Americana Highways brings you this video premiere of Melissa Ruth’s “Long Haul Heartbreak” from her recent release Meteor, which was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Don Ross at Don Ross Productions Eugene, OR, produced by Melissa Ruth. “Long Haul Heartbreak” is Melissa Ruth on vocals and guitar, Johnny Leal on guitar, Rick DeVol on bass
and Simon Lucas on drums.
The video is by A Formal Parka Video company, and was directed and edited by Chris Spicer. With startling, clearly early MTV-era music video style, “Long Haul Heartbreak” captures the essence of the late ’80s and early ’90s rock scene. Within the context of “a long haul,” and longing to “see the Mississippi before she dies” Melissa Ruth has isolated a specific feeling of nostalgia and ennui that draws from West Coast living, the lure of the Mississippi, and a pure struggle with longing.
It goes without saying that there is a lot of hustle that goes into being an artist. On the West Coast touring means traveling long distances often through places that were once timber boom towns.
Many people came West seeking their fortunes and freedoms sometimes leaving behind a rich cultural heritage. I find it interesting that nowadays many artists head East to find their success. For me, music from the Mississippi Delta is a great source of inspiration, a Mecca.
I grew up in Canadian timber country. Our tiny 3-channel television set seemed to only ever broadcast a few things: CBC news, hockey games, and once a week for 30 minutes, music videos. The video for Long Haul Heartbreak is fashioned after those early-90s music videos– my first glimpse into American pop culture and something very far from home. — Melissa Ruth
Order here: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/melissaruth2 and here https://music.apple.com/us/album/meteor/1450183044
Awesome!