Charles Wesley Godwin Christian Name
On Christian Name, an album inspired by the devastating loss of a child, Charles Wesley Godwin narrates his journey through despondency, grief, and redemption to a new understanding of his faith.
Godwin explains, “These songs really meant a lot to me. There’s parts of me and parts of the things that I’ve gone through in the last couple years that are in each and every song on this album.”
The title of the album – Christian Name – and the cover art were inspired by his late grandfather, Charles Godwin, who was a preacher in the Methodist Church.
Alongside two standout collaborations, the catchy “Better That Way” with Luke Combs and the moving “Hey There Son” with Wyatt Flores, Christian Name finds Godwin working with a strong circle of respected songwriters. Contributors include Stephen Wilson Jr. on “Brand New,” Liz Rose on “I Caught the Sunrise,” Lori McKenna on “Hey There Son,” Aaron Raitiere on “God’s Been Good to Me,” Travis Meadows on “Try Again” and “Every Once in a While,” Scooter Carusoe on “Better That Way,” “Hallelujah High” and “Place I Know,” and Tom Douglas on “Street Advice.” The album was produced by Al Torrence, Godwin’s longtime producer and guitarist in Allegheny High.
Godwin highlights the importance of the contributions, saying, “I had a lot of help with this album — I sought out people, and they brought a lot of the hope and the light and the lighter moments of the album. That was a lot of their influence. The album needed that.”
The title of the first track is “Sermon,” and that’s exactly what it is: Pastor Dave Stacy discoursing on the Old Testament story of Job, a profound masterpiece of ancient wisdom literature that delves into the conundrum of why righteous people suffer.
It isn’t often that an album opens with a sermon on Job. But it works by setting the stage for what’s to come.
A personal favorite because of its blend of gospel and rock flavors, “Try Again” rolls out on gleaming guitars and potent percussion. Godwin’s smooth tenor infuses the lyrics with nuances of meaning.
“It’s time to rise from the flames… I think I can try again, without asking why again.”
On “Better That Way,” Godwin teams up with Luke Combs on a wonderful duet. The lyrics shine a light on the small things that make life so enjoyable. Rife with heavy guitars riding over a powerful rhythm, the song’s melody mesmerizes listeners.
Another gem, “Hey There Son,” reveals Godwin’s inner heart, a heart full of compassion and love. Gentle, sparkling acoustic guitars provide the intro, followed by weighty thrums as Godwin relates to the arrival of his first son.
According to Godwin, “I started writing ‘Hey There Son’ in 2019, around the time my first son was born. I’m a huge fan of Lori McKenna, and always felt like she’d be the perfect person to help me finish it. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to bring it to her in 2024, and we knocked it out in an afternoon. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room by the time we finished.”
The closing track, “Brand New,” offers a cinematic, feel-good ending to all the pain and despair that preceded, traveling from Godwin’s own baptism as an infant to his, like Job, acknowledgment of God: “All there was left of me was you.” The harmonics build and build, then climax, followed by a soft acoustic outro.
On one level, Christian Name is emotionally raw; on another level, it’s not only Christian but drenched in the motion of being human. This is a beautiful album.
Find more information here on his website: http://www.charleswgodwin.com
Enjoy some of our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Charles Wesley Godwin “Lonely Mountain Town”
Tour Dates:
Aug 4 – San Francisco, CA- Regency
Aug 6 – Sacramento, CA – Channel 24
Aug 7 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
Aug 8 – San Diego, CA – SOMA
Aug 13 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto
Aug 14 – Phoenix, AZ – Van Buren
Aug 21 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
Aug 22 – Toronto, ON – History
Aug 27 – Oklahoma City, OK – Criterion
Aug 28 – Lubbock, TX – Cook’s Garage*
Aug 29 – New Braunfels, TX – Whitewater Amphitheater*
Sept 11 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six
Sept 12 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner
Sept 17 – Landmark Theatre – Syracuse, NY
Sept 18 – Philadelphia, PA – Fillmore
Sept 23 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center#
Sept 26 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle*
Sept 29 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17*
Sept 30 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena#
Oct 1 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater*
Oct 9 – North Charleston, SC – Riverfront Revival
Oct 15 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Oct 17 – Garden City, ID – Revolution Concert House
Oct 18 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
Oct 21 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
Oct 22 – Seattle, WA – SoDo
Oct 24 – Vancouver, BC – Orpheum Theater
Nov 5 – Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre
Nov 6 – Charleston, WV – Charleston Coliseum
Nov 7 – Cincinnati, OH – MegaCorp Pavilion
Nov 12 – Chicago, IL – Salt Shed
Nov 13 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside
Nov 14 – St. Louis, MO – Factory
* co-headline with Dylan Gossett
# supporting Kacey Musgraves