They’re a little bit country … and a little bit old blues, too
“There’s a lot of country music that’s really just blues with a hat on.” – B.B. King
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (June 20, 2024) — While I don’t know that I’d describe either of the local songwriters I’m about to introduce to you as “country” or “blues” artists, they do both employ elements of each genre on their new records.
I became acquainted with Jon Lawton’s music when he submitted some then-unreleased tunes for airplay consideration on KVHS. “Why Don’t You Stay?” was one of those songs and is now the opening track on his new album, “The Good Old Days.” It sets the tone for what you can expect across most of it: a rich mix of acoustic instruments that create warm ballads. His gentle voice – often spoken – offers odes of self-reflection, doubt, love and loss.
Expect elements of early country and folk, and even a little nod to New Orleans-style jazz on the track “Lazy Man’s Blues,” which features some wailing clarinet and trumpet.
There’s a sincerity to Lawton’s delivery that isn’t exclusive to how he sings his thoughtful lyrics. It’s as if every guitar or banjo note he plays has its own emotional value, and he seems mindful of that.
A prime example is during the instrumental break on the introspective acoustic song “Firefly,” where one might expect a lead instrument to appear and take a solo. There’s no need for that kind of showiness in this tender moment. All the music we need is right here, as Lawton’s fingers purposefully pick through the chords until coming around to the next verse, some 40 seconds later.
Clear truthful emotional lyrics
Like many great musicians, Lawton loves playing and listening to a multitude of genres. The one thing that unifies it all for him: honesty.
“I’m a singer-songwriter who enjoys writers like Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch and John Prine. When I listen to music, I listen for some of those traits: clear truthful, emotional lyrics, purity in composition, and the ability and the courage to be themselves. Soulful and friendly, with a minimum of guile,” he explains when asked about what drew him to my next artist: Ruby Lee Hill.
“When I heard Ruby, I heard those things,” he continued.
Earlier this year, when Lawton performed at Scotty O’s Wednesday Night Listening Room at Luigi’s Deli in Martinez, he brought Lee with him. The up and coming songwriter took turns with Lawton, with both sharing their original music for the captive audience. Lee returned to Oakland knowing she had some new fans on this side of the tunnel.
Impressive vocal ability
Last month, she released her debut EP “John Wayne.” It opens with the barn-burner “Too Late,” an upbeat number that showcases her impressive vocal ability to slide from note to note gracefully, as the aspiring artist asks: “Is it too late for us to make it?”
Most of this record could perhaps best be described as country-inspired, but the song “Stay Home” and the closing track “Adios” are both in the style of manouche jazz. This sound largely defined by 1940’s era jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt later resurfaced in the late ’90s with groups like the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Lee’s rich voice lends itself well to this unique foot-tappin’ flavor of swingin’ blues.
The emotional apex of the EP might be the mournful “Widow’s Waltz,” a song about a couple’s fading love sung from the perspective of a woman who sees the man she married as being long dead: “You left without leaving /you’re dead without dying /and I’m here grieving /over a grave where no body’s lying.”
At Singer Songwriter Sunday earlier this month, Lee shared with the audience the meaning of the record’s cover art and title. “It has to do with a woman sort of asking for her fantasy John Wayne to come and save her, to untie her from the rails. I guess it’s a little bit of a confession about the delusions of love that we sometimes allow ourselves to believe.”
“John Wayne” is available on all streaming platforms, as well as on CD and vinyl at rubyleehill.com/store.
You can find “The Good Old Days” on all streaming platforms and available for purchase at jonlawton.bandcamp.com.
For more local releases, visit ConcordRockCity.com.
Read more Beat of Diablo columns.
Dave Hughes
Dave Hughes is a local music advocate with an extensive network of independent artists. He produces and hosts a local music program on KVHS called The Beat of Diablo, every Sunday at 7:00 PM on 90.5 FM. Dave also catalogs local music releases at ConcordRockCity.com.