Blue Shirt Charlie – Summer (2024)
In the film, The Man In The Iron Mask, actor Gérard Depardieu said we should “…eat, drink and make love to life.” Now, I’m not sure about eating, drinking and making love to life, but the message of an overall celebration of life is abundantly clear; Blue Shirt Charlie embodies this celebration. Technically the re-emergence of three talented artists in 2022 – Richie Sessions, Russ Chapman and Lex Lipsitz – Blue Shirt Charlie led the way for the alternative-country movement. Bringing their life experiences of tragedy and triumph, the US-based trio capture reality in all its gritty glory. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Summer’.
Following their well-received 2023 singles ‘Misty’ and ‘Crazy Woman’, Blue Shirt Charlie round off a busy 2024 with ‘Summer’. Recorded and produced by the threesome at Southern Comfort – the “former Nashville home of outlaw country icon Waylon Jennings” – ‘Summer’ steps down a tone from previous material veiling upbeat Americana in a soothing country ballad.
Musical alchemists, ‘Summer’ is Blue Shirt Charlie’s concoction of dynamic drums and bold guitars shining bright in dazzling colours; however, for me at least, the interspersed piano brings a little “something, something” to the melody. Warm and rich, but simultaneously eerie and haunting, ‘Summer’ oscillates between joyful optimism and vulnerability – all resonating with intimate intensity. The vocals in particular encapsulate this duality oozing warm fragility with skin-tingling sensations.
The melody itself can have a powerful impact on a listener; however, it is the theme that adds weightiness to ‘Summer’. Lyrically, the track “…explores loss and restoration through the lens of seasons… the band exhibits restraint with sparse instrumentation to place the story front and centre.”
Blue Shirt Charlie brings us another intriguing tune in ‘Summer’ as the track is aptly named after a time of abundance and rebirth. Yet, at the same time, the barebones soundscape sends a wintry chill rushing through your veins. Tragedy and triumph; tragedy and triumph embraced in a few minutes of music. If this is anything to go by, I cannot wait for more from Blue Shirt Charlie!
Find out more about Blue Shirt Charlie on their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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