JJ Slater is a lifelong New Englander, raised on the coast but making his home and noise in the mountains of Western Massachusetts. His music takes influence from many facets of American music- the grooves of funk and soul, the wistful tunes of folk, the sonic explosions of blues and rock, and the occasional twang of country. It is “Americana” not in the typical branded sense of the word, but more in the mystical, mythical visions of highways, deserts, mountains, and swampland.
Slater’s newest set of recordings features frequent collaborator Dan Bisson on upright bass and was recorded song-by-song in casual sessions in early 2022. This first release of several showcases Kevin Mason on drums, Parker McQueeney on organ, and harmonies from their tour partner Lexi Weege.
Upon first listen, it becomes apparent that “Good News” is something rock-blues icon Bo Diddley would’ve been proud of. With the underlying son clave (Bo Diddley) beat, impeccable harmonies, and jam-band vibes, I felt like I was dancing in a room in the 1950s. Lyrically, we get the sense that we are going down a set of train tracks that represent somebody’s life.
“Oh is this the moment, the title card fades into view
I hate to be askin’
But I’m ready for good news”
Parker McQueeney’s effortless organ lines interweave into soulful vocals, and locked-in rhythms of the guitars and bass making “Good News” feel sonically rounded, and utterly complete.
As we transition into the instrumental section, a chill and bluesy guitar solo takes the stage, while whispery voices echo in the background. JJ Slater and his band have an energetic call and response between their members that I once thought to be lost to time.
“I’ve been over the line, under the bus, won over your heart, lost all your trust
Someday I’ll ride with my head in the sky, and my hands on the wheel
straight the hell outta here!”
Today Glide is excited to premiere the song “Good News,” which beams us back to the past, to the very seed of Rock’s roots with its metaphorical lyrics and liberal use of vocal harmonies. But Slater takes older tropes and turns them on their head in this song. He’s out of money, and work is chewing him up, but he’s still happy to wait for something better- or change life with his own will. “Good News” is a refreshing twist on the traditional blues/rock thematic (which is, oftentimes, decidedly more mournful).
Lastly, Slater’s vocals turn loud-speakery just before a light-footed organ lick closes the tune. The song ends cheerfully, as the group sonically ‘brought up the curtain’ leaving us with the sense that indeed, something is better to come.
“Good News” was recorded very quickly at the end of an all-day session with Dan Bisson and Kevin Mason on bass and drums, respectively. The groove fell in, and it was off to the races. I had been playing it for a couple of years live, and I welcomed it as an energetic tune that was different from the usual mid-tempo folk songs I had in the set. It’s a song about making “good news” for yourself, but not settling for garbage by trying to manufacture a silver lining”. -JJ Slater
Listen to the track and read our chat with JJ Slater below…
What kind of organ did you use on this track?
It’s a Hammond C2 played by Parker McQueeney.
I saw your duo interview with Dan from a few years back. How did you end up expanding your ensemble for “Good News”?
We’d been doing shows as a full band for a few months after clubs started opening back up (this recording is from April 2022). I actually was playing with a pretty rotating cast, and on the upcoming EP that is demonstrated with a few different songs. I played some funk/fusion gigs with Kevin Mason, the drummer on this track, and also knew he made beat music, so thought it’d be cool to bring him in for a few tunes on this record.
You mentioned that you wanted your previous work to sound like a painting, with wide instrumentation. What do you imagine “Good News” as if it were encapsulated in another form of art?
I think I’d picture it as a video; I like to imagine the person listening to a song as someone right down the middle, riding down a highway with different characters coming in from all sides, represented by the instruments.
What’s your favorite weird instrument?
I’d say I’m a fan of the autoharp, or anything with a drone-like quality.
What is the worst live experience you’ve had performing and why?
No bad gig really feels worse than a shitty day at work, something you can brush off and forget about. There’s definitely been an increasing disconnect between audiences and live performers, definitely brought on by COVID and the constant use of smartphones (not to sound like an elderly person). I think people have retreated into themselves and are less open to receiving others’ self-expression, at least in the Northeast.
Where is the place you go to seek inspiration?
Inspiration should be attainable everywhere once you make art your practice. I’ve done residencies in the desert, escaped to cabins in the woods of Vermont, and that can help, but I don’t make a habit of needing to make a weekend out of writing songs.
Lastly, what is the meaning of the track art with the newspaper and the river?
The track art was mainly just for a laugh; the song’s called “Good News”, let’s find some newspaper and light it on fire. The river was just for easy extinguishing.
