Justin Townes Earle

“Now what do you do when you’re lonesome,
Where do you go when you’re blue?
And how do you deal with such emotion,
When you’re just an ordinary fool?”

Justin Townes Earle – from “The Good Life” CD

A poetic verse from an extraordinary young talent, Justin Townes Earle, the 26 year old son of musician Steve Earle. He is not, however, one to be happy riding on his dad’s name just to make a decent living. Justin is blazing his own path, and bringing the down-home traditional country sound along with him. Catching Justin perform one of his live acoustic shows, along with close friend Cory Younts providing harmony or playing a variety of string instruments, will immediately catapult you back in time, to the days of Woody Guthrie or Hank Williams, Sr. playing the small honky-tonks during their own heydays. Few artists today perform with the passion and creativity that he can. Justin’s debut release for Bloodshot Records titled The Good Life is being released March 25th. The ten songs that appear on the CD, weave intricately together to produce what is sure to be one of the best releases this year.

The CD has been in the works for quite some time. While touring and promoting his self- released CD entitled Yuma, Justin had an encouraging discussion with Rob Miller, the owner of Bloodshot Records. “I was touring in Chicago with Steve Poulton, who is my co-producer and hopefully always will be, and we needed a place to stay. We found a friend, who ended up being a friend of Rob Miller. Rob came to see me the next night, and we had a nice talk about what I had planned for an upcoming CD. It took a while to work out all the contract details, but when they were complete the CD was already in the works. In fact, there are two songs we had already recorded previously on our own. ‘Ain’t Glad I’m Leaving’ was recorded when I was 18 by producer Ray Kennedy and my father. The last song ‘Far Away In Another Town’ was recorded a couple of years ago for a semi-rock record I had in mind. I just liked the song, and wanted it included here.”

Justin had initial conversations with Lost Highway Records a few years ago, but that never panned out. It was a true blessing, which allowed him the freedom to record what he wanted, surrounded by his own people. “Bloodshot doesn’t try to control anything. They cater to artists who are going to do things there own way, and they allow them the freedom to do that. It has been great thus far.”

The CD is produced by legendary R.S. Field, who joined the project at the last minute. Justin contacted R.S. and told him, “We can’t pay you what you are supposed to get paid. We can’t afford anything but a Greyhound bus ticket. Would you like to come help us make this record, and he said sure. I think R.S. enjoyed it. He took a huge cut in pay to do it, but he helped us quite a bit.”

R.S. is responsible for some of the most memorable albums of the recent past, including Billy Joe Shaver’s Tramp On Your Street.  He welcomed the opportunity to work with Earle. “Justin sent me his EP and some new demos. I really liked it and thought that his direction had a very relaxed fit and approach. He is his father’s son in that he can really write songs and merge styles in an interesting way. I was surprised, although I don’t know why, that Justin could blend old-time country, jug band, and folk together so well. Along with Steve Poulton, Richard McLaurin, and Adam Bednarik, we completed it in only seven days. It just all flowed together seamlessly.”

Justin’s unique blend in styles is intentional. “I made the record this way on purpose. I did not want to only make an old time string, country, or folk album. I wanted a variety of different sounds. There is some New Orleans influence, Muscle Shoals, Ray Price, Woody Guthrie, and even some of my dad. I got a lot of friends who are doing the old time country music, and got themselves pigeonholed. Getting pigeonholed into anything is bad in this business. A lot of artists do it to be safe, trying to please the same audience each time. The people who like this record will let me get away with almost anything. I like the flexibility, and all directions are open.”

Justin has been writing music since age 15. A few have stood the test of time, and appear on the CD. “I actually wrote ‘South Georgia Sugar Babe’,’ Lonesome and You’, and ‘Turn Out My Lights’ when I was 15 or 16. A guy named Scotty Melton actually taught me how to write songs. He is from Johnson City, never really left there, but he is a great writer. He still plays some of the bars up there.”

Earle likes to do things his own way now. “I’m not the type of songwriter who lets a song sit there. I know pretty damn well what a song is going to sound like in full production as I am writing it,” he says. “It all starts twisting in my head, which kind of screws me up sometimes because I am hearing steel guitar, fiddles, and can’t concentrate on lyrics. I try not to sit there and hold a guitar in my hands all the time, because I end up jerking around and lose where I want to go. I can end up with a kick-ass elaborate finger pickin’ guitar piece, but no lyrics to go with it. It is really rare that I just sit down with any song and get it all done in one sitting. I will write a couple of lines, and then walk away. Sometimes I am like the ADD poster child of America,” he laughs.

Author: John Walker

Comments

I had the pleasure of meeting Justin out at SXSW. His band van had been stolen the previous day in Austin which is always tough to hear.  Hopefully they recovered it y now.  Anyway, I’ll have to check out his music.  Thanks John!

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