Tag: Song Premiere

LISTEN: Jackson Melnick, “John the Revelator”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Jackson Melnick
Hometown: Crested Butte, Colorado
Song: “John the Revelator”
Album: Abilene
Release Date: September 24, 2021

In Their Words: “Apocalypse isn’t to be confused with tragedy. Apocalypse is seeing something in truth, and the pain that might come from having the blinders pulled off. The Book of Revelation, where the characters in this song first emerged, is worth looking at. Or, if you are like me, you can listen to Blind Willie Johnson play slide guitar and sing ‘John the Revelator’ and read the Bible as a chaser. I was struck that the traditional blues song was never adapted to bluegrass music; the theme of the song fit so well, along with the haunting chorus. Perhaps it never was brought into the pantheon due to a kind of musical red-lining in the past, but for those who really know, bluegrass is rooted in Black music and the blues — Arnold Shultz, Bill Monroe’s musical mentor, is only one well-known example. The traditional song’s lyrics didn’t translate melodically well to bluegrass, so I invented some new ones that fit with an apocalyptic narrative — my apocalyptic narrative — which I think is a little more optimistic. I hope Mr. Monroe’s ghost enjoys this song.

“When I worked the song out over a traditional bluegrass progression, it really became one of the most electric bluegrass songs I had ever heard. Alex Leach, a well-regarded banjoist and songwriter himself, and Christopher Henry, the premier Monroe style mandolinist and producer of the new album (notably in Peter Rowan’s Band for a long while now), both helped to bring to the song the tones that make it feel like a classic. Christopher is somebody who knows Mr. Monroe’s language with perfect fluency, the improvisational spirit of it rather than a note for note reflection of Mr. Monroe’s picking. Alex Leach played in what became of the Clinch Mountain Boys. Christopher and I asked him to be on it as a nod to Dr. Stanley, and he lets it rip. I felt something strange and new writing this song, with the narrative of it being an apocalyptic story, but somehow on the rejoicing side of that story. True believers, or I think anyone with real spiritual faith, will relate to the uplifting quality of the song. Singing through the apocalypse — whatever apocalypse you might encounter — it is quite the spiritual test of real faith and true eternal life, and one I hope to emanate.” — Jackson Melnick

Photo credit: Bellamy Brewster

LISTEN: Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, “Up For Air”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs
Hometown: Bozeman, Montana
Song: “Up For Air”
Album: Through the Smoke
Release Date: July 30, 2021

In Their Words: “‘Up For Air’ is a song about going through tough times, but also knowing that you’re in the exact place you’re meant to be. Sometimes it can be hard to accept that things are the way they are and your only job is to surrender. The lyrics for this song came quickly, but composing it as a full band took a while. We tried many different tempos and vibes for the song over the course of a year and finally landed on an upbeat and happy vibe in the studio. Ultimately the song is saying that whatever you’re going through, things will work out if you take a deep breath and come up for air every once in a while.” — Lena Schiffer, Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs

Photo credit: Loni Carr

LISTEN: Cameron Knowler, “Done Gone”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Cameron Knowler
Hometown: Yuma, Arizona & Houston, Texas
Song: “Done Gone”
Album: Places of Consequence
Release Date: July 16, 2021
Label: American Dreams

In Their Words: “‘Done Gone’ exists as a mission statement for the album: examining early fiddle music etymologically, rendering it meditatively, with a slow tempo and low tuning. In some ways, this is meant to problematize the history of flatpicked guitar, wherein guitarists learn fiddle tunes from other guitarists as opposed to fiddlers. This version borrows from a number of early fiddle sources while paying homage to my hero, Norman Blake, whose guitar playing is a broad synthesis of early country music, while pushing far beyond the scope of the genre’s canon. Recorded on a late ’30s plywood guitar, I hope the listener is directed toward the inconsistent and unwieldy qualities of the instrument, a factor that shapes the performance just as much as my sources. This track is in conversation with an Easter egg found on the record.” — Cameron Knowler

Photo credit: Laura Lee Blackburn

LISTEN: Margo Cilker, “Tehachapi”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Margo Cilker
Hometown: Enterprise, Oregon
Song: “Tehachapi”
Album: Pohorylle (produced by Sera Cahoone)
Release Date: November 5, 2021
Label: Fluff and Gravy Records / Loose Music

In Their Words: “‘Tehachapi’ wasn’t born an exuberant song, but it certainly became one. In my live shows it’s the ace up my sleeve — the song I’m careful not to play too early in the set, lest the audience wait all night expecting another like it. At some point during recording Sera called me, laughing into her phone, saying she put a wild sound on ‘Tehachapi’ and that I was gonna love it. She was right on both counts. Tracking accordion as the foundation of the song just made it too easy to go full Crescent City. One of the most vivid memories I have of making Pohorylle is the memory of watching Sera overdub floor toms to make that instrumental of ‘Tehachapi’ really pop. I can genuinely say it seemed like she was having fun, and as a singer-songwriter, that’s all you can ask for. When I cover a song it’s because for a moment in time, that song is the most sacred thing in my life. ‘Willin” was that to me, so I guess it lives in my soul and came out to play on this number.” — Margo Cilker

Photo credit: Matthew W. Kennelly

LISTEN: Tylor & the Train Robbers, “Lemonade”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Tylor & the Train Robbers
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
Song: “Lemonade”
Album: Non-Typical Find (produced by Cody Braun of Reckless Kelly)
Release Date: July 9, 2021

In Their Words: “Everyone has heard the saying ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’ I wanted to use that sentiment as the theme of this song without actually saying it and dig into the idea that when you don’t find a way to bring some good out of the bad, you’re just stuck with the same old lemons. When I’m writing about characters, I like to try to make them feel as real as possible, so I often end up using people I know as inspiration. This one started with the first character that the protagonist encounters, who was based on my grandfather (The Storyteller from our last album). He was a hard-working man who spent his weekends hunting in the hills with his hound dogs and was back at work in the mill come Monday. He was also very fond of bluegrass music so as an additional nod to him we brought in a little of the bluegrass sound featuring a banjo solo.” — Tylor Ketchum, Tylor & the Train Robbers

Photo credit: Maggie Grace Photography

LISTEN: Pat Byrne, “I Woulda Done It for You”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Pat Byrne
Hometown: Borris, County Carlow, Ireland
Song: “I Woulda Done It for You”
Album: Into the Light
Release Date: July 9, 2021

In Their Words: “‘I Woulda Done It for You’ is fun, quirky and upbeat, belying the tragic lyrics. The central character is dealing with the immediate aftermath of a breakup, listing all the crazy things he would have done for his recently estranged partner — and a final plea for one more chance. This song is a co-write with Miles Zuniga of the band Fastball. We met shortly after I moved to Austin and immediately hit it off. Like most songwriters, I was guarded about my work and tended to think none of it was good enough. I had written like ten or eleven verses, too many. After having the song in my notebook for years, it took Miles five minutes to hone the verses and gift me with a chorus. I learned a lot from the experience and am so lucky to have mentors like Miles.” — Pat Byrne

Photo credit: Samantha Della Fave

LISTEN: Joe Troop, “Purdy Little Rainbows”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Joe Troop
Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Song: “Purdy Little Rainbows”
Album: Borrowed Time
Release Date: August 20, 2021
Label: Free Dirt Records

In Their Words: “What we now know as ‘Pride’ began at Stonewall in an uprising of New York City LGBTQ people of color demanding the acknowledgement of their human dignity. But in today’s woke rat race for clout, middle-class theatrics flood the echo chamber, and marginalization has become a precious commodity for the privileged. The movement has been convoluted by capitalism to the benefit of corporations and the middle-class opportunist.

“Bourgeois antics coupled with McPride have glorified the contemporary queer, urban experience. Where does this leave rural queers — the groundhogs? In rural areas, LGBTQ people are still duking it out in the arena of backcountry politics, where anonymity is impossible and pride isn’t an asset that gets you ahead in life.

“Pork chop queens and pawn shop trash are down in the trenches. They don’t get to live in a wealthy hyperwoke bubble. They aren’t lauded for virtue signaling on social media. And many times they have to hide their identities just to exist. I wrote this song for them, all the little groundhogs, valiantly waddling far and wide amongst the trappers. For all the purdy little rainbows shining in dark places.” — Joe Troop

Photo credit: Kendall Atwater

LISTEN: The Brothers Comatose, “Too Many Places”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: The Brothers Comatose
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Song: “Too Many Places”
Release Date: July 2, 2021
Label: Swamp Jam Records

In Their Words: “This song was a big collaboration with the whole band. It started with a set of lyrics from our tour manager, Joe Pacini, and morphed into a story of a man fighting an internal battle between the road he believed he was destined for and a more domestic life with a woman he loves. It’s a constant push and pull and a common thread with most touring musicians we know. How does one balance a home life and life on the road? It’s a delicate dance that requires a lot of give and take in a relationship and for those that have figured it out, we applaud you! Tell us your secrets!” — The Brothers Comatose

Photo credit: Giant Eye

LISTEN: Lake and Lyndale, “Crooked Path”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Lake and Lyndale
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Crooked Path”
Album: In the Nude Vol. 1
Release Date: June 25, 2021

In Their Words: “‘Crooked Path’ came to me during a period where I was holding onto a lot of guilt and self-doubt. While I don’t think that your past is something to run from, I also know it’s not healthy to live there. We had just moved to Nashville and this new chapter of life beginning made me realize how important it was to let go of the missteps from the last chapter — so I put them into a song. ‘I took a crooked path to get to the sun / it’s my crooked path that straightened me up.’ This song is for anyone who may need a reminder to embrace every part of the journey.” — Channing Marie, Lake and Lyndale

Photo credit: Kallyn Lagro

LISTEN: Andy Falco, “The Edge”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Andy Falco
Hometown: Sayville, New York
Song: “The Edge”
Album: The Will of the Way
Release Date: July 16, 2021
Label: Americana Vibes

In Their Words: “‘The Edge’ is one of the few songs on my forthcoming album that was written prior to 2020. The lyrics were co-written with Travis McKeveny, also from Long Island, who I’ve written with several times now including ‘2001: A Canyon Odyssey’ off the Dusters’ album Laws of Gravity. ‘The Edge’ is one of the few that I’m playing everything on the track except the drums/percussion (Dave Butler) and the harmony vocals (Jon Preddice and Erica Leigh). I recorded it as a demo, but I felt like the track had a certain magic to it, particularly in the end jam so I left most parts as they were, blemishes and all, including the end lead guitar which was done with just that one take. It’s a song about giving yourself to someone, and hoping they will accept you with all your faults, so I thought the little ‘flaws’ here and there represent the sentiment of the song.” — Andy Falco

Photo credit: Jay Strausser