No Fools, No Fun

• PUSS N BOOTS NO FOOLS , NO FUN.

After playing live together since 2008, Sasha Dobson, Norah Jones and Catherine Popper have at last taken their collaboration into the studio. No Fools, No Fun with the release of their debut album on Blue Note Records. The trio, known as Puss n Boots after flirtations with such monikers as Fangbanger, Dixie Fried and Shitstorm, recorded the album at Studio G in Brooklyn with engineer/mixer Joel Hamilton. 'No Fools, No Fun' includes five original songs two each from Dobson and Popper and one from Jones and seven spirited cover tunes, all culled from Puss n Boots live repertoire. The 12-song collection takes its name from the lyrics of 'Bull Rider,' a Rodney Crowell song made famous by Johnny Cash. 'Bull Rider' is one of three album tracks that Puss n Boots recorded live in June of 2013 at The Bell House. Over the years, they have also performed at the Bridge School Benefit, played stadiums with the Beastie Boys on the 'Get Out The Vote' tour and joined Wilco onstage at Madison Square Garden, singing background vocals on 'Jesus, Etc.,' a song that Puss n Boots interprets on 'No Fools, No Fun'. 'We had talked about for a long time. A listen to the live s of one of the Bell House shows gave us a kick in the pants,' says Catherine Popper. 'The record is a snap of what we do, warts and all.' 'Down By The River is one of my all time favorite Neil Young s and I've always had this fantasy of playing it and rocking the guitar solo,' recalls Norah Jones. 'I never really thought I'd have the guts to do it, but that's sort of what this band has always been about, trying new things. We always egg each other on, whether it was Sasha playing drums, or Cat singing an original song for the first time on stage.' 'We have always thrived on our live performance. We rage onstage,' says Sasha Dobson. 'It's exciting to think the positive energy that s created from this band could reach beyond a small club in Brooklyn.' 1. Leaving London Tom Paxton cover 2. Bull Rider (live) (Rodney Crowell tune made famous by Johnny Cash) 3. Twilight (cover of The Band song written by Robbie Robertson) 4. Sex Degrees of Separation (Sasha Dobson original) 5. Don't Know What It Means (Norah Jones original) 6. Tarnished Angel (live) (Roger Miller tune made famous by George Jones) 7. Jesus, Etc. (Wilco cover) 8. Always (Catherine Popper original) 9. Down By The River (live) (Neil Young cover) 10. GTO (Jeb Loy Nichols cover) 11. Pines (Catherine Popper original) 12. You'll Forget Me (Sasha Dobson original)