AmericaNA
By +West End+
In 2018, West End began recording the first of several concept albums (three so far) with pickers in Tennessee and in Ireland. In the third album, AmericaNA, West End shifts to Americana. West End — Kirk Beasley, Bobby Ogdin, Jason Duffy, Bruce Dees, and Tom Shinny — are joined by Billy Contreras, Tom Hemby, and Tim and Roddy Smith from the Spare Time Pickers. And muchas gracias to ThunderBünny for the killer slide guitar work.
On this album we introduce singer-songwriter Steve Zachar on “Survival Skills.” And, we welcome friend, colleague, and Nashville legend Buzz Cason, who lends his vocal excellence to “Put the Love Down” and “Keep Your Distance I Don’t Like You That Much.”
Workingman’s Dead, Stage Fright, and Sweetheart of the Rodeo broke new ground more than 50 years ago and serve as an inspiration to West End for AmericaNA, to give credit where credit is due. We’re proud to keep on plowing.
This might be Americana. It might be something else altogether. Not everyone involved is an American. Some of the songs are about the South. Some are not. In the end it’s all about roots. Where are they? What are they? How does the music grow out of them? Those are the good questions. The answers are always in the music and the lyrics. West End brings its answers to vinyl. Not afraid to rock, with a proper dose of twang and a foundation set in the traditions of folk music.
Available on vinyl in the Spare Time Store. Streaming worldwide.
Spare Time Records Catalog No.: STR721
UPC No.: 860010303801
Check the links below to listen to each of the songs on the album. You will be able to select your preferred digital service.
Survival Skills (featured artist: Steve Zachar)
Put the Love Down (featured artist: Buzz Cason)
Keep Your Distance I Don’t Like You That Much (featured artist: Buzz Cason)
Down Up South (Read the story behind the song.)