Wikipedia Genre: None listed on his Wikipedia article, will say freak folk, bluegrass, jam, rock. Home: Durham, N.C. Poster Position: 22 Day: Sunday at 1:00 Weekend Two Only.
Thoughts: I spent about two days just jamming these tunes before I got around to wanting to write, so I'm definitely on board with him. Loose, fun, relaxed jam rock kind of freak folk. This goofy looking dude has been part of a few other bands in the past, including Megafaun and Shouting Matches, which features Bon Iver's Justin Vernon as the lead singer. He gets a little funky at times, a little gospel at other times, a little Allman Brothers. Its a good mix. Two real albums ( 2018's People Are My Drug and 2015's Southland Mission) with two EPs (2015's excellent Old Hwy D and 2013's This Side Up). Oh, and one very bad single that includes some rap (2017's Skin and Bone). "Anybody Else," from his first album, is his most streamed tune by a good chunk, with 743k streams.
Funny aside, my kids came home from summer camp the other day. I worked at this same camp many moons ago, and I LOVED infecting the children with my love for music. One summer my co-counselors and I made a bet about who could get the campers to like their chosen song the most. I picked Bjork's "Army of Me," like a true weirdo, and the other contender picked Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." As I recall it, I crushed him. Anyhoo, I immediately asked my kids what music my kids listened to at camp, wanting to learn about the cool new stuff they had absorbed. Kid #1: "uh, I don't know, like regular music?" [siiiiigh] Kid #3: "I don't remember" [uuuuuuuuuggggghhhh, killing me smalls] Kid #2: "like, uhm, Bohemian music? A lot of bohemian music." [huh?] Upon further investigation, the only song she could recall was one "about making banana pancakes." Neat, so Jack Johnson is apparently bohemian music to my kid. I bring all of this up because I think this dude would likewise slot into the kid's Bohemian Music genre. I mentioned earlier that I think the Old Hwy D EP is excellent - and I stick by that assessment. Poignantly picked instrumentals of beautiful folk-ish Americana tunes, I just think they resonate so well in my head. This one is the final track of his top ten list on Spotify, but I love it. "Saratoga," with 160k streams.
Something about that tune is just relaxed and perfect. His initial EP is a lot of instrumental tunes as well, remind me of some of the countrified instrumentals guys like Eric Johnson or Jack Johnson would do. His new album stays true to the course of his first album - more relaxed jams with insightful lyrics. The top track right now from that album is "Miles Away," with 132k streams in only 2 months since a June 1 release date.
A little bluesy, with some Norah Jones-esque piano twiddles and soft drumage. Nice little track. This guy is good. The type of band I want to see on Saturday afternoon at 2, right after a big lunch, just lazing on the grass and enjoying a nice set.
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