Americana Alt.Country CD Reviews

Jack Grelle
'Jack Grelle and The Johnson Family' (2012)
'Steering Me Away' (2014)
Both albums released on Big Muddy Records
www.jackgrelle.com

Jack's BIO:

Jack Grelle (pronounced Grell-ee) is a proud Missouri boy in his mid-twenties, who sings his personal stories of the road and the people he has met along the way. A country, folk and honky tonk songwriter and performer, Jack joins a new wave of young transient musicians who play America’s music in bar rooms and living rooms across the globe. Whether with his band (made up of telecasters, pedal steel guitar, bass and drums) or solo, an authentic honky tonk performance is delivered every night that will captivate both the dancing and listening crowds.

The cliché image of a traveling musician comes to mind when thinking of Jack Grelle’s lifestyle, but his travels aren’t merely geographic. This troubadour has moved from genre to genre, style to style, and drawn inspiration from songwriters generations removed from his own. He has played in bands such as hard-hitting punk outfit Task Force and offbeat pop-punk group Bookmobile. Pete McDevitt (a longtime friend of Grelle’s) says: "It’s common for punks to mellow out and morph into singer-songwriters with time. Musicians progress and eventually develop their focus."

Grelle says his musical maturation began once he started traveling. After growing up in St. Louis, Grelle moved to Columbia to attend MU, where he studied sociology. This move first exposed Grelle to punk and metal culture. He surrounded himself with traveling musicians in that community and followed their lead. “It was kind of that point that I was just like, ‘Yeah, I can do this’,” Grelle says. “I started meeting people and traveling full time. We weren’t really making money, but we were getting by, playing music.” Grelle toured Kentucky and Wisconsin, where he heard old-time fiddle tunes. Trips to Texas added honky tonk and country-folk to his musical catalog. He also made a tour stop in New Orleans, which is famous for its Cajun music and jazz.

Grelle’s current style is often categorized as a country-folk, singer-songwriter blend. He is influenced by songwriters such as Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker and Blaze Foley - all of whom helped to define traditional country-folk in Texas in the 1970s. “I just love a good, honest, bare-bones folk song,” says Grelle.

Taylor Bacon, a friend and a fellow musician, sees Grelle’s style as a product of the Missouri native’s geography. “He’s got this really cool, Southern-Missouri, Ozarky style,” Bacon says. “He’s got a wide musical talent.” For Pete McDevitt, Grelle’s current style is reminiscent of another folk music legend. “He kind of reminds me of Woody Guthrie,” McDevitt says. “It’s almost like they’re kindred spirits.”

Over the past five years Jack has travelled across the US by way of thumb, trains and vans. He has earned his title as a Missouri troubadour by writing song after song performing in over 35 states. Jack Grelle has had the honor to sit in with the great Dale Watson in Texas, and the privilege to open for the legend Billy Joe Shaver, not once, but twice.

Jack Grelle also plays with Ryan Koenig as a roots country duo of two St. Louis natives. Koenig is most known for touring the world as Pokey LaFarge's multi-instrumentalist. Together, Grelle and Koenig play a mix of original tunes in the style of honky tonk, old time, western and southwestern country.

Besides the two releases reviewed here, Jack's discography contains 'Jack Grelle' (2010) and the 45 RPM record 'Simple Needs' (2013).

(Quotes from Vox Magazine)

Jack's ALBUMS:

Jack Grelle's new album, 'Steering Me Away' (2014) out now on Big Muddy Records, features ten original songs reminiscent to the sounds of Bakersfield and 70’s Texas Outlaw. The progression from his previous two records is noted as Grelle’s strengths shine through with clever wit in his words and the catchy hooks thru instrumentation with the support of a full band. This roots country release will satisfy the longing for any true American music fan.

Jack told Craig Shelburne at CMT Edge about the song "Four Doors": "I had bought a ’95 GMC Vandura conversion van and had been telling people I was a homeowner due to the size and sleeping capabilities. My buddy Paul Weber of The Hooten Hallers, who played harmonica on the record, came to me shortly after and says: “You should write a ‘Swinging Doors’-style tune about your van! Call it ‘Four Doors’!” I thought that’d make a good honky-tonk tune, so I wrote the first half later that week. I called Paul to tell him the lyrics, and he immediately sends me a text back with a second verse as well as the closing line to the chorus. I wrote a third verse and brought it to the band that week. Probably one of the easiest songs I’ve written. I owe Paul Weber a thank you for that, and I guess modern technology.

The phrase 'steering me away' is a big part of this song - and ended up being the title of the album. What is it about that term that seemed to fit this record as a whole?

"I often tell people that I write three kinds of songs - road songs, love songs and heartache songs. “Four Doors” kinda turned out to be all three. I wanted the title of the record to be a lyric from one of the songs that was relevant to the rest of the album. 'Steering Me Away' seemed appropriate. My van has become my second and sometimes first home. This record will pretty much be distributed out of the back of it, too… so I was set on keeping a van theme.

You gotta love the steel playing here. What does that instrument bring out in your style of music, do you think?

"Tom Heath did an excellent job on this record. The pedal steel is a delicate instrument that is not only a distinctive sound in country and honky-tonk music but is able to convey a lot of emotion through the simplest melodies. I’m writing and singing songs where I pour my heart out. The steel guitar helps convey those feelings and can hit you right in the gut."

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Jack's TRACKS:

1. "Four Doors": "She's got four doors and a wheel / That are steering me away / From the heartache you made me feel." This is one of the occasions, when you know within one minute of listening where the disc is taking us. Sometimes that's reassuring and I like it. A full traditional country band, with lots of great pedal steel and although Jack winks at the old country greats while singing, he sounds like many of his peers in the new dedicated country movement of bearded young men.

2. "Santa Fe": A gorgeous mournful ballad full of heartbreak, acoustic guitar and a nice rhythm, pedal steel in the background and a lovely duet vocal by LeAnn Fisher. Paul Weber plays fine harmonica solos.

3. "(She Thinks I'm) Cheatin'": Back to uptempo, with a fresh take on the subject of countless country songs. Lots of fine fiddle on this track, there are two players in the credits: Ryan Koenig of Pokey LaFarge fame and Gary Hunt best known for his time with Colonel Ford and the most recent incarnation of Son Volt.

4. "3314 Wyoming": A dry, matter of fact acoustic story ballad, reminiscent of early Kris Kristofferson LPs. Sweet backing vocals and I'm getting more and more impressed by the pedal steel player, Tom Heath. He knows how to keep his often exuberant instrument under control, playing beautiful restrained parts here.

5. "Only In My Dreams": Twanging Bakersfield style guitars, Justin Brown is the lead guitar player. An early Johnny Cash beat changes very convincingly to a half-time sway in another tale of the touring musician: tomorrow a gig with a guarantee, the tape-deck went out so he has to search the radio, with even a wink at 'Goodnight Irene'. What a remarkable, smart song!

6. "Don't Follow A Line": That's a good steady rhythm tandem, drummer Leo Jalipa and bassist Brice Baricevic. A great melody, adorned by the pedal steel, together with LeAnn Fisher's vocals a constant counterpoint to Jack's earthy voice.

7. "Dallas In The Afternoon": I love songs where a Greyhound bus drives through! "I'm meeting the band in Dallas in the afternoon". A little bit of Texas Outlaw country appears in yet another excellent song.

8. "Chase You 'Cross This Country": Piano and the full band ripping into this very fast track, like it's a catchy rockabilly song, more plucky guitar licks!

9. "Lazy Love": A throaty world weary acoustic ballad, I hear a little Billy Joe Shaver here and the fiddle is magnificent.

10. "Hooked On Your Lovin'": A catchy love song to close off, giving the pedal steel one more chance to shine in vintage Buck Owens style.

This record gives me the same feeling as first listening to Dale Watson, sometime in the mid-nineties, although the voice is quite different. Allow me an anecdote: Dale came for his first European tour, used to playing four hours straight in Texas. He was gently pulled off the Paradiso (upstairs) stage, just when he took the audience into his 56th (!) song: "Sir, the personnel really needs to go home now...". I sense the same dedication, enthusiasm, respect for tradition and energy here!

Jack plays some bona fide country, with all the right themes, yet with the new altcountry troubadour attitude. Going from one gig to another, hoping enough CDs are sold to buy gas for the next stretch of the tour, couch surfing and washing up at the kitchen sink. Until more of the right people are listening, a festival gets booked and some music lovers will already be waiting with their CD to be autographed. Until then, it's fascinating to follow this real deal young country star in the making!