Rose’s Pawn Shop – American Seams
This 2-decade-old L.A.-based Americana band drives its music through a filter of roots instrumentation stitched with cinematic folk-rock threads. The music explores endurance, reinvention, & determination to chase dreams & reach higher. Their songs are open-road odes to escape, possibilities, & breaking free. The band on this showcase is rediscovering & broadening their sound with skill & musical instincts.
Their 10-song fabric is sewn with American Seams (Drops Feb 27/Copaco/Blue Elan Records/36:14) & produced by Grammy-nominated Eric Corne (bgv). It’s their 5th studio LP, & was recorded at the Robby Krieger studio (The Doors), Love Street Sound in L.A.
While the band doesn’t have the ferocity & creative edge of Shane McGowan & The Pogues, the band has guts, passion, & energy, & that’s enough. The title track opens, & it does smoke. The arrangements are tight & well delivered. Perhaps it’s the lack of a diversified vocalist (a McGowan, a Tom Waits, Buddy Miller, or John Hiatt) that maintains a good-sounding song — but isn’t wildly imaginative.
A bit more of a country-rocker, “Darken My Door,” has muscle but has not the rural finesse of The Band, Little Feat, or Z.Z. Top. It has a Papa John Creach fiddle spirit (Jefferson Airplane & Starship) with its hard kick & captivating guitar riff. The fiddle circuitry holds it all together.
Their music has assurance, & the songs are well articulated. Not much in the way of slurry words or poor intonation. They’re professional. The band stays in orbit – they’re not careless musicians; they have skill & apply a good number of striking moments. They display slickness without stepping out into the margins of mainstream commerciality. Their most accessible tune is the upbeat & assured “What If We Run.”
But while I focused on their possible Pogues aspirations, a song like “Escape Artist” has a presentation closer to The Mavericks. “Going Out In the Wild” is far closer to a band’s identity. This has a “sound” that creates a clear focus. There’s maneuvering room & they’re still in a Mavericks spirit & exceptional.
“Fare Thee Well” is well played. Especially Jesse Olema’s fiddle, but it’s cliché-heavy lyrically. “Ain’t The Way” redeems the flow. It could be a good Willie Nelson cover. It has a rural straw scent & honeysuckle. Nice. Real nice.
Highlights – “American Seams,” “Darken My Door,” “What If We Run,” “Escape Artist,” “Going Out In the Wild,” & “Ain’t The Way.”
Musicians – Paul Givant (vocals/acoustic guitar/mandolin), Stephen Andrews (upright & electric bass), Zachary Ross (electric & baritone guitar/harmony), Matt Lesser & Deacon Marrquin (drums/percussion), Jesse Olema (fiddle/mandolin/harmony), Adam Hall (banjo), & Skip Edwards (keys).
Color image courtesy of Kremer Johnson. CD @ https://rosespawnshop.com/ & https://blueelan.com/blogs/news/rose-s-pawn-shop-announce-new-album-american-seams-out-early-2026 & https://blueelan.com/blogs/roses-pawn-shop/roses-pawn-shop-release-title-track-american-seams-out-today