10 Best Country, Americana Songs of the Week: Jack Ingram, Tenille Townes
Long-awaited new music from Texas troubadour Jack Ingram, another stunner from promising songwriter Tenille Townes and the latest message of self-love from Sarah Potenza make up the must-hear tracks of the week.
Daddy Long Legs, “Glad Rag Ball”
Dropping the fuzz and amplification for this acoustic blues-jam-in-a-park, New York trio Daddy Long Legs showcase the live vibe of the band’s upcoming Lowdown Ways LP (out May 10th). It’s all guttural hollering and foot-stomping rhythms at their “Glad Rag Ball.” Just don’t forget the handbags.
Hailey Whitters, “Ten Year Town”
Ten years may feel like an eternity in Music City, and those 15 minutes of fame (or hopefully longer) may never come your way, now matter how long you try. Hailey Whitters makes the musicians’ struggle sound delicate and beautiful on “Ten Year Town,” a gentle ballad co-written with Brandy Clark about sticking it out no matter your quote-unquote sell-by date.
Steve Poltz, “Ballin’ on a Wednesday”
Wednesday schmensday, Canadian songwriter Steve Poltz sees no reason to get the midweek blues on this scuzzy new cut from Shine On. Plenty bluesy all the same, Poltz doesn’t need you to read between the lines to get the gist of this ode to Hump Day.
Sarah Potenza, “Diamond”
“They can’t fuck with girls like me,” sings Sarah Potenza on this full-throated slow-burner from her Road to Rome LP, due out this week. No rough edges on this “Diamond,” either, just a loud and proud exultation from the onetime Voice contestant.
Emily Duff, “Hallelujah Hello”
Praise be to the rock & roll survivors, and on “Hallelujah Hello” New York vet Emily Duff gives her own thanks with some meaty slide guitar and stained-glass organ. One part Patti Smith, one part Muscle Shoals, it’s the title track to her new, just-released LP.
Tenille Townes, “White Horse”
White horses or wild flowers, Tenille Townes is through with marrying herself to a fantasy on this cut from last year’s Living Room Worktapes EP. Romance isn’t dead, but it’s not a fairytale either, and no knight in shining armor will change that.
Jack Ingram, “Where There’s a Willie”
Where there’s a will, there’s a way to write another song about Willie Nelson, especially if you’re from Texas. This boozy, eight-minute ode from Jack Ingram gets in a nod to Waylon, too, and will appear on his Riding High…Again come April.
Chris Shiflett, “This Ol’ World”
When Chris Shiflett isn’t busy with Foo Fighters or recording podcasts, he’s lighting up some California country rock, and on “This Ol’ World” he fully brings the guitar-slinging pyrotechnics. A lick, a verse and a couple mean solos are all Shiflett needs to make a statement.
Muscadine Bloodline, “Montgomery”
Heartbreak might be a hell of a lot easier if there weren’t so many reminders to deal with, and Muscadine Bloodline have a big one on their hands: the entire city of Montgomery. Short of taking a detour, their best bet at catharsis is to turn their angst into a song.
Della Mae, “Bourbon Hound”
The ladies in Grammy-winning bluegrass quarter Della Mae cut The Butcher Shoppe EP in one day, and from it came “Bourbon Hound,” an old-fashioned cocktail with a kick. Stir it up, cut it loose and let the good times go straight to your head.