Saturday Songs - Sept. 17

Before heading off into Saturday Songs territory, I’d just like to acknowledge my appreciation of Jayne, of the Suburban Soliloquy blog, for recognizing me with a Liebster award. As someone new to the blogging world, it may take me a few months to figure out whom exactly to pass the award along to myself, but for sure, I’ll pass it along.

Anyways, if there are new readers out there, welcome to Pueblo Waltz and I hope you enjoy what you find. Having missed Saturday Songs last week, I promised readers five free songs they could enjoy from not-so-well-known bands from all over the place. I could only muster four, so for that you’ll all have to forgive me. Enjoy!

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1. “The Shot” – Gum Creek Killers

Almost clearly borrowing a melody line from Bob Dylan’s “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere”—listen to the verses of “The Shot” for the similarity—Gum Creek Killers still manage to write a song more drenched in Americana than even the classic recording from Dylan and The Band on The Basement Tapes.

Not only that, but Gum Creek Killers boast two lead singers—Duquette Johnson (who sounds a little like Deer Tick’s John McCauley) and Janet Simpson. The intertwining of male and female voices is particularly striking on “The Shot,” creating a careful tension between lines.

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2. “Concrete Moon” – Josh Doyle

(Apologies—but you’ll need to sign up as a ReverbNation user—which is free!—in order to download Doyle’s song)

Beginning with your typical mopey acoustic guitar and careful, almost feminine voice, sounding eerily like singer-songwriter David Mead, Doyle’s song nosedives into rock a minute and a half in, with crashing cymbals and overproduced guitars. Doyle’s adventure into rock—even if it skews too much towards early Coldplay (think of lower-quality A Rush of Blood to the Head)—distinguishes him from so many other acoustic troubadours hoping for notice solely on the basis of a solid acoustic guitar line and some wispy lyrics. In particular, his voice at the end gestures more towards the grit of Paul Westerberg than the smooth sailing of David Mead.

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3. “Despite All That’s Happened” – Brentley Gore

(Again—a ReverbNation post! …you should probably just join at this point…)

Better known as a television actor—Gore has a role in NBC’s California Dreams—Gore has also been pursuing a career in music. Although he heads the indie band King Straggler in L.A., he just recently released his first solo album Up Until Now, including this song. Marked with the world-weary sadness I’ve come to expect from L.A. singer-songwriters, this Gore song is also inflected with a Texan taste of sadness.

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4. “Miles of Skyline” – Uncle Mountain

(Apologies if you haven’t yet signed up for ReverbNation…)

With weird instrumentation and spot-on harmonies, Uncle Mountain sounds a little like circa-The Shepherd’s Dog Iron & Wine (weird enough to be interesting, but not so much that you can’t take it seriously). The production on this song is understandably excellent and pulls out all those little details that might otherwise be missed in concert or in a more lo-fi recording. 

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5. “Born Again” – Maren Morris (and Band)

Like I’ve already mentioned, I promised four free songs, but I’ve only managed four (although you’re free to explore on your own…on ReverbNation and Noisetrade, to mention two great sources…), but I think you ought to hear this single from Maren Morris’s latest album. I’ve included a solo version above, but it’s definitely worth checking out the full-band version if you can find it.

It’s got a full, warm sound really reminiscent of Larkin Poe—a band I may or may not have featured previously…if not, then I’ll give you all an introduction in next week’s Saturday Songs! For now, enjoy these four freebies and Maren’s fantastic single…