“Long Life” by James Lockart Jr. ebbs and flows like the flow of time itself, which given the subject matter is fitting. Sometimes a steady march, sometimes a long contemplative pause, and through it all a kind of knowing nod, beautiful and perhaps a bit wistful. Lockhart’s vocals carry the same gorgeous melancholy as Loren Beri, that sophisticated blend of Chris Martin’s heart on sleeve approach and Rufus Wainwright’s urbane detachment. This song feels like contentment after a long journey; one with challenges and disappointments but also grace and humor.
June 16, 2021
The Midweekly – Leon Bridges & Khruangbin
The Midweekly is our column from Mike Jeffers; lead singer of Chicago punk stalwarts SCRAM, music junkie and all around righteous dude.
These young Texans team up to reinvigorate their southwestern roots. On a solid EP called Texas Sun, psyche-rock group Khruangbin (Houston), known for the funky, chill vibes, join singer Leon Bridges (Fort Worth), who made quite the splash on the R&B scene with his debut album back in 2015. The result is four tunes that take very different turns, but all down the same dusty road. The title track slides and twangs a country sound, while the vocals express the joy of two people traveling the long road in love, under their native sun. Serving as a contrast to that, “Midnight” finds the group rolling out a latin-reggae style number under the stars of a big night sky, LB still in the car with his love, but this time they’ve found a quiet place to stop. Flip the record over, and we get a sexy jam, complete with lusty lyrics. Then concludes with a sober, gospel hymn about faith, and righteousness. Texas Sun is a release by talented neighbors that challenged each other, and if we’re lucky we’ll see them together again.