Carmaig de Forest

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{multiple issues| {{BLP sources|date=June 2014}} {{notability|Music|date=June 2014}} }}

{{Infobox musical artist | name = Carmaig de Forest | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Carmaig de Forest | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|9|9|mf=yes}} | death_date = | origin = Los Angeles, California, United States | instrument = | genre = [[Folk music|Folk]], rock | occupation = Singer-songwriter | years_active = 1980s-present | label = [[Sudden Death Records]], New Rose, Serious Records, Knitting Factory Works | associated_acts = [[Violent Femmes]]<br/>[[They Might Be Giants]] | website = http://www.carmaig.com | current_members = | past_members = }}

'''Carmaig de Forest''' (born September 9, 1957)<ref name="spotify">{{Cite web|title=Carmaig de Forest|url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/7v8QSQ3HkCdNu8CHiiEpJ9|access-date=2020-10-15|website=Spotify|language=en}}</ref> is a singer-songwriter, mainly on the [[ukulele]], but also the guitar, originating from Los Angeles, California. Since starting his career as a ukulele singer-songwriter, he has mostly stayed in the creative musical underground of California and [[Baltimore]], at one time touring with the [[Violent Femmes]], who would later play with him on his ''DeathGrooveLoveParty'' album.<ref name="Christgau2000">{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Christgau|title=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xVQbszFuEGMC&pg=PA75|accessdate=November 8, 2014|year=2000|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=9780312245603|page=75}}</ref> Perhaps his most recognized achievement was being the warm-up artist for the [[Ramones]] in the early 1980s.

De Forest's political songwriting style has been referred to as "[[Raymond Carver]]'s poems set to music". His songs sometimes have an overtly political focus, such as his 1992 single "[[George H. W. Bush|George Bush]] Lies" re-recorded to protest [[George W. Bush]] for the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 Presidential Election]]. His song "Hey Judas" compares [[John Hinckley Jr.]] to [[Judas Iscariot]], [[Adolf Hitler]], and [[Jim Jones]], suggesting that he might go to Hell for his attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan ''failing'', and making the president more popular.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://thelifeofthemind.blogspot.com/2004/06/for-ronald-reagan-1911-2004-hey-judas.html|title=The Life of the Mind|language=en|access-date=May 3, 2019|archive-date=May 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503180853/http://thelifeofthemind.blogspot.com/2004/06/for-ronald-reagan-1911-2004-hey-judas.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Many of his songs have been covered by his friends in the Baltimore and [[Vancouver, Canada|Vancouver]] underground scene, including Canadian accordion player [[Geoff Berner]], who claims to be "touring for two", as Carmaig de Forest plays mainly underground gigs, while Berner is a bit more on the road.

His fourth studio album, ''Idiot Strings'', was released on the Serious Records label on September 9, 2007.

==Discography==

===Albums=== *''I Shall Be Released'' (1987) *''DeathGrooveLoveParty'' (1993) *''El Camino Real'' (1997) *''Idiot Strings'' (2007) *''I Shall Be Re-Released'' (2017) (an expanded edition of 1987 album, combining original album, live EP with four previously unissued tracks from the original album sessions and an additional unissued live recording)

===Singles/EPs/Others=== *''5 Songs'' (1982) cassette-only demo *''6 Live Cuts'' (1988) *''George Bush Lies/Love is Strong'' (1992) combining the original album, live EP and unissued materialcombining the original album, live EP and unissued material

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== *https://web.archive.org/web/20070203024849/http://www.carmaig.com// Official Website (Not working)

{{DEFAULTSORT:De Forest, Carmaig}} [[Category:American male singer-songwriters]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American ukulele players]] [[Category:1957 births]] [[Category:Singers from Los Angeles]]