Lewis Stubbs Junior – West Nashville Sky
This self-produced LP was recorded in Nashville by its native son, Lewis Stubbs Junior (guitars/vocals) & is basically a deeply personal showcase. Stubbs wrestles with themes that are hard-edged such as addiction, recovery, alienation & survival.
Decades ago, when artists started their careers, they aspired to the style & fame of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly & later The Beatles & Rolling Stones. But today, it seems more glitz & fashion for the mainstream purveyors of pulp music. In the case of Lewis Stubbs Junior & others like him, it’s more about self-expression & through it, their trials & tribulations. Write, sing & play your own music from a deeper well, your well. Lewis draws from the well of the past & puts his own spin on it, or should I say his own hubcaps.
The 8 songs on West Nashville Sky (Drops April 3/Independent/25:19) are succinct & come from a personal place, as a lived-in portrait & to be blunt “getting your shit together,” as Lewis said in so many words. While Lewis doesn’t have the deep baritone of Robert Gordon, his appeal is borderline rockabilly — not overheated, but vivid. It’s like a Florentine steak – a minute or two on each side, then dig in.
“When I Hear” has old-fashioned spice in its rock with a pinch of Duane Eddy/Lonnie Mack finesse on guitar. Quite cool. The instrumental “West Nashville Sky” features CJ Colandrea’s pedal steel guitar & it’s sweet. “Back Home To You” has a marvelously picked guitar & Lewis’ vocal is sharp as a saber. The pedal steel cruises while Lewis’ vocals capture the essence of another era, but never retro. He owns this reinforced application of R&R both in ballad form & when it percolates.
Lewis unleashes his Jerry Lee Lewis persona on “Blues Done Got Me In a Hole Right Now,” which features Chad Abel (keyboards) among the gutsy lead guitar & shuffling drums. Good work on this arrangement, weighty without being weighed down. Filled with cruising speed & the song goes full-tilt with genuine dance floor appeal as the sparks fly off toes & heels.
“Never Too Late To Get Down” has late-career J. Geils Band soul/R&B punch to it. Honking saxes & snappy snare beats. Old-fashioned R&R but with reliable strength. With “Heads Up,” it’s not quite as energetic & white-knuckle tight as Ragnar Zavaran (“It’s All Different Now”), but Lewis has lots of moxie, muscle & coherence here. Strap yourself in, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.
Highlights – “When I Hear,” “West Nashville Sky,” “Back Home To You,” “Blues Done Got Me In a Hole Right Now,” “Never Too Late To Get Down,” “W.C. Blues” & “Heads Up.”
Musicians – Brad Clark (bass), Chris Long (drums), Randy Boen (keys), Chris West (horns) & Lucy Stubbs (bgv).
CD @ Bandcamp + https://dogranchmusicpr.com/lewis-stubbs-junior/ & https://www.lewisstubbsjunior.com/