The cowboy is an iconic character in the West. He is instilled in the popular psyche and has given rise to that fictional independent, hard-riding, hard-drinking, dust on the shoes and drover, image venerated in books, movies, magazines and music. From the early music of Jimmy Rogers to the modern rock era, the desperado image has found voice in rock lyrics and a jangly guitar wail. Classic rock purveyors Bob Seger, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Outlaws, and Tom Petty ploughed these grounds and became the foundation of sort of a country/folk classic rock musical tradition. This combination of Western cowboy hard livin’ on the edge and dog has died sensitivity sells and the genre draws fans. Tons of them.
What makes it so good? Women love it. Songs about love, romance, God, drinking, rebellion, repentance, redemption and renewal all delivered with a slight drawl with leather boots, tight blue jeans, western-style shirt and hat and an electric guitar slung over one shoulder like a bandolier is sexy. Men also like it. The rock guitar leads, twangy rhythms and bend licks soar into rock anthems with lyrics about love, sex and alcohol. Men also like it because women like it. Let’s face it, how many kids were conceived under the flickering Bics during a performance of “Freebird;” with “Night Moves;” as the guitars dueled it out on “Green Grass and High Tides;” or while “Free Fallin’?”
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Jesse Brewster has ninety-nine point nine percent of what it takes to be a rock star in the same fashion. His songs and songwriting are as good, if not better, and his guitar work and production values are impeccable. His voice is evocative. His new album. Wrecking Ball at the Concert Hall proves he is a force to be reckoned with.
Brewster is a San Francisco Bay Area boy. To record the album he grabbed a band of local residents - James DePrato (electric and slide guitar (and ebow)); Jeff Symonds (bass); Santa Rosa vocal coach Allyson Paige (background vocals) and Kyle Caprista (drums) He also added keyboardist Eric Levy from Garaj Mahal. The Waybacks guitarist, James Nash, plays and sings with Brewster on “God Fearin’ Man.” The Bittersweets keyboardist and percussionist, Jerry Becker, plays on “Consider This.”
This is one hell of an album. It begins with “All Those Things I Said,” a sonic experience of doubled and solo lead electric guitars, a great bass arpeggio, jangly acoustic rhythm guitars, a wonderful hook, and smooth background vocals in a song about regrets. “Fuel for the Fire” is a romantic ballad about redemption and repentance that starts as an acoustic guitar ballad. It has an intensely building slide guitar arrangement. “All She Deserves” is a romantic country/rock ballad.
“God Fearin’ Man” is a classic country rocker with a cajun beat, and distorted blues guitar. This “drinkin’” redemption song has an absolutely great electric guitar duel between Brewster and Nash. “Dive To Drown In” is a country blues bar ballad, again about love and regret. Levy’s piano work holds this one together and Brewster’s voice and acoustic guitar move you through the vocalist’s down and out world. “My Great Escape,” which is presently featured on the Brewster’s website, is another drinkin’, love and repentance song. It is a dark number with an Outlaws’ worthy guitar interlude and a great hook. “Sometime” is a beautiful folk rock “parting is sweet sorrow” song about separation and friendship.
“I’m Not Broken” is about lost love (and drinking to get over it.) Brewster tries to convince us and his ex that he is doing fine, although, he does sound rather bitter. The song soars with electric Lynyrd Skynyrd-like guitar interludes. “Consider This” is an acoustic guitar tour de force. It is to Brewster as “Yesterday” is to Paul McCartney - a signature love song. Soft and ethereal, it is the place where the Bics get flicked and the audience sways and sighs in intimate unison. “Sorry Ain’t Enough” completes the album. This gin drinking song about an apology being insufficient to make amends for your actions oozes emotion as Brewster’s guitar wails over his vocals. The song (and CD) ends with a crying baby. The entire album is the epitome of the fantasy of western cowboy hard livin’ on the edge and dog has died sensitivity.”
With his incredible songwriting talent, and world class recording and performance chops, it is hard to fathom why Brewster isn’t a household name up there with Seger and Petty, Like I said, “Jesse Brewster has ninety-nine point nine percent of what it takes to be a rock star.” I now think I know what the .1 percent is that has held him back from becoming a well-known country rock bandolero. Every picture and video that I see him in lacks it. He needs the cowboy hat, boots and bandolier.
- Old School
buy here: Wrecking Ball at the Concert Hall
