Five Questions with Blue Yonder on the band’s new full-length album ‘Rough and Ready Heart’

 

 

Charleston, West Virginia-based trio Blue Yonder—John Lilly (vocals/songwriter, rhythm guitar), Robert Shafer (electric guitar), and Will Carter (acoustic bass, harmony vocals)—are set to release their second full-length album, Rough and Ready Heart, on NewSong Recordings June 8.

The album, which is comprised of 12 original songs, offers a range of Americana—honky-tonk to swing, rockabilly to bluegrass. Carter says the band strove to record songs that called on the “unifying power of country, folk, blues, and swing music, to speak honestly about many of the trials and triumphs that give life meaning.”

The West Virginia band has shows scheduled up and down the east coast, from Asheville, NC to Nova Scotia. “As a band that has honed it sound close to home, we’re looking forward to finally bringing our sound to new audiences over the next several months,” says Carter.

We spoke with bassist Will Carter to learn more about the band, the new album, and the inspiration behind it. 

1. How would you describe your sound on this new album? Is there a story behind the name, Rough and Ready Heart?

The recording tells a series of stories about living, losing, and loving along life’s back road highways, set to a broad array of Americana musical traditions — country, folk, blues, and swing. Though the most of the characters featured in these stories are dealing with more trials than triumphs, the toe-tapping music and thoughtful lyrics convey more of a sense of dignity than despair, and an openness to future positive possibilities. “Rough & Ready Heart” is the song that speaks most explicitly to that get-back-on-the-horse again spirit of engaging with whatever life throws at the characters featured in our songs.

2. Could you speak to your experience recording the album at Echo Mountain Recording Studios in Asheville, NC?

Having a great team made it a wonderful experience. It all started with our producer Gar, who did everything from help us choose the songs to coordinate the studio sessions to arrange for lodging. And it was so helpful having Clay work the board — he had an great combination of technical proficiency and easy-going laid back, eager-to-please mood. Having Tony Creasman on drums in the studio, who has played with so many big names in Nashville over the years, was such a treat — a really nice guy, and probably the best drummer I will ever have the privilege to play with. And, of course, working with Russ Hicks is amazing — we cover a lot of stylistic ground on the recording and he nailed every piece. It’s easy to understand why he was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame back in 2011.

 

Could you share a bit of the band’s history? How did you find one another? How long have you been playing together?

After decades playing and producing primarily instrumental music (bluegrass, old time, celtic, and jazz), I started appreciating great songwriting around the time John Lilly a touring singer-songwriter who had landed in the same town I did, won a couple of national songwriting awards. I noticed that John tended to play solo, so in 2012 offered to join John on bass for some shows.  When that went well, I suggested that we invite another national award-winning local musician, guitarist Robert Shafer, to join us for some gigs. When Mountain Stage host Larry Groce heard the group was playing together, he quickly booked the band for a Mountain Stage performance in early 2013 and was generous enough to offer a complimentary introduction featured on the band’s debut Bittersweet Road recording later that year — recorded in Robert’s living room. To prepare for that first Mountain Stage show, Blue Yonder hosted a couple months of weekly shows at Bluegrass Kitchen, a local Charleston restaurant. Five years later, Blue Yonder still plays every Tuesday night at Bluegrass Kitchen, and chose to dedicate their second recording to the people and scene that has become such an important part of the band’s life.

4. Are there any particular songs you are especially excited about?

We’re mostly excited about the whole package. It brings together a range of emotions, experiences, and musical sensibilities into a coherent whole that features the diverse but complimentary musical traditions of singer-songwriter John Lilly, hot-shot guitar player Robert Shafer, and a contra dance band bass player [Will Carter]. Based on early responses, it seems that “Rough & Ready Heart,” “Windswept,” “Jeannie,” and “You Can’t Get There From Here” are going to be especially appreciated by listeners, but “Standing by the Side of the Road” and “Lost In Yesterday” probably capture best the combination of road trip and heartache that informs so much of Americana music.

5. What do you want fans to know about this release?

That it shows how three middle age white guys with diverse backgrounds can combine to tell meaningful stories that people of all ages and backgrounds can relate to, thanks in part to the unifying power of country, folk, blues, and swing music, to speak honestly about many of the trials and triumphs that give life meaning.

 

BLUE YONDER TOUR DATES

July 6 – Isis Restaurant & Music Hall – Asheville, NC

July 13 – Red Wings Roots Festival – Mount Solon, VA

August 8 – Davis Park – Charleston, WV

August 11 – Myles Center for the Arts – Elkins, WV

August 16 – Queen’s Place Emera Centre – Liverpool, Nova Scotia