Lyal Strickland Ghost Light at the Gillioz
Lyal Strickland is releasing an EP which is a live recording from the historic Gillioz Theatre in Springfield, Missouri Ghost Light at the Gillioz. The theatre has undergone renovation and Strickland has performed there through its several phases and this particular night was magic, judging by the sound. There’s one lone ghost light which helps set the mood in the space, as Lyal’s open and honest sounding vocals and earthy guitar tones swirl together in sounds of sonic delight. Lyal is a skilled songwriter with easy moving lyrics on relatable human experiences like insomnia, slowing down a bit, and scraping by, and the EP is an intrinsically valuable listen.
“Cool Sides of the Pillow” instantly already connotes comfort with its title and then Lyal’s rich acoustic guitar playing starts as he lays out insomnia and anxiety in purely relatable terms: “there ain’t enough cool sides of the pillow to ease my troubled mind.” Between the sleepless nights, the confessional honest vocals, and the emotional upwellings, it’s an angsty Americana dream.
“Gatherin’ Dust” is remarkable and a real keeper as it shows real lyrical excellence with: “nobody wants to go slow now, nobody wants to be last, everybody wants their trophy wall, and I just want to kick back.” This song should definitely be on some year-end favorite lists, if the whole EP isn’t. The electric guitar follows the acoustic guitar’s energy as the song rises and we rise too.
“Hotel Maid” is played sweetly as difficulties and life’s challenges and expenses are laid out. Lyal is a seventh-generation farmer in Missouri and the struggles of that lifestyle as well as most American lifestyles are portrayed – while three years of taxed have gone unpaid and his girl pulls her weight as a hotel maid. “Misery and Mischief Prone” is sonic swells in a slower tempo and a confessional song of being on your own.
On the night of the recording, it was only two guys with guitars on a warm-sounding wooden stage – one acoustic and one electric – and songs that come straight from the heart. No fluff, all honesty. You can discover more here on Lyal’s website: https://www.lyalstrickland.com/
Check out our premiere here: Song Premiere: Lyal Strickland “Gatherin’ Dust”
Musicians on Ghost Light at the Gillioz are Lyal Strickland on acoustic guitar and vocals and Thaddaeus Morton on electric guitar.
The album was recorded live at the historic Gillioz Theatre in Springfield Missouri. It was engineered by Headline Productions, and mixed and mastered by Jeff Smith at Studio 2100.
