdoors with a camera. In the background, a woman is standing on a grassy field, adjusting her hat or headwear. There are three chairs set up in the grass, and the scene is set against a backdrop of mountains and a clear blue sky.

Behind the Scenes
Album photo shoot with Todd Davis • Columbia, IL

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Three men wearing black hats and dark clothing standing on a grassy area near an old weathered barn in a rural landscape, with one man holding a guitar and another holding a tambourine.

From the Photo Shoot
Photograph by Todd Davis • Columbia, IL

A dark poster with gold ornate design and text promoting an event called 'An Evening with Falling Fences' at St. Louis, Missouri on November 21st at 9 PM, featuring special guests 'The Aching Hearts.'

Screen Print
Toky Branding + Design St. Louis, MO

Liner Notes

Produced by
Wil Reeves & Falling Fences

Recorded & Mixed
Wil Reeves • Centro Cellar Studio • Columbia, MO

Mastered by
Brad Sarno • Blue Jade Audio Mastering

Photography
Todd Davis

Design
Toky Branding + Design • St. Louis, MO

Songs
All songs written by Joe Stickley, except “Sittin’ by the Fire,” written by Stickley & Adam Powers; “Dear Illinois,” written by Stickley & Canan; “Shot to the Devil,” written by Stickley & Canan; and “Take Me Back to My Mississippi River Home,” written by John Hartford.
All songs arranged by Stickley & Canan.

Musicians

Joe Stickley • vocals, guitars

Sean Canan • vocals, guitars, mandolin

Ryan (Chewy Knife) Kennedy • bass

Andrew Weir • keys

Joe Winze • drums

Danny Carroll • drums

Alex Baisch • trumpet

Michael Schembre • fiddle

Molly Healey • Vocals