BY PHILL BARNETT
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
The leaves fell quickly this year and with them fell a pile of hits from around the Commonwealth. Here are some of my favorite recent releases.
Peace Mountain – Nicholas Jamerson & Charles Wesley Godwin
Nicholas Jamerson, one of Kentucky’s most beloved living songwriters, has teamed up with one of West Virginia’s favorite sons, Charles Wesley Godwin. Peace mountain is a quiet psalm about finding peace in the middle of chaos.
The lyrics will remind any baptist of growing up in the church, while the soundscape created by crickets and simple instrumentation transport the listener to the hills at night. You’ll feel like you’re sitting around the campfire with Jamerson and Godwin as they condense their life’s wisdom into a simple yet beautiful song.
Comeback Kid – Brother Smith
Hailing from northern Kentucky, Brother Smith is a band of virtuosos headed up by singing-songwriting brothers Wes and Aaron Smith. If Kentucky musicians voted for an MVP, the Smith brothers would be a shoo-in every year.
The Brother Smith sound has evolved over their discography, with their most recent album “La Sinfonía del Vaquero Suburbano” taking a turn toward soul and jazz while maintaining the band’s undeniable folk roots.
Comeback Kid is the perfect track for fans old and new to dip their toes into the waters of the new sound. The mellow self-effacing vocals ring true of classic Brother Smith while the music grooves along, putting new pep in the narrator’s step.
Mountain Lady – Luke Trimble
Luke Trimble is a rising star to watch from Paintsville. His new EP “Nothing to Lose” showcases his diverse songwriting abilities and his enormous talent as a singer.
Mountain Lady is an ode to all of our mamas and mamaws and the other strong women who tend to live in these hills. The song, along with the rest of the album, is a striking and fresh example of the bluegrass rock sound that has been developing in eastern Kentucky.
Finding Myself (Losing You) – Jen Tackett feat. Eric Bolander
Jen Tackett and Eric Bolander, two Kentucky southern rock veterans have teamed up for a somber duet that will leave you wanting an entire collaborative album. Tackett’s voice is a songbird piercing through the booming waterfall of Bolander’s soulful baritone.
Honey Bun – Laid Back Country Picker
From his upcoming album “Go West,” this new Laid Back Country Picker tune is already a tri-state classic. Based out of Fallsburg, LBCP and his gal Honey just released a series of session videos in collaboration with Three Sheets to the Wind to raise money for the Lawrence County Humane society. Catch “Honey Bun,” “Amen John Glenn” and “LB’s Truth” on the Three Sheets YouTube channel now and get the album when it drops!
All of these incredible artists can be found touring the tri-state, central Kentucky and beyond. Support local artists. Stream their music, attend their shows, buy their merch and most importantly, tell your friends.
These songs and more are featured on the Fresh Off the Still playlist on Spotify. Go to musicalmoonshine.com/playlists to follow the playlist and never miss a fresh batch of shine.
Phill Barnett is a senior correspondent for the Mountain Citizen, a singer-songwriter, and also owns and operates his own media company, Musical Moonshine. Follow the Fresh Off the Still playlist on Spotify for the most recent releases from the best artists in the region and beyond.