VIDEO PREMIERE: Southeast Engine’s William Matheny Goes Country-Rock On “God’s Left Hand”

Ohio quartet Southeast Engine have long been cult favorites among alt. country fans with their own brand of rock that falls in a similar vein to acts like the Drive-By Truckers, Blue Mountain, and Wilco. I would venture so far as to say they’re criminally underrated. In 2008 West Virginia native Billy Matheny started playing piano, organ, banjo, and guitar, quickly establishing a vital presence in Southeast Engine with his versatile talent. Recently Matheny decided to strike out on his own with a solo record. The result is Strange Constellations, which was released back in February on Misra Records. The album continues in a similar wave-length as Southeast Engine, but Matheny also establishes his own voice with potent lyrics and fired up instrumentals that fuse blistering Southern rock with influences like The Hold Steady and even Bruce Springsteen. In other words, the LP is a fine debut from a promising artist.

Today Glide Magazine is excited to present the premiere for the new video for “God’s Left Hand”, one of the standout tracks on Strange Constellations. The opening riff bears a subtle resemblance to Neil Young’s “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere” before Matheny’s twangy vocals ring out over a country boogie soundtrack. The song presents a series of vignettes that in a way illustrate the maxim about life happening while you’re busy making other plans. But instead of missing the minutiae while thinking ahead to the next big thing, Matheny’s character is taking in the little challenges of life while waiting on that lucky break – and thinking about what that lucky break may mean in the larger picture.

Reflecting on the video, Matheny says, “My friends Max Nolte and Brad Goodall from the band Ona directed this video. We tried to pull of an Exploding Plastic Inevitable light show by using a projector borrowed from the local library and a Petri dish from a kid’s toy science kit. Overall, it wasn’t as messy as it looks”

WATCH: 

William Matheny’s Strange Constellations is out now on Misra Records. Matheny is on tour now (dates below). You can keep up with him on Facebook

4/18: Evangeline’s, St. Louis, MO
4/19: 3rd Street Dive, Louisville, KY
4/20 (noon): WDVX Blue Plate Special, Knoxville, TN
4/20 (9pm): The Burl, Louisville, KY
4/21: The 5 Spot, Nashville, TN
4/22: Lucero Family Block Party (outside Minglewood Hall), Memphis, TN
4/29: The Shine House, Somerset, KY
5/4: Mike’s Tavern, Reading, PA
5/5 Gypsy Sally’s, Washington DC
5/6: Rock & Hops Fest, Pottsville, PA
5/7: Rockwood Music Hall, New York, NY
5/8: The Well, Brooklyn, NY
5/9: Atwood’s, Cambridge, MA
5/10: The Camel, Richmond, VA
5/11: The Golden Pony, Harrisonburg, VA
5/12: Melody’s, Beckley, WV
5/13: Milvale Music Festival, Pittsburgh, PA
5/18: 3 Monkeys Pub, Owensboro, KY
5/19: Tidball’s, Bowling Green, KY
5/20: Lowertown Music Festival, Paducah, KY
5/27: The Boulevard Tavern, Charleston, WV
5/31: 123 Pleasant Street, Morgantown, WV
6/3 (day): Mountain Music Festival, Fayetteville, WV
6/3 (night): 123 Pleasant Street, Morgantown, WV
6/22: Metro Pub, Augusta, GA
7/15: Deutschdown Music Festival, Pittsburgh, PA
9/15: Kickin’ it on the Creek, Irvine, KY

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