Crane Wives, The

The Crane Wives is an Americana/folk band from Grand Rapids, Michigan known for its distinct harmonies from vocalists and songwriters Emilee Petersmark and Kate Pillsbury.

The group writes across a broad spectrum of themes, from local folk-tales, personal friendships and relationships, to the occasionally politically motivated track. Petersmark also notes that the group's subject matter includes queer representation, as several songs are about relationships between two women or relationships between two men.

Formation and Safe Ship, Harbored (2011)
Songwriters Emilee Petersmark and Kate Pillsbury worked at a Chinese restaurant on 44th Street in Grandville, Michigan. To avoid waiting tables, they spent weekends performing in the restaurant under the name The Crane Wives -- a reference to the Decemberists album "The Crane Wife." Later they moved their show to the local circuit and added members Dan Rickabus (drums, vocals), Tom Gunnels (banjo), and Ben Zito (bass).

The Crane Wives entered Sound Post Studios to record their debut album, "Safe Ship, Harbored." Both Zito and Rickabus produced the album. The band held a release celebration at Founders on May 12, 2011 (fact check this).

The album's twelfth and final track, "I Ain't Done," is about the Ada Witch, a Grand Rapids folk-tale in which a woman is murdered by her husband after committing infidelity, and returns to haunt the cemetery near her home.

The Crane Wives made local headlines after Decemberists vocalist Colin Meloy held up a copy of "Safe Ship, Harbored" for a picture during an interview on NPR.

Safe Ship Harbored Track Listing:

 * 1) Can't Have it All
 * 2) The Diving Bell
 * 3) New Colors
 * 4) Caleb Trask
 * 5) Counting Sheep
 * 6) Hole in the Silver Lining
 * 7) Safe Ship, Harbored
 * 8) Naked, the Night Falls
 * 9) Ancient History
 * 10) October
 * 11) The Crooked, the Cradle
 * 12) I Ain't Done

Influences, References, and Notes on "Safe Ship, Harbored"

 * "Safe Ship, Harbored" was the only song the band wrote while working in the studio.
 * "I Ain't Done" is about the Ada Witch, a local urban legend about a woman who was murdered over infidelity.

The Fool in Her Wedding Gown (2012)
"The Fool in Her Wedding Gown" is the second studio album by The Crane Wives.

Influences, References, and Notes on "The Fool in Her Wedding Gown"

 * Emilee Petersmark's little brother Chris plays piano on "Into the Ground" and played his part perfectly on the second take -- that's the take you hear in the song.

A Very Crane Wives Christmas (2014)
A Very Crane Wives Christmas is the third release by The Crane Wives, and the first Christmas album.

A Very Crane Wives Christmas Track List:

 * 1) Winter Song
 * 2) Let it Snow
 * 3) White Winter Hymnal
 * 4) White Christmas
 * 5) Silent Night
 * 6) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Influences, References, and Notes on A Very Crane Wives Christmas:

 * "White Winter Hymnal" was the very first song Petersmark and Pillsbury played together.

Coyote Stories (2015)
Coyote Stories is the fourth studio album by The Crane Wives, and the first album after banjo player Tom Gunnels was fired.

Coyote Stories Track List:

 * 1) Keep You Safe
 * 2) The Moon Will Sing
 * 3) Allies or Enemies
 * 4) Unraveling
 * 5) Hard Sell
 * 6) Rockslide
 * 7) Metaphor
 * 8) The Hand That Feeds
 * 9) Little Soldiers
 * 10) Sleeping Giants
 * 11) Of Everlong
 * 12) Never Love an Anchor
 * 13) New Discovery

A Very, Very Crane Wives Christmas (2015)
A Very, Very Crane Wives Christmas is the band's fifth studio album and the second Crane Wives Christmas album.

A Very, Very Crane Wives Christmas Track List:

 * 1) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
 * 2) Once Upon a December
 * 3) Silver Bells
 * 4) I'll Be Home For Christmas
 * 5) You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

Influences, References, and Notes on "A Very, Very Crane Wives Christmas":

 * Dan Rickabus entirely improvised the line about Donald Trump in "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" and you can hear Petersmark's genuine cry of "oh no" in the background.

Foxlore (2016)
In 2016 The Crane Wives released their sixth studio album, Foxlore.

Foxlore Track List:

 * 1) Nothing at All
 * 2) I Talk in My Sleep
 * 3) Down the River
 * 4) Ribs
 * 5) Can't Go Back
 * 6) Curses
 * 7) Turn the Lights Out
 * 8) Pretty Little Things
 * 9) Know How
 * 10) Not the Ghost
 * 11) The Garden

2017-Present
In June of 2017, vocalist and songwriter Emilee Petersmark was featured on the front page of Buzzfeed for a series of art pieces she was commissioned to do as album artwork and posters for fellow Michigan folk group, The Accidentals. The series imagined each zodiac sign as a different goddess.

The Crane Wives entered the studio to record its seventh album in January of 2019.