They say you can never go home. Clearly that’s more about the time than the location, but I’ve seen both be possible. Tony Kamel, front man for the Grammy-winning Wood & Wire, seems to be one of those exceptions. At the urging of iconic Texas musician and producer, Bruce Robison, Tony has just released his first solo album, Back Down Home. In it, Kamel collected a variety of stories and partially written songs from his past and inspired by his time in southeast Texas. To add a little retro ambience they recorded everything to analog tape in Robison’s home studio. They brought in a few friends to add harmonies and various instruments, and it all added up to an homage to simpler times.
Slow On the Gulf is like the record’s theme song. It has a little Texas swing in a laid-back sort of way and reminisces about a time when taking life at a Gulf Coast tempo and making a living singing at local bars was all that mattered. The Surfer is a sweet Cajun country waltz about a waterman that just can’t get away from the spiritual cleansing of the waves. Heat goes a little inland to capture the feel of a roadhouse, punctuated by some in-your-face, brassy horns.
Several tunes make clear Kamel’s appreciation for the life he’s lived, rich in experiences if not so much cash. This River uses a throbbing kick drum to convey the heartbeat of a musician’s life. Amen gives thanks for getting through hard times even if some of them, like the trials and tribulations of getting older, aren’t done yet. Who Am I Kidding is the love song every musician should probably write at some point. In a Hill Country folk song style he thanks his wife because even though he sometimes thinks of getting a normal job, “who am I kidding.” Let It Slide is probably the closest to the bluegrass style that I associate with Wood & Wire.
Coming in at 35 minutes for 10 songs, this is a lean project. Robison stripped out many of the jams and solos I might have expected. It forced Kamel to distill his music down in the same way you boil a shrimp stock to get a good sauce. Every song on Back Down Home is a good one, and as the vocals and fiddle fade out on Change, the final statement of the album, I can practically guarantee you’ll be left wanting more.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.