Jesse Brewster is a roots-music Renaissance man — a singer/songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who’s spent the better part of two decades sharpening his personal brand of West Coast Americana.
It’s a sound that’s every bit as diverse as his background. Raised by hippie parents in the mountains of northern California, the Big Island of Hawaii, and the San Francisco Bay Area, Jesse grew up on the move, attending 10 different schools by the time he turned 12 years old. Music by Willie Nelson, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Marley and The Eagles filled his early childhood, deepening his appreciation of sharply written songs and diverse arrangements. Years later, when he first hit the road as a traveling musician, he immediately felt at home on tour, having already spent much of his life in constant motion.
Brewster’s experience involves the loss of his brother, Jim, who passed away from Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) while both siblings were in their 20s. The loss prompted Jesse to write his first lyrics, kickstarting a songwriting habit that would draw upon the guitar skills he’d been developing since his teenage years, as well as the hook-heavy craft he’d absorbed from his heroes. Later, while battling the same disease, Jesse received a life-saving kidney transplant from his wife. As a storyteller, he chronicles it all in his music, releasing records that mix gentle folk songs, heartland country-rockers, guitar-slinging barn burners, autobiographical lyrics, and character-driven storytelling into the same track list. With support from everyone from CNN (who utilized his song “My Great Escape” for the network’s coverage of the 2012 U.S. Presidential campaign) to San Francisco’s iconic radio station KFOG, he continues to tell his story as it unfolds — song after song, album after album.
The Lonely Pines, Jesse Brewster’s fifth LP set for release on all major outlets March 5th, finds the songwriter focusing on a different sort of transit: the process of moving on, either toward acceptance of past mistakes or in the direction of better opportunities.
Jesse grew up on the go. Years later, he’s creating the kind of music that makes an audience pause in its tracks. So turn on, tune in, and drop the needle on the first track — because The Lonely Pines are a lovely place to visit.
The album finds Jesse occupying the middle ground between folk music and rock and roll. We hear this on the amplified anthems “Let’s Run Away,” a standout track on the record that we are excited to premiere on Glide today. Featuring airy and upbeat guitar, Jesse sings of escaping town and embarking on a hopeful journey. Balancing catchy vocals with sharp and twangy guitar solos, he connects with that universal feeling of wanting to hit the road. The freedom that comes with such an act is conveyed in the lyrics and music, resulting in a song that sounds like it could have been a hit on 90s country radio.
Jesse describes the inspiration behind the song:
“Let’s Run Away” is the age old tale of ‘gettin’ out of Dodge’ in search of greener pastures. Like life in your hometown is a story you know the ending to, so you’re yearning to see what’s out in the world – and hoping that your lover will be your partner in crime on the journey. We tried to keep the energy up and moving like a highway through the song to help illustrate this theme. It’s gonna be a lot of fun to play with the full band, hope you enjoy it.”
LISTEN:
