Neko Case: Closet Bohunk?

I was turned on to the amazing vocals of Ms-Don't-Call-Me-Alt-Country Case by someone very dear to me who has built an entire cottage industry around the obsessive compulsive stalking of the abovementioned red haired singing vixenette.

Her discography is an eclectic evolution from goofy girly honky tonk to the haunting lyrics of love, loss and longing. "Look for Me" from her 2002 Blacklisted album has cracked Sheena's Top 3 List of Songs to Sulk By.

Luckily, she has strong roots in North of 49 as one of the premier members of supergroup The New Pornographers, and is a regular on the Toronto touring scene. Was honoured to be able to attend the taping last year of her live album The Tigers Have Spoken, with guest stars The Sadies:

(Guys.. really.. would a bit of soap kill you?)

Earlier this month, Neko's long awaited next solo project "Fox Confessor Brings the Flood" was released to adoring fans world wide, and she's been front and centre promoting the project, with a guest appearance on Jay Leno AND a page in this month's GQ.

What is the Fox Confessor? Ms. Case's inspiration for the album comes from the recollections of some of the traditional Russian fairy tales she heard growing up. Trickery, flattery and treachery abound in these tales of darkness and foreboding....As the sly vixen attempts to coax the reluctant rooster from a safe perch, the prey is tempted by the false friendship....

O holy mother fox, your mouth is as honey, your words are kind, your
tongue is sweet! But will you save me if you devour my body?"

"I do not want your body nor your colored garment. I want to pay you back an old favor."

A lesson to be heeded by wayward girls out in the big world. But why the Russian fairy tales? Why not Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen? Well, my pretties. Neko Case is Ukrainian.

Yep. A Perogie Princess. A Borscht Babe. A Kapusta Queen.

From a 1999 Interview in Edmonton:

http://www.moregoatthangoose.com/interviews/neko.php

Case is a Russian last name?
No. Our family is Russian/Ukrainian, but "Case" is something we got slapped with when we came through immigration in the 1940's. It's Shefschenko. Total Uke. They certainly didn't feel like spelling that! They probably wouldn't have named me Neko if we still had Shefschenko. It doesn't really flow. I like it. I would be happy if I still had it. I thought about changing it back, and then I started making records and it's just kind of easier to keep your name the way it is.

Suddenly. All is illuminated.