NFV Song Spotlight: Ferry Townes' Salt

Ferry Townes, the moniker for Julia Gargano, walked up to the Hotel Ziggy microphone during a WFNM night with a smile and an enthusiasm for her music that was shared by the audience. It didn't take long for someone to yell out, "So f*cking awesome." Her response, "Thank you, dude."

Ferry Townes at Hotel Ziggy

As I've mentioned in past blog posts, WFNM has an in with American Idol contestants. Now personally, I long ago stopped watching American Idol. My amusing excuse is that I can just catch a more curated American Idol in person at a WFNM night at either Hotel Ziggy or Bar Lubitsch. Gargano was part of Season 18 and finished 7th. Per her bio, her moniker Ferry Townes is a homage to The Staten Island Ferry, which she used frequently, having grown up on Staten Island.

Her music has an alternative pop quality that at times tip-toes over to alternative country such as her opening song "Roll One More." That song hooked me immediately. She then told the audience, "God, it feels so good to scream into a microphone right now, to be honest, it's been that type of week." With that, she launched into "Death This Morning" which is about a time when she was hanging out in London and had one too many margaritas even though she had a session the next morning.

Ferry Townes at Hotel Ziggy

When someone called out that her music was ferocious. She responded with, "Ferocious, I've got to use that adjective more often. Guys, you're a ferocious crowd." She then went into "More Than You Deserve," which is about giving a guy way too many chances. While tuning up for the cover of Miley Cyrus' High, she asked the audience to listen carefully to the lyrics. 

And I don't miss you, but, I think of you and don't know why

Ferry Townes at Hotel Ziggy

The meaning of that Cyrus song was a perfect lead-in to the song "Salt." She introduced the song by saying, "It's about the moment that you let someone go and then they just move on. What's that about? I have pride. I'd never go back and tell that person I was feeling that way, but here's the truth of that time." Like her over-all set, "Salt" was played solo with her on guitar. While strumming the guitar strings, she gave her vocals an emotionally raspy and strained quality. During a musical bridge, she whistled in a shaky manner that had one thinking she just might break out into tears. 

It's rude that you still wear the shirt that you knew was my favorite
Wish I could pour my perfume all over your bed

Quote of the night while tuning: Awkward silene or a bad joke?

Setlist (likely not in the correct order as Ferry Townes jumped around the songs list): Roll One More, Death This Morning, There It Was, Be Here, Aftermath, More Than You Deserve, High (Miley Cyrus cover), Salt, Ruby.