Still On Fire (featuring She & The Sun)

A horn and string laden rock song about the malaise of war through the eyes of a suburban house wife --- from the album "Lights On" (2009) Written by Jonah Smith. Produced by Malcolm Burn. 

Misguided

The new acoustic recording, “Stay Close” by Jonah Smith (out June 10th) began in November 2016 shortly after a reunion with Andy Stack that took place in Iowa at The Flying Mango. The concerts, which took place over two nights in late October, were centered around the performance of “Ocala” -- a new song written for Mike Wedeking, a friend and the owner of The Flying Mango. The song (and these shows) would become the subject of an article called ‘Grace, Unwrapped’ that ran on the home page of the Washington Post on Christmas Day.

The shows were emotional and reminded Smith and Stack of their special musical bond – a relationship that stretches back over a decade and involves hundreds of concerts and several records. The two, now living on opposite coasts, had been pursuing their own artistic endeavors: Smith became a contestant (and eventually a semi-finalist) on America’s Got Talent and then made a record that was released in May of last year while Stack opened Buffalo Stack recording studio in Beacon, NY in an old schoolroom to focus on producing music.

This old schoolroom became the setting for “Stay Close” – a reference to the finely crafted harmonies – evident throughout these new recording.

In order to capture the most honest performances, they decided to record the album on a four-track analog tape machine. They invited Melissa Ahern to sing on the single, “Toast & Clementines” as well as two other cuts and they set up close together so they wouldn’t need headphones.  

They recorded a set of songs that encompass love, social commentary, philosophy and stories so vivid that you feel like you were there.  Overdubs are sparse and are provided by Smith or Stack with the exception of beautiful cello playing by Isaiah Gage on the song, “Any Way You Go” – the album’s closer. 

The end result is a record of a time and place – two musicians in a room working to serve the music, telling stories through songs and documenting a musical relationship with deep roots.

Stay CLOSE MASTERS

08 - Anyway You Go

02 - Ocala

from the album, "Little Known Cure" (2012). Written, produced and arranged by Jonah Smith

There's Nothing To Do In This Town

From the eponymous debut of The Statesmen (2012). Written by Jonah Smith. Produced by Jonah Smith and The Statesmen. Jonah Smith - keys, vocals, Josh Dion - drums, vocals, Scott Metzger - guitars, Ben Rubin - bass. Engineered by Tomek Miernowski. Recorded at Grand Street Recording -- Brooklyn, NY. 

The Statesmen - Better Than You

Big Box Town

The plastic pours into the mold and takes an old familiar shape
A big box sign is being born, they’re everywhere, you can’t escape
They’re on all of our four corners of this highway up and down
They tore down our little village and built up a big box town

On a little patch of land out here on the outskirts of town
Somewhere east of Columbus that’s been painted gray and brown
There’s logos flying in the sky but not much else around
We got more than a bargain when they built our big box town

And this big box town
Didn’t just sprout up from the ground
It was built on top of a general store
We keep swallowing what they tell us
And keep buying the shit sell us
Please and thank you may I have some more?
Please and thank you may I have some more?

I guess I’m happy for the job although it doesn’t mean too much
I made just enough to buy this old Camero with a burned out clutch
And I go driving on my days off just to take a look around
And try to find that old America buried beneath this big box town

Well I think I might go drive out west until the road just ends
I might stop in South Dakota or drive straight through it all depends
You know I was talking to a couple from Sioux Falls and it got me down
They said so much for local color; the dye’s been cast in a big box town

And this big box town
Didn’t just sprout up from the ground
It was built on top of a general store
We keep swallowing what they tell us
And keep buying that shit sell us
Please and thank you may I have some more?
Please and thank you may I have some more?

These teenage kids today don’t even recognize their own fate
They’re hanging out at the TJ’s or the Denny’s by the Interstate
And they’re laughing at the clown in the Camero that’s outside broken down
To them this is America, so love it or leave this big box town

And this big box town
Didn’t just sprout up from the ground
It was built on top of a general store
We keep swallowing what they tell us
And keep buying that shit sell us
Please and thank you may I have some more?
Please and thank you may I have some more?


Big Box Town

from the album "Lights On" (2009). Written by Jonah Smith

Lights On

Jonah Smith is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, CA.
You are the real deal. You can play, you can sing, you are terrific!
Howard Stern

Mr. Smith’s folk songs are equally well suited to downtown lounges and rural front porches
New York Times

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