Ramona and the Holy Smokes Til It’s Over
Fronted and founded by singer songwriter Ramona Martinez, Ramona and the Holy Smokes are a band from Charlottesville Virginia currently making classic, early 1960’s style honky tonk country music. Their 4-song EP Til It’s Over is a solid four instant old style country classics with modern production clarity.
“I Want You To Be My Man” is a sweet swanky ode to wanting to find your man. “I want to take you to the movies and in the darkness hold your hand.” It’s direct and transparent. The pedal steel punctuates in subtle swirls that will have you up on the dance floor. Composed of all verses and no repeating chorus, this song is an instantly classic crooner.
“Dear Avery” sprinkles in some elegant piano courtesy of Jeffrey Miller (Dogwood Brothers) for this love song that Ramona began to write while driving, on the way back from first falling in love. A country style dance floor slowdance, this song was inspired by Neil Young’s “Harverst Moon,” and highlights Ramona’s easy singing voice.
“I Love Smoking” takes a detour into a spritely 2-step homage to lighting your tobacco like a bomb. Written after a smoking relapse, the song captures the dilemma of the combined filthiness and pleasures of smoking. It’s a love / hate relationship.
The title track hones in on that moment when you know this relationship you’re in can’t last, but you’re nowhere near free yet. With baritone and pedal steel shuffle, “And you and I ain’t goin’ that much further / You’ll go on your way, and I’ll go mine / But we’ve got a while ‘til we get there / I’ve never been good at goodbyes / And I don’t want to think about the ending / I just want to look into your eyes.”
Skip the seasonal music and turn this one up in your back bar. It’s timeless. Find more details and information here on their website: https://www.ramonaandtheholysmokes.com
Musicians on the album are Ramona Martinez on vocals; Kyle Lawton Kilduff on guitars; Brooks Hefner on pedal steel; Jay Ouypron on bass; Porter Bralley on drums, with Jeffrey Miller on piano.
The EP was produced by Kai Crowe-Getty; engineered and mixed by Alex De Jong; and mastered by Danny Kalb. All tracks recorded at Spacebomb Studio in Richmond, VA. Two songs were written by Ramona solo and two were co-writes with Maddie Mae Martin.