James Gedda & the Big Breakfast “South of Mars”
James Gedda’s new album South of Mars highlights the comfort of the community and catharsis that takes place in a local bar, venue, music room pub. The euphoria as the night begins, the respite that the merrymaking together can bring, and the cleansing wash of music in life’s mix are all celebrated in rockabilly, honky tonk and classic country style.
The album opens with the relatable, classic image of “Black Coffee Brown Liquor.” Dirty guitar and the slow confession “my back hurts in the mornin’ when I drink too much at night… Grandaddy tells me ‘Boy, you ain’t gonna fill that hole with black coffee, brown liquor, and the Devil’s rock and roll…’ When the lights turn on, the amps turn up, only time I feel alive” recount a true story of the reviving powers of the darker libations. It’s those moments after sundown when things feel good again.
“Finn’s & Tuesday Nights” adds banjo and slide guitar to the arrangement. It’s a homage to the friendships and little dose of heaven that characterizes this familiar bar on a regular weeknight jam: “And the bartender pours my whiskey heavy nd the pretty girls dance in the neon light / Keeps my head on straight and keeps me walking steady, I love Finn’s and Tuesday nights.”
On the title track, James had a specific vision: “I got the idea for this song from a video of “Macho Man” Randy Savage talking. There’s an old Waylon song, “Time to Bum Again” that had a similar story and vibe I was trying to capture. The part about sleeping on an old mattress with springs poking through is all me, though.” This song is spunky and spirited with a baritone guitar tone and slide guitar and a self-assured old country style vocal delivery.
“Sleeping Around” is a tortured, honest portrayal of what folks do to each other when they’re hurting and hurting each other, and is an unmasked moment of shared pain, showing James’ songwriting is capable of level honesty as well as celebration. Of “Mr Right Now” James writes “One of my favorite things about honky tonk style songs is hiding hurt in a bouncy groove and a fun melody, much like how the narrator of this song is hiding loneliness and insecurity in bravado and blunt honesty.” This song is an upbeat rockabilly honky tonk as it asks “I know my way around a kiss and I look okay, my hair’s been cooperating with me today, so what do you say? Let’s turn this night around.” Sometimes, it’s the simple confessions that keep us going.
“Never Drinking Again” adds the community feeling of gang vocals and fiddle in a classic country style and whether he’s swearing off drinking this time is still up in the air: “And that’s someone else’s wife sleeping in my Johnny Cash t-shirt. I swear to god I’m never drinking, again. I send thirsty texts straight to my ex and I piss off all my friends.” Relatable.
“Talking Band Bar Blues” brings things down with James alone on guitar and vocals and is a nice way to round out the collection. This album makes a heartfelt appeal for the honky tonk barroom life and the emotional purging and connections that make it so appealing. Find more details on the band website here: https://jamesgeddamusic.com/
Musicians on the album are James Gedda on acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocals, Jack Whittle on electric guitar, slide guitar, banjo, and backing vocals; Marc Adrian on electric guitar, bass, and gang vocals; Kevin Mardirosian on drums; Stephan Jude on violin; Ian Gill on bass solo, gang and backup vocals, Sarah Barrientez on gang and backup vocals; Joe Marcinek on keys; Jason Harrell on fiddle; Ray Pollalis on gang vocals
The album was mixed and produced by Marc Adrian at Rowbot Studios in Griffith, Indiana, mastered by Neil Zeilenga at Dynaline Mastering with cover art by Sergijoe Villani.