Nowhere Nights is one of those records for me. It came out of the blue, out of that nether world of independent music (aka the life blood of rock and roll). I was searching for information on the new Chip Robinson record and learned that he had been signed to Red River Records, a label co-founded by Kasey Anderson. I had loved Robinson’s former band the Backsliders, and was interested in reviewing his debut solo record. So when I contacted the publicist, she offered to send me Anderson’s new record in addition to a Robinson’s. I agreed, and a week later had Nowhere Nights in my mailbox. And damn it, if it isn’t ridiculously good.
Anderson mines the fertile ground of Americana-country rock, but he does it so refreshingly that it recalls the first time you heard Steve Earle, Bruce Springsteen, or the Jayhawks. Opener “Bellingham Blues†probably owes more than a little bit to the elder Earle (lyrically reminiscent of his “Tennessee Blues†and vocally influenced as well), but really could be any songwriter’s ode to a hometown that ain’t quite home anymore. My favorite tracks though are the revved up rockers “All Lit Upâ€, “Torn Apartâ€, and “Nowhere Nightsâ€. But, Anderson can pull off the weepers just as effectively (“Home†and “Leaving Kind†stand out to me). What holds Nowhere Nights up is that Anderson can flat out write. Here is one of my favorite moments of many
“You’re the kind of thing those sweetheart boys just talk about/
such a pretty flame still burning when the bar lights all go out/
hey everyone knows your name around here and that’s alright/
everybody learned your game around here and that’s alright/
you told me that if I stay around here, you’d find a good enough place to hide/
but I see you, I see you, so come on out tonightâ€
-Kasey Anderson “Like Teenage Gravityâ€
I know we are only a month in, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Nowhere Nights ended up on more than a few best of lists by the end of the year. Â I know it’ll be on mine.
Bonus Material:
Check out Anderson’s twitter blog here. Â He is one of the funniest/most entertaining ‘tweeters’ in my not so humble opinion.
And a download, courtesy of Red River Records….
Kasey Anderson "All Lit Up"
About the author: Specializes in Dead, Drunk, and Nakedness..... Former College Radio DJ and Current Craft Beer Nerd