"HIGH PINE STEEPLES" - JAMES COMBS  & THE WELL PENNIES LOVE SONG TO THE REDWOODS

"High Pine Steeples" is Los Angeles Americana artist JAMES COMBS' love song to redwood trees, recorded in collaboration Bryan and Sarah Vanderpool, also known as the great Midwestern-by-way-of-Los-Angeles-by-way-of-Cambridge band THE WELL PENNIES.

James: "When I first moved to California I found myself profoundly attracted to the magnificent giant redwood groves near where I was living in Petaluma. Going to Muir Woods was like going to church. To stand under these serene colossal trees and watch the sunlight stream through the canopy high above was about as close to a cosmic epiphany as I have experienced outside of playing music. I have been in love with those trees ever since and try to find a way to be in their presence every chance I get. So 'High Pine Steeples' is my ode to those special beings - they really are my favorite people, as the song says."

James and the Well Pennies have a ten year history of friendship and mutual admiration, dating back to the band's days living in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of LA, before they decamped to a less frantic pace of life in the thriving midwestern cultural hub that is Des Moines, IA.

In October 2022, Bryan invited James to Des Moines to participate in a music conference and also spend a blustery couple of days recording in the Well Pennies' beautiful Golden Bear studio.

With the autumn wind blowing outside, James began by laying down a vocal and guitar performance live with producer Bryan at the helm. Then the Well Pennies alchemy commenced with Bryan adding bowed stand up bass and slide guitar and Sarah dropping in perfectly constructed piano phrases on her beautiful upright. James asked the two if they would be willing to add their gorgeous, distinctive vocals to the song and they enthusiastically agreed, giving High Pine Steeples a lovely three part harmony throughout. The song grew into a full-fledged collaboration with all three artists contributing mightily to the final recording.  More collaborative songs arose from the session as well, destined for future release.

The High Pine Steeples video was shot during the recording sessions, at the Dorland Mountain Arts Colony in December, during James’ trip to Muir Woods last summer, and at his performance under the redwood trees at the Idyllwild Songwriters Festival in September, 2022. 

ABOUT JAMES COMBS

ABOUT JAMES COMBS: James’ musical ride has included a BBC Peel Session, a Lollapalooza, a co-written True Blood end title sung by Iggy Pop/Best Coast, nine albums, live performances from Berlin to London to New York to New Orleans to San Francisco to The Laurel Canyon Country Store, and stages shared with Jackson Browne, Van Dyke Parks, Tom Verlaine, Yo La Tengo, Marianne Faithfull, Inara George, They Might Be Giants, John C. Reilly, more...  In 2019, James was invited to play with his band Great Willow at Laurel Canyon's prestigious Love Street Festival, the only current LA band invited to share the main stage bill with surviving members of 60s legends The Doors, The Monkees, The Mamas and The Papas, and Love. 

James also just might be the only songwriter you know who has had a song he wrote featured in a question by Alex Tribek on Jeopardy!   His songs have been featured in some of the coolest shows on TV, including Six Feet Under, True Blood and Shameless and many more. His latest album Falling Under Spells was released to rave reviews, extensive airplay in Europe and LA,

ABOUT THE WELL PENNIES

The Well Pennies have had an illustrious career with over 40 million streams, dozens of TV and film placements, write-ups in every major music magazine. Their high profile festival performances attracted the attention of the great Diana Krall, who invited the band to open for her on tour. 

www.jamescombs.com   www.thewellpennies.com

HIGH PINE STEEPLES - James Combs feat. The Well Pennies

Eagle Eye TD w bass bg vx  w Paul and Victoria

Eagle Eye TD w bass bg vx

Combs->Hawkins - Are You The Kind MIX 2

Adios fake horn 3.30

Aquamarine GB harmonies

Eagle Eye JW last w GB harmony

Traveler penultimate w GB harmony

I Once Met A Song KXLU W Abby Posner 480

SOLDIER OF LOVE ruff

HIGH PINE STEEPLES - James Combs feat. The Well Pennies

JamesACombs

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