Tidbits: Welcome To The Lawnchair Speakeasy: Dirt & Sky
Originally Posted September 22nd, 2011
Wooooo, is it hot in here or is it just me… oh wait, that’s just my new Lawnchair album, Dirt and Sky spinning in the background. I do believe I’ve mentioned the Lawnchair boys on here once or twice, such as when I first saw them at Garryowens Irish Pub in Gettysburg, but if you’re not familiar, Lawnchair is a fine little americana rock band out of the unsuspecting city of Baltimore. Lawnchair just released their second full-length album Dirt and Sky and I really like the recording approach on this album. Most of Dirt and Sky was recorded in live session takes in a single recording room and with the sultry vibe on this album it’s easy to sink into daydreams of spending too many hours on a dusty highway only to finally settle down at a lonely southern speakeasy to catch the late hour house band. Dirt and Sky is a departure from the more rootsy country feel of Hard To Swallow, but it definitely stands on its own emulating quintessential blues rock arrangements. Acoustic guitar accents and bongo style drums in Back To You make you want to grab a partner tight and dance real close all night. Break Apart and Outtamymind have a faster rhythm and return to the electric format, but give the same sexy blues effect. Gone Down This Way (Before), Sweet Magnolia, Cottonwood Canyon, and Half My Heart are a return to the more traditional americana style of Lawnchair but more on the sentimental side and less on the honky tonk. Gone Down This Way Before and Sweet Magnolia are definitely my personal favorite of the bunch. Further Down The Road and Mash Whiskey Blues are fun roots rock crowd moving songs bound to be bar room classics. Lost Its Soul is the preverbal diamond in the rough on this album, you might over look it at first but the more you listen the more you pick up on the intricate guitar riffs, classic drum kit sound, and the genuine soulfulness of Adam Millers voice. It’s the type of song we all love Lawnchair for writing. The only song I haven’t mentioned yet, Marked Man is probably the best balance of Lawnchair’s personality and the new bluesy rock style on the album. Marked Man is lengthy 5:42 minute jam with entertaining guitar work and driving drum lines all underneath the seriousness of Adam’s vocals. The album plays well in its entirety, but it may be a bit of a challenge working these new songs into rotation. It’s always hard when an audience identifies you with a particular sound (a sound you’re really good at) and you want to experiment and grow as an artist. I have no fear for the Lawnchair boys however, they will find that sweet spot of performing these songs live with the older material and fans will learn a new dance step or two along the way.
Wooooo, is it hot in here or is it just me… oh wait, that’s just my new Lawnchair album, Dirt and Sky spinning in the background. I do believe I’ve mentioned the Lawnchair boys on here once or twice, such as when I first saw them at Garryowens Irish Pub in Gettysburg, but if you’re not familiar, Lawnchair is a fine little americana rock band out of the unsuspecting city of Baltimore. Lawnchair just released their second full-length album Dirt and Sky and I really like the recording approach on this album. Most of Dirt and Sky was recorded in live session takes in a single recording room and with the sultry vibe on this album it’s easy to sink into daydreams of spending too many hours on a dusty highway only to finally settle down at a lonely southern speakeasy to catch the late hour house band. Dirt and Sky is a departure from the more rootsy country feel of Hard To Swallow, but it definitely stands on its own emulating quintessential blues rock arrangements. Acoustic guitar accents and bongo style drums in Back To You make you want to grab a partner tight and dance real close all night. Break Apart and Outtamymind have a faster rhythm and return to the electric format, but give the same sexy blues effect. Gone Down This Way (Before), Sweet Magnolia, Cottonwood Canyon, and Half My Heart are a return to the more traditional americana style of Lawnchair but more on the sentimental side and less on the honky tonk. Gone Down This Way Before and Sweet Magnolia are definitely my personal favorite of the bunch. Further Down The Road and Mash Whiskey Blues are fun roots rock crowd moving songs bound to be bar room classics. Lost Its Soul is the preverbal diamond in the rough on this album, you might over look it at first but the more you listen the more you pick up on the intricate guitar riffs, classic drum kit sound, and the genuine soulfulness of Adam Millers voice. It’s the type of song we all love Lawnchair for writing. The only song I haven’t mentioned yet, Marked Man is probably the best balance of Lawnchair’s personality and the new bluesy rock style on the album. Marked Man is lengthy 5:42 minute jam with entertaining guitar work and driving drum lines all underneath the seriousness of Adam’s vocals. The album plays well in its entirety, but it may be a bit of a challenge working these new songs into rotation. It’s always hard when an audience identifies you with a particular sound (a sound you’re really good at) and you want to experiment and grow as an artist. I have no fear for the Lawnchair boys however, they will find that sweet spot of performing these songs live with the older material and fans will learn a new dance step or two along the way.
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