January 11, 2023

Country Westerns – It’s A Livin: New Song Of The Day

Country Westerns release It’s A Livin and announce details for new album, Forgive The City.

Here’s the word from Fat Possum:

Nashville rockers Country Westerns are proud to announce their sophomore LP Forgive The City, due April 28, 2023 via Fat Possum Records. Marking the band’s second full-length release for Fat Possum, this barn-burning collection is also their second to be helmed by famed producer Matt Sweeney (who even contributes his lead guitar stylings to a few tracks). The album’s sinewy, melodic first single “It’s A Livin” is out now across all DSPs along with the official music video, directed by Miranda Zipse (Miranda and the Beat).

“’It’s a Livin’ is the last song I wrote for our new album. It’s meant to be a tribute to musicians and travelers who are waiting for the road to open. And also a promotion of forgiveness in general,” says vocalist and guitarist Joseph Plunket. “It’s about the last go around and wondering what’s left out there. An encouragement to those who have to push through and keep moving and also an acknowledgement of a time to lay it down. It has pretty obvious vibes of a pandemic spent in Nashville and the actual lyrics are less pretentious than this description. I wrote it on my Danelectro 10-string which gives it a cool aggressive jangle.”

Because no eagerly-awaited album release would be complete without shows all across the nation, Country Westerns will head back out on the road for a second time with the kindred spirits in indie rock heroes Titus Andronicus. See below for the full list of upcoming Country Westerns performances.

Country Westerns’ Matt Sweeney-produced self-titled debut album (Fat Possum) drew praise from all corners of the media world. Pitchfork called the album “ragged in all the right places” and named it one of the 35 Best Rock Albums of 2020. American Songwriter called “Gentle Soul,” its first single, “the band’s not-so-subtle entrance to the Nashville rock scene” and praiased its “poetic punk rock sneer.” Nashville Scene also weighed in, lauding the band’s “rocking post-Neil Young sound” and “casually literate songs.” Shortly thereafter, BrooklynVegan noted that “Country Westerns make twangy rock n’ roll with a punk energy that is in the same tradition as The Replacements or Old ’97s or Bottle Rockets.” Glide Magazine shared their enthusiasm, noting that the band are “quintessential barroom rockers.” Consequence of Sound had similar sentiments for album highlight “I’m Not Ready,” calling it “a ripper of the classic kind.” No Depression also praised the album, calling it “a striking addition to 2020’s rock landscape.”

Country Westerns’ sophomore album, Forgive the City, hits the streets on April 28th, 2023 via the venerable Fat Possum Records. With twelve songs in thirty minutes, it’s a tighter and faster spin on their sound. Joseph Plunket, chief songwriter and electric 12-string samurai had this to say about the album after being pressed for intel:

“Overall, it’s about partnerships. Though never planned as a concept, writing the last few songs (sometimes in the studio) I started to realize that none dealt with romantic relationships in any direct way. They’re intense songs about friendships, fellow travelers, even business associations—how exciting they can be when things begin and how disappointments, betrayals or shared success can leave just as much a mark on your life as romantic love. In the end that’s all a band is right?”

Forgive the City builds on the band’s self-titled debut, which Pitchfork included in their “35 Best Rock Albums of 2020” list. Handling production duties as he did on their debut, guitar impresario Matt Sweeney says about Country Westerns following their Forgive The City sessions:

“I wanna make records with these fools til the wheels come off. Joey’s this iconic poetic rocker, for real. His voice is desperate and wise. His songs are too. And anyone who’s seen Harmony Korine’s movie Trash Humpers knows how Brian Kotzur can wreck a joint but have you watched him slay the drum set? Kotzur is unmatched.”

Sweeney contributed lead guitar to three stand-out tracks on Forgive The City, adding polish to the Replacements-esque pop of Wait For It, magnifying the brooding chaos of Hell, and catapulting the gloomy themes of Where I’m Going into outer space with his soaring solo.

“Money on the Table,” the album’s first single, was a DJ pick of the week on Nashville’s Lighting 100 with heavy rotation. The track also gained mention in Nashville Scene’s 2022 “Year in Music” issue, Brooklyn Vegan, Pitchfork, and more.

A Nashville institution in the making, Country Westerns infuse punk rock chutzpah with a classic rock sheen, yielding a sound that’s simultaneously fresh and reminiscent of all the LPs you used to “borrow” from your cool uncle. Their debut album came out in May 2020, beautifully coinciding with… a worldwide pandemic. Despite everything that cursed year threw at it, the self-titled LP survived and thrived on its many merits, rounding out the year on Pitchfork’s Top 35 Rock Albums of 2020. Tons of love also came in from Magnet, Brooklyn Vegan, Consequence, Paste, Glide, No Depression, Popmatters and more.

CW’s varied inspirations are evident on their self-produced “pandemic EP” that features covers by Richard Thompson, Jad Fair, and Dead Moon. Their pedigrees also belie their musical tastes and range.

Atlanta-native Plunket started as a hardcore-kid-turned-singer-songwriter with an acoustic guitar; his first show was opening for Cat Power when he was nineteen. He traveled north and paid his dues in Brooklyn mainstays The Weight, and as a touring bassist with King Tuff and Gentleman Jesse. He eventually landed in Nashville where he befriended Brian Kotzur.

A Nashville underground legend, Brian Kotzur, prior to Country Westerns, drummed for indie rock luminaries Silver Jews and Crooked Fingers. His percussive talents also lead to him to play in bands with Duane Denison of The Jesus Lizard, and country legends Bobby Bare Jr. and Charlie Louvin. He also scored and performed in Harmony Korine films over the years. Korine says of his longtime colleague: “Kotzur is hilarious, one of a kind, great drummer, even better character, he cracks me up, we used to do push ups together.”

Polymath bassist Jordan Jones (formerly of LA glam rockers Easy), is the newest addition to the band, rounding out the rhythm section with the seasoned touch of a founding member.

In March, Country Westerns embark on a six-week North American tour with Titus Andronicus, and will continue on the road throughout 2023 in support of Forgive the City.

COUNTRY WESTERNS

FORGIVE THE CITY

(FAT POSSUM RECORDS)

RELEASE DATE: APRIL 28, 2023