Nora O’Connor is a Chicago-based musician whose vocal talents are the secret weapon behind some of the city’s best performances and recordings. For much of 2013, O'Connor toured internationally as a singer in Iron and Wine, and she continues to record and perform with longtime collaborator, Andrew Bird. Nora also plays bass and sings back-up for Kelly Hogan (she recorded and toured with Hogan for her release I Like To Keep Myself In Pain on ANTI- Records) and in 2010, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy enlisted her and Hogan as primary vocalists on gospel legend Mavis Staples’ Grammy Award-winning album You Are Not Alone. She has been most recently been touring with The Decemberists, singing harmonies and playing a bunch of their really nice guitars
In the studio and on the stage, Nora has backed (among others) Neko Case, Jakob Dylan, The New Pornographers, Archer Prewitt, Chris Mills, The Aluminum Group, Otis Clay, Justin Roberts and Robbie Fulks. Though she may be primarily known for her signature honey-sweet vocals, Nora is also revered among her musician peers for her chops and versatility. She's a solid sender on guitar and bass, an enthusiastic and inspired collaborator, and always ninja-nimble and professional to a T -- just a few of the reasons why this lady's phone never stops ringing.
Along with Kelly Hogan, she's part of the vocal one-two punch for the soul/pop/AM radio geek out band The Flat Five--look for an album sometime soon!
Nora first came to our attention as guitarist/vocalist for the late, great glam-country outfit The Blacks. All these talents must know something about the dulcet tones of Ms. O'Connor, and you should too.
- "Me, Myself and Wine" (w/ Kelly Hogan) on Bloodshot Six Pack to Go: Working Songs for the Drinking Class
- Covers Robbie Fulks' "I'll Trade You Money For Wine" w/ Andrew Bird on While No One Was Looking: Toasting 20 Years of Bloodshot Records
- Split Single cover Nora's "My Backyard" on While No One Was Looking: Toasting 20 Years of Bloodshot Records
- "Two Way Action" w/ Andrew Bird on For a Decade of Sin: 11 Years of Bloodshot Records
- "Looks Like I'm Up Shit Creek Again" (Tom Waits cover) on Down to the Promised Land: 5 Years of Bloodshot Records
- "Home On The Range" on The Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook: Volumes Two and Three
- "Sticks and Stones" on Hard-Headed Woman: A Celebration of Wanda Jackson
- "Poor Old Heartsick Me" w/ Lawrence Peters on Poor Little Knitter on the Road
- "Cheese, Peas, Pickles and Bananas" w/ Steve Frisbie on The Bottle Let Me Down