For every romantic Valentine’s Day, there’s the day after.
Musician Donald Ducote is making Feb. 15 a celebration of love gone wrong for all those who had to endure another lonely holiday with a slew of anti-love songs and more than a little catharsis.
“It was a subject I shied away from on other records and it felt like now was a good time to purge those emotions,” said Ducote, a Ditmas Park resident. “I hadn’t and they had stockpiled.”
Ducote wasn’t born cynical, but he has survived his share of bad breakups.
Luckily, like many talented sad people, Ducote has an outlet for his sorrow and bitterness.
He poured out his soul on “Tracks,” a new album he crafted under the moniker Ancient History, reflecting on all the hard times he endured. He recruited some studio musicians for the album and will be accompanied on stage by three back-up players at his anti-love show at the Sycamore Bar and Flowershop.
The music is sparse and folky, while the lyrics on songs such as “Hands Are For Holding Drinks,” “She Gave You The Drink,” and “I Know It’s Late” detail the aftermath of love turned sour.
Ducote said that the inspiration for the record was mainly one relationship, but that others are represented as well.
Despite his troubles, Ducote said he still believes in love.
“You’ve got to keep trying,” he said. ‘You can’t just quit.”
Ancient History at Sycamore Bar & Flowershop [1118 Cortelyou Rd. between Westminster Road and East 11th Street in Ditmas Park, (347) 240–5850, www.sycamorebrooklyn.com]. Feb 15, 9:30 pm, $10.
Reach reporter Danielle Furfaro at dfurfaro@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2511. Follow her at twitter.com/DanielleFurfaro.
