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Haden Triplets - “Every Time I Try” (Track of the Day)

Country trio performing at the Fox Cabaret on May 19
Haden Triplets
The Haden Triplets (Tanya, Rachel and Petra Haden) perform in Vancouver at the Fox Cabaret on Tuesday, May 19.

The Haden Triplets recorded “Every Time I Try” (originally written by their brother Josh Haden for Wim Wenders’ film, The End of Violence) for their new album, The Family Songbook. The video (featuring a cameo by Nick Offerman) pays tribute to old ’50s TV music programs, such as The Porter Wagoner Show and the Springfield, Missouri-based Ozark Jubilee, which their father Charlie Haden performed on as a child with the Haden Family Band.

Tanya, Rachel and Petra Haden were born Oct. 11, 1971 to the legendary jazz bassist Charlie Haden and his first wife Ellen David.

The Family Songbook digs deep into the Haden family’s musical history, featuring four recently discovered songs, written by their grandfather Carl Haden, Jr. and one from their brother Josh Haden (leader of the band Spain) alongside traditional Americana and other favourites.

Even though their father was known for his long career in avant-garde jazz he was actually born into a family of country musicians who had their own radio show broadcast on KMA in Shenandoah, Iowa and later KWTO in Springfield, Missouri. ‘Cowboy Charlie’ performed alongside his brothers and sister in the Haden Family Band, a country group led by their parents, Carl and Virginia.

The Haden Triplets released their eponymous debut album in 2014, which was produced by iconic roots musician Ry Cooder and featured mandolin work from Ricky Skaggs. Cooder’s son Joachim performs percussion on the new album along with guitarist Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz on pedal steel, drummer Jay Bellerose, and veteran session bass players David Piltch and Larry Taylor.

Outside of their work as a trio, the women have been involved in many other projects over the years: “Tanya, a singer and cellist has been a member of several bands, including Let’s Go Sailing and Silversun Pickups, and was the creator of the Imaginary Bear puppet show. Rachel, a singer, bassist, and drummer, has been a member of that dog. (along with her sister Petra) and the Rentals. Petra, who sings and plays violin, has been in several bands, including that dog., Tito & Tarantula, and the Decemberists, and has released several solo albums, including 2005’s Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out, an a cappella and home-recorded rendition of the Who album.”

The Haden Triplets perform at the Fox Cabaret in Vancouver on Tuesday, May 19. Doors: 7 p.m., Show: 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. through Live Nation.