Safely Crass 1997
For this project Lori teamed with producer Mike Merz (AKA Mike Hallenbeck) formerly of Pimentos For Gus. He also played on the recordings along with Doug Bratland (bass) and William Mullen (drums) from his band, Mike Merz and the Can O' Worms.
In 1997 and 1998 Lori and Mike were gigging in the Twin Cities with this line-up and would alternate between their material during sets, backing eachother as seen in the linked episode (see below) of the MTN television show TC Muzique. Later on when Mike and Lori split to focus on their own music they both continued working with Doug and William. Doug's brother, Don Bratland joined Lori's group playing additional rhythm and lead guitar parts as she continued doing shows around town from Seventh Street Entry to the Bryant Lake Bowl.
In addition to the musicians listed above others who contributed to the recording were repeat collaborators Jerry Lefkowitz, David Beckey and Keith Patterson (Zsa Zsa Stole the Apple) and Ben Connelly who plays lap steel on the country tinged "Is This Thing For Real." The whimsical cover art of the CD is by Lori's husband, Dan Shattuck, the collage artist and photographer.
TC Muzique Mike Merz With Lori Wray
Lori sings three songs from Safely Crass
"Where are they now?"
Lori's first CD collection of ten of her own songs was recorded starting in April of 1997 and released the same year. The title is a Lori Wray coinage and comes from one of the lines of the song "Private World"; ...[I'm] safely crass and frankly rude..
01-29-1998 Minneapolis, MN
TC Muzique was a cable access music program that ran on the MTN network from 1988 - 2015
2:40 Private World
8:40 Walking Tall
21:20 Zsa Zsa Stole The Apple
Safely Crass Tracklist
(written by Lori Wray)
1 Walking Tall
2 MTC 1990
3 Hate Your Own
4 Private World
5 When I'm Weakening
6 Prisoner
7 A Penny
8 Is This Thing For Real
9 Diva Devastated
10 Zsa Zsa Stole The Apple
Mike Merz goes by his real name, Mike Hallenbeck and runs his own sound studio "Cool Cat Audio" in Minneapolis. Doug and Don Bratland moved to Northfield and now play all around the state in the alt country band
Matt Arthur and the Bratlanders with Matt Arthur (Prest Asbestos) and Joel Beithon on drums.