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I met Troy Henriksen at the Paris Songwriter’s Club at La Cave thru an introduction by Louis Gaston. All three of us played a couple of songs that night and formed a mutual short form fan club. Louis dragged me along the next night to a club in Pigalle to see Troy and his band (which included Louis) do an energetic set. I was sold. I talked to Troy that night to arrange an interview for my tv show Any Road . Watch it here. I have to say our visit to Cimetière du Père-Lachaise was one of the high points of any visit to Paris for me.
Painter, songwriter, filmmaker, etc, Troy Henriksen is what every painter or artist of any kind imagines what moving to Paris looks like. I wanted to be him, or someone like that, when I was in high school. Althoutgh I was going to be a poet. It’s fun when you get a glimpse into what it could have been.
Troy gave me my first gig in Paris. After our interview in one of his Atleliers, we started talking music. He asked me afterwards to open for he and the Bowling Team at Le Truskel. It was a fever dream and a bond was formed.
I came back through town a few other times and we always figured out a way to play a set somewhere. Then finally I found out he was a fabulous drummer as well! I played a couple of sets with him and the aforementioned Louis Gaston. They were some of the most fulfilling concerts I've ever played. I know we’ll do it again… sooner than later.
When the idea to do Paris, Indiana came along, obviously I had to ask Troy to write with me. The idea I had was actually Troy’s. I remember him mentioning that he envisioned me and a song about me getting off a train at Gare du Nord the first time. I ran with that vision and Gare Americain started taking shape in my studio. I sent Troy a chord progression and a few lines of lyrics and the back and forth sharing of lines just happened. I don’t even remember who wrote which lines at this point… it all just made sense.
I made a demo at my studio in Petersburg, flew to Paris, got in a room with Troy, his drums, Louis Gaston, his keyboard, and Nick Buxton and his recording gear, there we went, creating Gare Americain, in all it’s messy glory in Basement Studios Paris. When I got back to Indiana, I asked Cory Folz to re-imagine my bass line. Nick swears he mixed Cory and my playing throughout the song. However it was, it worked. Although I can hear Cory during the verses and me in the chorus. The rest of the time is anyone’s guess.
Since recording, Troy directed a feature film (I edited a couple of scenes!!!) that has really captured the imagination of several festivals and the viewers as well. Here’s more info. You can also find more info on Troy here too!
Bottom line is, I love Troy Henriksen. I suspect a long term friendship and opportunities to collaborate are in our futures.
from Paris, Indiana, released September 21, 2024
Vocals: Brick Briscoe
Drums: Troy Henriksen
Keyboards: Louis Gaston
Guitar & Bass: Brick Briscoe
Bass: Cory Folz
produced by Nick Buxton
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