Minnesota-based singer/songwriter Tony Cuchetti is following his debut album, Hid It On The Sly (2020), and performance album, Live From Drum Farm Studio (2020), with 2023’s Freer Street, a collection of original songs punctuated by a couple of beloved cover tunes. Cuchetti returned to home turf at Drum Farm Studio in Menomonie, WI to record, joined by fellow Minnesotan Erik Koskinen, who produced and played both rhythm and lead guitar on the album, as well as co-writing many of the tracks.
Together, they gathered friends and seasoned musicians Blair Krivanek (lead/rhythm guitar), Nick Salisbury (bass), JT Bates (drums/percussion), and Gregg Inhofer (Hamond B3 organ) to complete the tracks in a collaborative environment. Wanting as raw and as spur of the moment a vibe as possible, the majority of the album was recorded live with everyone in one room and had minimal overdubs in post-production.
The album’s title refers to a presence on the album, never too openly stated, but imbued into the music itself, that of Cuchetti’s late grandfather who lived on Freer Street in Detroit, where much of Cuchetti’s family hails from.
The songwriting for Freer Street proceeded very much at its own pace since Cuchetti tries to let songs develop in a natural way, however, he found himself in an unusually active period while writing many of the songs that appear on the album. He shares: “I had some ideas I was throwing around. That’s kind of the style of writer that I am. Stuff doesn’t just come to me every day. But for some reason, there was a spell of a few months when things were just coming.”
Today Glide is excited to premiere the album in its entirety. While the songs from Freer Street move between classic Rock elements, Bluesy rhythms, and Gospel-tinged undertones, there’s a sense of touching base with core values and core questions to reach out to audiences. But in the end, Tony Cuchetti builds songs from his own perspective in the hopes of finding those of like mind. He concludes, “What sounds good and what makes me feel good, that’s how I operate.” Indeed, this is an impressive collection of songs from a underrated artist who clearly knows how to craft a strong tune. There is a sense of layering and nuance in this music that feels like a proper cross between old-soul wisdom and contemporary intellect. But beyond all that, Freer Street is just a damn enjoyable listen that will make you listen deeply.
In the age when “the single” reigns supreme, I am ecstatic that my rebellious inner child prevailed and I’m releasing a proper record. Here’s an album of eight tunes inspired by a collection of musings I had ramblin’ around in my soul for a spell and decided they finally needed to be set free! Stop what you’re doing, get yourself comfortable, and listen from beginning to end. I’ll be right there with you for the whole ride! – Tony Cuchetti
