The only downside to hearing a work as stunningly perfect as Colter Wall’s eponymous 2017 debut is the dread that the proverbial sophomore slump will strike down any hopes of experiencing that satisfaction the next time around.
Well if the two released cuts off WaLL’s highly-anticipated forthcoming release “Songs of the Plains’ (October 12 – Young Mary’s Record Co.) is any indication of the flavor of the remainder of the album you can put those apprehensions to rest. The timeless simple beauty of the arrangements are there transporting Wall’s deep baritone across country music’s golden years.
The first is ‘Plain to See Plainsman’ a delicate 4/4 strummer paying tribute to his Swift Current home in the prairies in a new-traditional style reminiscent of Marty Robbin’ “El Paso” and “Big Iron period. The song has an extra layer of beauty as Mickey Raphael’s signature harmonica wails in the distance like a midnight train.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlinDMsUOcQ&t=8s
The second cut is a version of ‘Calgary Round-Up’ by real-life Alberta cowpuncher and Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame / Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Wilf Carter, better known in the lower 48 as Montana Slim, 1961 release. Though much more toned-down and missing the original’s signature yodeling, you can close your eyes and still get the sense of the prairies winds coming off the plains accompanied by the cry of Lloyd Green’s pedal steel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnVxeeZlE2M
Recorded at Nashville’s RCA Studio A with Dave Cobb (Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, Lori McKenna), the album features 11 songs, seven original songs written by Wall as well as versions of Billy Don Burns’ “Wild Dogs,†the aforementioned Wilf Carter’s “Calgary Round-Up†and two cowboy traditional songs, “Night Herding Song†and “Tying Knots in the Devil’s Tail.â€
In addition to Wall (vocals, acoustic guitar), the album also features Cobb (acoustic guitar), Lloyd Green (pedal steel), Chris Powell (drums, spoons), Jason Simpson (bass), Mickey Raphael (harmonica), Blake Berglund (vocals) and Corb Lund (vocals).
Pre-order “Songs of the Plains’ here.
The track list is:
1. “Plain to See Plainsman” (written by Colter Wall)
2. “Saskatchewan In 1881” (written by Colter Wall)
3. “John Beyers (Camaro Song)” (written by Colter Wall)
4. “Wild Dogs” (written by Billy Don Burns)
5. “Calgary Round-Up” (written by Wilf Carter)
6. “Night Herding Song” (Cowboy Traditional)
7. “Wild Bill Hickok” (written by Colter Wall)
8. “The Trains are Gone” (written by Colter Wall)
9. “Thinkin’ on a Woman” (written by Colter Wall)
10. “Manitoba Man” (written by Colter Wall)
11. “Tying Knots in the Devil’s Tail” (Cowboy Traditional)
Wall also announced a series of new tour dates starting in October. His full schedule is:
July 28 – Newport, RI-Newport Folk Festival
Aug. 3-4-Happy Valley, OR-Pickathon
Aug. 18-Fort Worth, TX-Cody Jinks’ Loud and Heavy Festival
Aug. 24-Tonder, Denmark-Tonder Festival
Aug. 29-London, U.K. -Scala
Aug. 30-Manchester, U.K. -Gorilla
Sept. 1-Salisbury, U.K. -End of the Road Festival
Sept. 2-Stradbally, Ireland-Electric Picnic
Sept. 14-15-Athens, Ontario-Festival of Small Halls
Sept. 16-Lansdowne Park, Ottawa-City Folk
Sept. 23-Indianapolis, IN-Holler on the Hill Festival
Oct. 13-Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-O’Brian’s Event Centre
Oct. 16-Regina, Saskatchewan-Conexus Convention Hall
Oct. 18-Edmonton, Alberta-Union Hall
Oct. 19-Calgary, Alberta-Macewan Hall Ballroom
Oct. 21-Missoula, MT-Top Hat
Oct. 22-Bozeman, MT-The Rialto
Oct. 23-Billings, MT-Pub Station Taproom
Oct. 25-Omaha, NE-The Waiting Room
Oct. 26-Des Moines, IA-Wooly’s
Oct. 27-Maquoketa, IA-Codfish Hollow Barn
Oct. 28-Detroit, MI-Majestic Theatre
Oct. 30-Columbus, OH-A&R Music Bar
Oct. 31-Pittsburgh, PA-Club AE
Nov. 2-Somerville, MA-Somerville Theater
Nov. 3-South Burlington, VT-Higher Ground Ballroom
Nov. 5-New York, NY-Irving Plaza
Nov. 8-Charlotte, NC-Neighborhood Theatre
Nov. 9-Richmond, VA-Capital Ale House
Nov. 11-Carrboro, NC-Cats Cradle
Nov. 14-15-Nashville, TN-The Basement East
Nov. 16-Asheville, NC-The Grey Eagle
Nov. 17-Atlanta, GA-Variety Playhouse
Nov. 18-Charleston, SC-Charleston Music Hall
Nov. 24-Toronto, Ontario-Opera House
Nov. 28-Washington, D.C. -9:30 Club
Dec. 1-Madison, WI-Majestic Theatre
Dec. 2-Columbia, MO-The Blue Note
Dec. 10-Santa Fe, NM-Meow Wolf
Dec. 12-Solana Beach, CA-Belly Up
Dec. 14-Los Angeles, CA-El Rey Theatre
Jan. 19-Vancouver, British Columbia-Commodore Ballroom
Jan. 20-Seattle, WA-The Showbox @ The Market