Bass player with Red House Painters when they existed to envelop our minds with their songs and now touring partner of (Red House Painter) Mark Kozalek in Sun Kil Moon, Jerry Vessel also has a project or two of his own.
His second album as 'Heirlooms of August' following the sublime 'Forever the Moon' in 2011 is ‘Down at the 5-Star' again on Kozelek’s label, Caldo Verde.
If 'Forever the Moon' was sublime then the overall feeling after listening to 'Down at the 5-Star' can only be described, as one of contentment.
A truly beautiful album with Vessel's haunting vocals (not a million miles away from the style of Mark Kozalek himself) accompanied by deliciously gentle instrumentation. The acoustic guitar itself is enough to ease the soul after a hard day at the coal face or, wherever your job takes you.
Try the warmth of the slide guitar on the album's title song for size, as the story unfolds around a day's activity about regularly meeting a girl called Julie at a truck stop, as she waits for her drug dealer. You can see, even feel the harsher side of life can sound comforting when wrapped in exquisite instrumentation and Jerry Vessel’s vocals.
'Annabelle' is next, the slide guitar is there, and that leads to a beautiful acoustic guitar seamlessly. Harmony vocals from Frances Everett (‘coffeescup’ on You Tube) tell the story of his mysterious lady in sublime style.
The songs on the album are all stories that will keep you warm his winter in front of the fire or whenever you care to listen to them. Stories sung with feeling, told with passion about places, events and people.
Next steps, someone needs to get this guy over to the Union Chapel for a
Pete
10/11
Songs
Down at the 5-Star
Annabelle
Jerusalem Ridge
Mariachi Music on Valentine's Day
Antonio De Torres
Cleopatra Eyeliner
All the Rainfall
Cello Suite No.
Buzz Lightyear
Out Among My Flowers Unique