Artists
Album Info
Release Date: 2023-06-16Label: Anti-Corp
Although at this time it seemed Stambaugh’s career was leaning into traditional Nashville honky tonk, Stambaugh still struggled with his identity as he was between too many camps. His radar still leaned toward the expression of original artistry. He knew in his heart that fundamentalist identity was just cosplay. Stambaugh was working a full time job and still broke, would play dive bars to very few people. Songwriting peer Benjamin Tod saw Stambaugh playing one night and afterwards back at the house expressed his distaste in what Stambaugh was doing and Tod gave Stambaugh the opportunity to record a solo album. Stambaugh jumped at the opportunity and feeling pressure to do his best, he descended into his madness and gathered material.At this time still insecure in his sound, he was looking for artistic approval from Tod, who when confronted by Stambaugh’s unbalanced catalogue, looked Stambaugh straight in the eyes and said, “I trust you.” And took a full hands off approach to Stambaugh’s production. With all the powers that be, Stambaugh gathered a team of close musicians and some he had met through his years as a Robert’s Western World employee. Described as the Robert’s Western World House band, he recorded an album of various textures displaying his traditional honky-tonk taste and his nightmarish minor key melodies. Recorded live with minimal overdubs in a three day period the tracks showcase world class drummer John Mctigue III (Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell), bass fiddle player Jared Manzo (Chris Scruggs, Brazilbilly), fiddle visionary Derek Pell (Ray Price), and northeast Ohio pedal steel giant Stephen “Tebbs” Karney (Rodney & The Regulars). The record is a dream document of personal wisdoms and narrations from his northeast Ohio upbringings. With dreamscape sounds of pedal steel guitar and fiddle washing through quick train beats hung on minor keys the record combines the best of his melodic ear as well as his ear for character that we read in his short stories. He poses on the cover wearing Tubb’s neckerchief.