Here are this week’s five songs worth listening to. A few weeks off edition.

Cole Chaney–Ill Will Creek

Want something that oozes appalachian despair? Then this is your song. Chaney comes to us from Cattletsburg, Kentucky, which is going to induce the Tyler Childers comparisons, especially after this one drops. It hits all the earmarks for comparison. Vocal raspiness that still sounds beautiful, hook harmony, and yes, heavy fiddle. Oh, and a story for and from the holler. This is Cole’s first song on Spotify, but you can back track some on youtube if you want more, and I do.

Gabe Lee–Ol’ Smokey ft. King Margo

Ol’ Smokey was on Gabe Lee’s debut album that came out a couple years. It was mostly an acoustic solo album. Now that Gabe has some winds behind him in his career, he has circled back around to that album and releasing them again with a full band sound. Ol’ Smokey was the first “re-imagined” released off that project, and it might be the one that takes him from “best kept secret” to every one knowing his name.

Vandoliers–Every Saturday Night

While this is a song of nostalgia, replete with shoutouts to whiskey and Turnpike, it also just straight up slaps. I have a playlist called BPA that is made for firepit nights with friends who just want to have a good time. This is exactly the kind of song that goes in that list. As for the nostalgia, it also has the feel of a follow up to Dirty Guv’nahs’ Morning Light, about 10 years later.

Ida Mae–Click Click Domino ft. Marcus King

If you weren’t really paying attention when this came on, you would swear it is Jack White. Ida Mae (English duo Chris Turpin and Stephanie Jean) have toured with everyone from Willie Nelson to Allison Krauss to Marcus King. Guitar whiz King joins them on this one. He has become a frequent collaborator with the duo and they have a great groove together.

Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall–In His Arms

Most of this week’s selections kick and groove. We are going to close it out with one much more simple, yet beautifully bittersweet. A guitar and a voice song. Listen, I’m not sure I’ve forgiven Miranda, but I can listen to this kind of stuff all day.

We’ll be back with five more next week. Until then, remember the immortal words…
“Songs are really just interesting things to be doing with the air.” Tom Waits