This 5-song all-original EP collection runs only 14 minutes. But this is a wonderful introduction to a piece of old-fashioned country music (not C&W) & bluegrass mix that has new life emanating from the voice of firefighter Randy Steele. An award-winning banjo-picking singer-songwriter from Tennessee who reeks of energy & personality throughout this set.
Randy Steele (banjo/vocals) is not an old man, but he has that unmistakable authoritative voice that was born to people like Ralph Stanley & Roy Clark. All five tunes are worthy but “Nashville Drinking Song,” featuring Emmylou Harris-style backup vocals by the dependable fiddle sawing Faye Petree (absolutely wonderful). This song smokes with Randy’s Levon Helm-tinged vocal had Levon stayed in Arkansas.
The set is a fun listen because that’s what the music demands. Bluegrass is country with a B-12 shot. Technically, the EP is a self-titled effort & High Cold Wind is Steele’s band name. But the self-produced High Cold Wind EP (Drops Aug 25–Independent). “It Happened,” has a rollicking drive & then suddenly ends. There is nothing hokey about these tunes – they’re rendered with authority & if they were cake – they’d be tasty.
Then comes the relatively short & simple percussive/banjo-led little tune “A Golden Smile,” that’s over before you know it. (The tune is about Randy’s memory of his own self-doubt when first dating his wife of 22 years).
It’s followed by the barn-burning full-throttle, black smoke spewing, steam whistlin’ hot “Eight Thirty Eighteen.” Owls will be chasin’ mice, corks will be poppin’ & yes, some colorful language will be flying. With five musicians it sounds like a full band at a barn dance.
The opening tune finds Randy Steele singing in a more country & western vintage style. Lyrics that could’ve come from the pen of the late Johnny Horton & sung by the late Jim Reeves. It’s a good country-style ballad with a slight parallel vocal by Faye. It makes an average song sound even more expressive. They should sing a duet together someday.
John Apice
Americana Highways
lyrics
eight thirty eight teen
Frankly this whole thing has gotten out of hand
Like a permanent structure being built in the sand
Or a buck ass private being put in command
Of a war bound USS Abraham
How many times must the hammer come down
Before we pick up the nail and turn this thing around
It’s like we keep falling deeper and deeper into a shallow grave
Anger, bitterness, deception, and strife
And stupidity just seem to be raining from the sky
I’m tired of being put upon and spit upon and lied to
By every baby boomer in a dark blue suit
The only thing I know is that I don’t know it all
And I know that you don’t either
Seems like the whole damn world can’t even concentrate
We couldn’t hit a meatball thrown right across the plate
We should be rounding bases, this shouldn’t be a challenge
Instead we’re burning mountains for a couple miles a gallon
If I turn off my tv, if I turn off my computer
Will that stop some crazy asshole from shooting up a school
The only things I know is that I don’t know at all
And I know that you don’t either
Will the history books say we were simply complacent
We relied too much on others, we were way too patient
We were misinformed or too informed or just ignored and downplayed
The fact that these things ain’t going away
Or will they say that we kept falling deeper and deeper into a shallow grave
The only thing I know is that I don’t know at all
And I know that you don’t either
The only thing I know is that I don’t know at all
And I know that you don’t either
credits
from High Cold Wind,
released April 13, 2024
Banjo/Vocals: Randy Steele
Fiddle/Vocals: Faye Petree
Mandolin: John Boulware
Guitar/Vocals: Tyler Martelli
Upright Bass: Justin Hupp
Recorded and mixed by Brett K Nolan at Soundry Studio
Banjo pickin' Singer Songwriter from Chattanooga Tennessee and frontman for Slim Pickins
Bluegrass
2018 NewSong Leaf Festival Songwriting Competition Finalist. 2017 Blast On the Bay Upcoming Artist
16th Annual IMA Bluegrass Song Fan Winner for 'Mobile Soon"
16th Annual IMA Bluegrass album of the year Nomination
for "Songs from the Suck"...more
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