Galen & Paul (that’s Simonon) – Lonely Town
I’m always curious to find out how former Clash members are spending their time. In the aughts, Mick Jones collaborated with Tony James on the delightfully quirky Carbon/Silicon (moreC/S please!). Paul Simonon released a couple of albums with the Damon Albarn led The Good The Bad & The Queen . And they both contributed to the Gorillaz ‘Plastic Seat Beach’ record. But overall, the twenty-teens and twenties have been relatively quiet.
Photo by @tommyophoto So, a neat surprise a few weeks back when I was scrolling through Instagram and came across this sweet little tune, “Lonely Town.” The short version of the story is that Paul Simonon (bassman for the Clash, and the bass-smashing cover boy of London Calling) was staying on and off in Mallorca during lockdown – resting, painting, writing some tunes – when a mutual friend pointed Paul toward Gale Ayers back in the UK (daughter of Soft Machine’s Kevin Ayers). They knew each other from years past, and hit it off creatively.
Galen moved in with Paul for writing and recording (separate rooms!), and before you know it, they have a major label debut as Galen & Paul with Can We Do Tomorrow Another Day?
The album releases on May 19th, but a couple of singles are already out: “Room at the Top” and the aforementioned “Lonely Town.” It’s a catchy, laid back, simple little number that I’m enjoying. Check it out!
Zach Bryan’s God Speed
The sky was crystal blue north of Flagstaff a couple months back, and three feet of fresh snow covered the San Francisco Peaks like a white blanket. I had spent 90 minutes in traffic driving the 15 miles from Flagstaff to Snowbowl ski resort. I strapped on the skis and and spent the late morning and early afternoon on some fun, looong cruiser runs. Until last year, I hadn’t put on a pair of skis since Bill Clinton was prez. So no need for moguls or black diamonds for me, not anymore. I’m happy gliding down that smooth hill with long slalom turns, wind against my smiling face…
It was a good day. At mid afternoon I was wrapping it up, clopping along in my ski boots, equipment gathered up, making my way to the rental shop to return everything. A song was drifting through the air, from the Hart Prairie Lodge sound system. It was a song that I hadn’t heard before, but I paused and listened.
Well, I wanna send a post card
From the edge of a place I’ve never beenIt stopped me in my big heavy boots. The singer’s voice was raw, matter of fact, with a hint of desperation. Someone who was done with the bullshit. Plaintive but determined.
Well, I wanna see the road melt
Into the mountains away as I drive
And make it out of this damn town alive
And not let the dreams I shoulder dieYeah, it’s 2023, so I grabbed my phone and tapped the Shazam app. I needed to know.
I’m movin’ at God speed
Only God and my mama know what I need
And I feel the hardwood floors on my knees
As I beg you just to take it easy on meZach Bryan. “God Speed.”
I’d listened to his latest critically acclaimed album American Heartbreak not too far back, but I wasn’t familiar with this beauty of a song. “God Speed,” from his 2019 self-release debut album, DeAnn. Zach just turned 27 years old for crying out loud! I can’t wait to see what he’s got in store for us.
“God Speed” blows me away with each listen. And as long as I’m around listening to it, I’ll think of that mountain snow, that blue northern Arizona sky, and a shuffle along the wood floors of the lodge as it hit my ears for the first time.
Zach Bryan’s Official Site
As All Get Out – New from MLV
Ickmusic favorite Matthew Logan Vasquez (aka the front man of the great Delta Spirit) is back with another great batch of songs on his brand new album, As All Get Out (Bandcamp), released this past Friday. This is Matt’s 5th full length solo album since 2015. Pretty prolific considering there’s also been an EP and two Delta Spirit albums released in that same time frame. It must be nice to let the songs spill out of you like that. I’m still struggling with writing my first full song, and yes, I’ve read Jeff Tweedy’s ‘How To Write One Song!’
This new album came to my attention via Matt’s Instagram, where he posted a video of himself along his his two band mates playing a great version of the album opener “Untouchable.” I was ‘reeled’ in!
With Friday’s release, I dove in. The second song in, the lead single “Over It,” has that driving Delta Spirit / Vasquez signature beat, and has me coming back for many repeat listens. The video is fun. I’m guessing that’s Matt’s son front and center.
And if you want an emotional, poignant ballad (see the DS tune “Vivian” too), then listen to “Recognize,” which is written from the point of view of someone just diagnosed with a memory-killing disease like Alzheimer’s. “Would it offend you if I left here tonight / while I’m still someone I recognize?” Crushingly beautiful.