In 2014, Jerry Joseph headed to Afghanistan to volunteer as a teacher at an underground co-ed rock school. With thoughts of family on his mind and the backdrop of Kabul, Joseph began to write what would become the songs of his new LP By The Time Your Rocket Gets To Mars, which is out April 15 on Voodoo Doughnut Recordings (yes, those Voodoo Doughnuts). “There’s a lot of downtime in Kabul hanging around in walled courtyards listening to the daily call to prayers and American Blackhawk helicopters, so I started writing,” notes Joseph. ” My point was not to write ‘war’ songs. I wanted to write about magic and God and humans being human.”
Joseph, although intertwined within the jam band scene, has always embodied more of the tell it like it is/fist in the air forthrightness that has so much escaped many of the “floating in air” lyricists surrounding him. Joseph is to cliche what Donald Trump is to humbleness, always reinventing his creativity and walking the ground hard. By The Time Your Rocket Gets To Mars solidifies another chapter in the musical history of Joseph that has spanned close to 35 years with numerous associated acts and collaborations. Glide is excited to premiere the potent “Brother Number One” (below) which offers Joseph’s fervent vocals atop the track’s swirling melodic precision.
By The Time Your Rocket Gets To Mars was recorded at TRI Studios and produced by Widespread Panic’s Dave Schools (J Mascis and the Fog, Hard Working Americans, Stockholm Syndrome) and mixed by Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Wilco). It features Joseph’s full band: Steve Drizos on drums, Steven James Wright on bass and Jeff Crosby on guitar, as well as special guests Mookie Siegel on keyboard, Scott Law and Steve Kimock on guitar, Jason Crosby on piano and Michael Lewis (Blue Skies For Black Hearts) on vocals. It is the second of three full length records resulting from these sessions. The first, Istanbul/Fog of War, released in October 2015 is two songs, 31 minutes of music, recorded in one take. The third in the series is tentatively scheduled to be released in Fall of 2016.
Give a listen to Jerry Joseph’s “Brother Number One”:
By The Time Your Rocket Gets To Mars is out April 15th on Voodoo Doughnut Recordings. For more music, info and tour dates check out jerryjoseph.com.
