Dead Man Winter - Furnace

Facts Furnace, is a highly revealing and deeply personal offering from accomplished singer/songwriter Dave Simonett, who performs under the pseudonym Dead Man Winter. Widely known as the lead vocalist and songwriter for the acclaimed band Trampled By Turtles, Simonett has touched legions of fans with his thoughtful lyrics and warm tenor. However, the Minnesota native had some recent life-altering experiences to contend with and realized that he had to utilize a completely different vessel to do so. After 14 years of leading the successful progressive bluegrass outfit, Simonett chose to put the band on hold, and for the first time, dedicate an entire album to one topic. The 10 songs that comprise Furnace reflect a man coming to terms with a painful divorce and the heartbreaking separation from his two children. While Simonett did not initially set out to chronicle these experiences, the process proved to be cathartic and highly therapeutic. The songwriter spent time in a cabin during the 20-below Minnesota winter and just wrote. The pent up emotions poured out of him and into songs such as the haunting "This House Is On Fire," the reflective Byrds-styled "Destroyer" and the rollicking confessional "Am I Breaking Down," to name a few.