A Leif Vollebekk Masterpiece: “Sunset Boulevard Expedition”
Brand new Leif Vollebekk!
Leif released ‘Revelation‘ on September 27th, and it took me until today to make it to “Sunset Boulevard Expedition,” the penultimate track on the album.
Sir. Inject this into my veins and let me live in this track for a few days, please! A slow-building melancholic monster of a tune, 8 minutes and 19 seconds of bittersweet and wistful beauty.
The transition mid-song to the dreamy refrain: If I have to live without you / I’m just gonna dream about you / I’m not gonna let you fade away / I’m not made that way – with accompaniment by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus and the heavenly swells of Sara Pagé‘s harp.
The spoken words of the final moments. The genuine ACHE he feels, and the way the song just washes over me as I listen.
The drummer on this tune? The legendary Jim Keltner, honorary Traveling Wilbury, who has played with so many popular musicians in the business. Please check out Leif’s story about calling up Jim out of the blue, and how the song came together. It’s here on his Instagram post.
Listen to this song. Find and take in the lyrics and the imagery they evoke.
Just stunning.Recap: Leif Vollebekk comes to Phoenix
Since discovering Leif Vollebekk’s music a few years back, I’ve looked forward to the day I’d see him live. Last night, St. Patrick’s Day 2022, was the night. Leif is back on a big tour, and thankfully he was booked into a cool small Phoenix club called Valley Bar – a speakeasy style venue that’s accessible from a downtown back alley off Central Avenue, down a flight of stairs. Really cool vibe.
Leif hails from Montreal, Canada, and his whole essence as a musician is infectious. He pours his heart & soul into his performances. You see him lost in the music, closing his eyes, waving his head – the same kind of soul-shaking moments at the piano and keys you’d see from Ray Charles. And that voice man.. soulful, smooth with that ever so slight raspy-ness. Just gorgeous to watch and hear live.
The night was spontaneous, straying from the set list for moments like Prince’s early 80’s B-side “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore” (maybe in response to a fan in the front row who was wearing a Prince shirt, as Leif pointed out).
As the pandemic decides to subside a bit for now, it’s intimate live moments like this I’m so glad to have back – a chance to stand 20 feet from a great musician, watching it happen in the moment.
Leif’s song “Transatlantic Flight” is one that resonates most with me. I captured it all here.. enjoy.
