Barry Walker Unit – “High in the Hummocks”

It’s been a moment since I’ve heard from Jean Sandwich, but the Northwest label (run by Ripley Johnson) has hit back hard this morning with a new release from RSTB fave Barry Walker Jr. The pedal steel player has been an integral part of Rose City Band, North Americans, and Mouth Painter, but he’s had quite a solo run as well. This time around he puts the steel in the spotlight, but surrounds himself with an ensemble for a record caught live at Portland’s 13th Moon Gravity Well. The assembled “unit” for the record includes a cross-section of his bandmates, including Johnson on guitar, John Jeffrey (Moon Duo, Rose City Band) on drums, and Jason Willmon (Mouth Painter) on bass. Hooked in by Walker’s glorious steel runs, the first single “High in the Hummocks” saunters through the speakers, scorched with just a touch of the ash alluded to in the title. The band stretches out, rolling their Cosmic Americana in a languid light. The new album, aptly titled At the 13th Moon Gravity Well, is out July 11th from Jean Sandwich Records.

Support the artist. Buy it HERE.