Chris Jones and the Night Drivers: Make Each Second Last
www.mountainhomemusiccompany.com
Song List: We Needed This Ride, Whither You Roam, Bed of Snow, Riding the Chief, Leave It At the Gate, Everybody’s Got a Line, Quiet Click, Silver City, Groundhog’s Retreat, We Need To Hear From You, They’re Lost Too.
From his earlier playing days with Weary Hearts to his 26 years with the Night Drivers, Chris Jones has used his distinctive warm baritone voice and his considerable song writing to skills to delight audiences across the country. This newest release also introduces two new band members: Marshall Willborn on bass and vocals and Grace van’t Hof on vocals, banjo, ukulele, and accordion. Mark Stoffel is the veteran mandolin player and part of the vocal trio. Grace adds a whole new dimension to the band’s sound with her rhythm ukulele playing and her playing in “Riding The Chief” adds a extra bounce to this song. Chris wrote the song about the Santa Fe train ride with a swing guitar rhythm, and the guitar, mandolin, and ukulele trade riffs over the gentle rhythm. Other references to travel show up in “We Needed This Ride” and “Whither You Roam.” The former contains the album’s title, “make each second last” in the lyrics, and it’s uses a car ride as a metaphor for life’s journey and a need to focus on the passengers. “Whither You Roam” is a love song about staying with your partner and the use of “whither” and “roam” brings to mind a call back to a romantic past. Mark co-wrote “Groundhog’s Retreat” with Chris, and the interplay of mandolin and guitar make a delightful instrumental. “Leaving It At The Gate” is a powerful testament to making sure that you are not defined by your job, and should be a “master of moment, not a master of fate.” “We Need To Hear From You” is a rallying cry to speak your piece on what is happening around you, and remember that there is “no season for silence.” “They’re Lost Too” is a parable of the lost sheep retold with a gospel vocal quartet and is a standout song. Chris Jones and the Night Drivers have a depth of vocals, instrumentation, and songwriting, and this album is a milestone in the band’s journey.