A few weeks back we premiered a single, 21st Century Telegraph, from a recently formed Austin band, Big Love Car Wash. Formed after a fateful one-time gig organized by mandolinist/vocalist Sol Chase, the group discovered they had a musical chemistry that begged further time together. They gathered in an Austin studio and put together their debut release, Daydream. Several songs from that album have managed to hang around my ever-evolving playlist so I decided to write up a little more on the full album.
Like any record from a group of long-time Austin musicians, there’s a lot of stylistic influences that weave in and out, but the big theme lay somewhere in the bluegrass/folk axis. Nearer the folk end point is opener Dream Journal, with a sort of spoken verse and a touch of psychedelia to the instrumental portion. The Old Man From Kanab has an around-the-campfire vibe early on before launching into some power folk. If Everything Were Free envisions a happy utopia whereas there’s more reverence to In the Morning.
On the bluegrass side of the scale is Empty House, about a girlfriend who’s around only when it suits her. At least our protagonist is self-aware enough to know “a free spirit is hard to hold and hers is free alright.” Dante gives off live performance vibe and showcases the members ability to go full jam band when the spirit moves them. Somewhere in the middle is Janna (She’s Still At Sea). It has a sea chanty feel, likely influenced by Chase’s sometimes residence in Ireland.
Between the 4 members of Big Love Car Wash they’ve been in over two dozen bands, and that’s just the ones they remember. Perhaps as a testament to their persistence, or maybe just a reminder of how important it is to love what you do, they just clicked when they got on that stage one eventful day in 2022. You can hear that joy on Daydream. Oh, and the name? It comes from the description the late, great Jeff Austin gave about the feeling he got when a crowd was really into a performance.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.