You can just picture Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance, also known as Jamestown Revival, sitting in rockers on the porch of a ranch in the blistering midday sun of southeast Texas. They’re strumming acoustic guitars, working on some songs and complaining about “them damn kids nowadays.” At the end of the day they have a clutch of songs, redolent of hard-earned wisdom and laid-back style, ready for a studio. They brought in their longtime rhythm section, teamed up with Robert Ellis as producer, and crafted their new record, Young Man.
As the title hints, many of the songs are about youthful ignorance and carefree attitudes, as viewed from an older perspective. The first of those, the album opener Coyote, is a cowboy waltz featuring a pedal steel part so lonesome it would bring tears to Hank’s eyes. Moving Man has some nice fiddle parts to go with an admission that you just have to keep moving, don’t give in, keep going because victories are hard won. Northbound, in its description of a Texas to Colorado journey, operates at multiple levels when Clay and Chance sing “my final destination don’t come easy I’m afraid.”
The band really hits their stride on Slow It Down. Inspired by an outing to catch mudbugs by Jonathan and his son, it has a lazy, island sound punctuated with some subtle riffs that will bring a smile to any Deadhead. Competing with it as my song favorite was Way It Was, a tune about progress and what’s lost to its advance. In this case it’s a modern skyscraper replacing an old dive bar and its eclectic crowd of hobos, hippies, lawyers and bankers.
Back in the day this record would have been called a concept album. There’s a strong connection between all the songs, and then Robert Ellis came in and created a *presence* that’s hard to describe. The Jamestown Revival vocal harmonies are on full display and when you add all that up Young Man is a keeper. The record just came out and is a brilliant way to start your 2022.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.