Rob’s Album of The Week: JD McPherson’s Nite Owls
When he’s not on tour with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, JD McPherson is creating a serious brand of rock & roll. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native has been doing this for roughly 15 years and he has a sound that echoes the classic, blues-influenced sound of the late ’50s while exuding a modern garage rock flair. He’s an example of someone who can be a total blast from the past without being too kitschy. The latest example of this is his fifth full-length album Nite Owls, which came out via New West Records on September 27. With it being his first release in nearly six years, it shows that McPherson can still be consistently great with his artistry after a lengthy time away from it.
Along with recording the album with engineer Alex Hall at Reliable Recorders in Chicago, McPherson also handled the producing. Chad Copelin at Blackwatch Studios in Norman, Oklahoma, Colton Jean at Jean Pump Studio in Tulsa and Diana Walsh at RCA Studio B in Nashville added some of their engineering expertise as well with all of their talents resulting in an excellent sounding record. The grit of McPherson’s guitar really comes through. The same can be said for the other elements courtesy of Hall and Copelin on a variety of instruments along with Douglas Corcoran playing a similar role and Beau Sample holding it all together on bass. To add the icing on top of the musical cake, Bloodshot Bill, Ken Pomeroy and Jean also incorporated backing vocals.
I remember the first time I saw JD McPherson and his band perform. It was at the Green River Festival in Greenfield, Massachusetts back in 2021. I knew a little bit about him beforehand, but when I saw him rip up the stage, I became an instant fan. I’ve gotten to see him live a couple times since then, and both instances were great experiences. I think he really captured this particular essence with his new album, but there’s only one way to see if it’s true or not. Here are my top tracks off of the Album of The Week:
“Sunshine Getaway” starts things off with a wicked cool dynamic courtesy of the drums and guitar. McPherson’s soulful crooning is excellent as well. There’s a similar vibe with “Just Like Summer”, but this tune has a distinct surf element that’s fitting for the title. I love the energy in “The Rock and Roll Girls”. It’s feverish and emphatic in simultaneous fashion while being fueled by the structure and arrangements.
McPherson and his band have been embarking on a tour in support of Nite Owls with the next stop being at The Atlantis in Washington, D.C. on October 1. Other notable dates include October 4 at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, October 6 at The Sinclair in Cambridge, Massachusetts, October 12 at Metro in Chicago, November 8 at The Kessler Theater in Dallas, November 12 at the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix and November 23 at the Gothic Theatre in Denver. If you have the chance to catch one of these shows, I highly suggest that you do so. In the meantime, grab a copy of the new album. It’s an excellent array of rock & roll that’s as classic as it is modern.
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