G.F. Patrick

G.F. Patrick, One Town Over. Like John Prine (whose work he admires), the strong-voiced G.F. Patrick favors story songs. On this debut album, the Philadelphia-based singer/songwriter/guitarist tackles subjects ranging from alcoholism and depression to domestic abuse, midlife crises, and murder. It’s not exactly an upbeat collection, but it’s a frequently compelling one.

The protagonist in “Anger of Magdalene,” for example, is a high-school dropout, pregnant at 16, who works a minimum wage job, is sexually assaulted, and is “keeping my probation up, pissing in a Dixie cup.” There’s also a timely song called “Refugee’s Plea,” in which Patrick sings, “I’ll work for as much as you pay me, but my accent says that ain’t that much” and “It’s violence that I’m feeling, ain’t violence that I bring.”

Hope does slip into these tales occasionally, such as in “Tennessee,” which lyrically recalls Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road”: “Dreaming large is what I do / Never had the drive to make a dream come true / But take my hand and dance with me / See if we can make it to Tennessee.” Alas, the last verse reveals that “plans went south about the Dixon line” as the protagonist’s girlfriend decided another dream wasn’t what she needed “and Philly was close enough to Tennessee.” - Jeff Burger

When you first hear G.F. Patrick’s songs on the new album One Town Over, you might assume that he is another musician who calls Nashville home. His melodies are pretty firmly planted in alt-country and Americana. You probably wouldn’t guess that he is from Philadelphia, a town more known for soul. It’s really a lesson that an artist’s origins don’t determine the path he or she takes when it comes to creating.

Something is immediately familiar about Patrick’s melodies and storytelling. You can hear something of Drag the River in the melancholy melodies. The storytelling has a forlorn quality and an attention to detail that is akin to B.J. Barham of American Aquarium.

While the songs are well-crafted and thoughtful, it is the lyrics that really grab the attention. In the opening track “Mud,” he sings the sad reality “Going off to work is just a way not to be home.” When you hear that, you wonder how many people share that sentiment. Another hard-hitting line is in “Refugee’s Plea (Jungle Prayer)” when he sings, “Let my children stay. There ain’t no home at home anyway.”

If you need this album in a nutshell, “Anger of Magdalene” is probably the song. The beat is uptempo and pure rock and roll while the melody is pretty standard alt-country with distorted guitar and some mandolin in the background. The vocals bring JP Harris to mind. However there is a real contradiction in this song. The lyrics sound anthemic, especially when he sings, “There ain’t no future being no one’s fool. Standing up straight, followin’ rules.” Those seem like the kind of lyrics someone might belt out on the way to work. But when you stop to listen to the story of the song, you realize the subject of the song is saying that because she is constantly harassed by people like her employer and a police officer. At some point, you realize that the subject is out for justice for the harassment she has suffered at the hands of various men.

That’s not the only song with some gravity to it. In fact, you can feel the gravity in the themes throughout this album. “Blood on the Bottle” tackles the topics of alcoholism and domestic abuse. “Like Father” talks about “demons unknown” and “battling the beast.” This is a good song for anyone who has ever suffered from demons that aren’t apparent to anyone else.

This album is a study in storytelling. Patrick can take a heavy story and put it to a melody that is easy to listen to, and that’s no small feat. Creating a catchy song with a heavy theme isn’t something that can be accomplished by just anyone, yet he makes it look easy. One Town Over (Need To Know Records) will be available everywhere on May 29. - Americana Highways

Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter and musician G.F. Patrick is prepping for the release of his premiere platter One Town Over. The album is set to drop on May 29th on Need To Know Records. But first, for those not yet familiar with the artist in question, a bit o’ background.

Patrick was once a member of the award-winning folk music group Black Horse Motel. He is no stranger to performing live either. According to his official website, Georgia-born performer G.F. Patrick employs “a post-country voice to examine the lives of everyday people and the way their unique pressure points have brought them to the given moment.”

Patrick’s signature sound is a mix of multiple music genres. It includes elements of alt-country, Americana, and folk-rock. He tries to remain true to the idioms of country and folk music, while also using standard song stylings to “attack” what he considers to be “outdated archetypes.”
One Town Over

On this 14-track disc, Patrick leads the way on guitar, and vocals. He is backed by such other artists as Billy Conway (drums and percussion), Frank Swart (bass), and Mark Blasquez (electric guitar and keyboards). All of the songs here are his own.

The album opener is titled “Mud.” It’s a strong opener and provides an ample introduction to what is to come both in terms of music and message. This song speaks to the surprising way in which the things we want and get can actually impact on us negatively.

The second song is “Trucker’s Song.” It is not a throwback to the “Convoy” days. This is a thoughtful reflection back to a childhood memory and a serious reflection on how some of us live our lives so far from home.

The next number is “Refugee’s Plea (Jungle Prayer).” He gets a bit political here on this cut but it’s okay. Woody Guthrie did it decades ago so it’s to be expected from today’s traveling troubadours.

The title track, “One Town Over”, follows. This one is perfectly placed as it reminds people that it is important to keep your focus closer to home and not forget your friends.

“Tennessee” is the first single off this disc. Worthy of attention, it was premiered by The Bluegrass Situation. While a song about this place is not entirely unexpected, he effectively puts his personal perspective and tuneful trademark on it and that makes all the difference.

“Anger of Magdelene” is one of the best songs here. It’s upbeat and no doubt appeals to anyone who has worked a real job. More importantly, it puts a super spin on the traditional murder ballad by making the subject a woman.

“Butterfly Effect” is another song born of a very personal experience. It’s a musical cautionary tale of sorts that he is quick to admit may lack the wisdom he once hoped to share with his little daughter.

“James McGovern” takes things in a slightly different direction in terms of lyrics. The song follows a fine history of songs about the poor working man and focuses on the subject of coal mining.

The music remains consistent and moves on holding one’s interest as we move on to “Blood on the Bottle.” It provides a thought-provoking look at the relationship between domestic abuse and alcoholism. Rather than take the usual tired “pre-equal rights” tone though, it refreshingly discusses the abuser’s experience upon accepting his own actions.

“Six-String Directions” offers another unique perspective. It may not be as heavy as some of the other tracks but that is why it stands alone.

“Like Father” takes the listeners back to another serious issue: depression. Patrick carefully walks the razor’s edge between making his point via a musical metaphor and sinking into muddy melodrama.

“Till the Day We Die” works well both in terms of music and message. His signature sound remains solid and he dares to be realistic and admit that while perseverance may make for some pretty popular song lyrics, the world doesn’t always provide us all with happy endings.

“Beauty Fades” is radio-ready. In fact, it’s perfect for one of those TV movies that specializes in making us all feel better about both our relationships and our very bodies getting older.

The album endnote is “Water Rising Up.” This call to action cut is wonderfully general in terms of the lyrics though so it is in nor danger of being too timely. After all, hard times are always more dramatic and therefore seem more prevalent than the good times.

There’s also a slower, untitled bonus song here that provides one final example of Patrick’s abilities as a singer-songwriter. It works well on an album that focuses on the commonality of issues and the fact that life is not meant to always have happy endings.
Overall . . .

Overall, the platter solidly focuses on his belief that there is something unifying and common in what some may feel are individualistic problems (depression, relationship issues, etc.) This album is the result of his honest efforts to put “music to the narratives of the overlooked and forgotten.” Here Patrick presents effective song-stories that he believes will “create opportunities for conversations that he hopes will “avoid the polarizing effects” of the present day. So check out G.F. Patrick’s One Town Over or regret it “Till the Day We Die.” - HVY Journalists

G.F. PATRICK/One Town Over: The debut of a roots rocker with a great knack for storytelling from the heartland that tells the tales without bombast but with a lot of heart. Almost like a voice in the wilderness offering a beacon, Patrick must have been honing his chops for some time to arrive this fully formed. Smart throughout.
(Need to Know) - MWR Blog