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Well, I had quite the blast in Sydney witnessing new talent during the 2010 ECMA awards. Folks from our area (such as Babette Hayward, Andy Stevens and Mike Biggar) had successful showcases and made their mark on the East Coast music scene. While I was there I wanted to discover new sounds. Three highlights stand out in my mind as artists to watch out for this year.
The first one was ex-Divorcees front man Jason Haywood who put on a rocking country set that was based heavily in tradition. Jay Smith’s masterful guitar work cut through with conviction while Haywood's melody's playfully lasooed the song into its sonic coral. Haywood’s new solo CD is entitled A Thousand Miles Since Yesterday and you can get it by going to www.jasonhaywood.com. - Canada East
The Divorcees have made a big splash on the East Coast country scene, arguably fighting neck and neck with Ryan Cook for top spot in the public eye, but former Divorcee Jason Haywood is a little known artist that pens some terrific Canadiana country. I talk about it all the time, but the temptation to put a little steel in your songs is en vogue these days and as a result, the term alt-country leans heavily on the first three letters of the word. For people that grew up with Buck, Merle, or Willie, it must be frustrating to see all the people ignoring the tradition, classic subject matter that makes country music so timeless.
More importantly – especially if you consider that Jason finds a home on Haysale Records, a label run by former Guthrie Serge Samson (a band that honestly was too far ahead of the curve and would be one of the biggest bands in Canada if they were playing now) – the rise in popularity and number of people soaking up Townes or covering The Band must leave a bad taste in some purists’ mouths. When you’ve been playing that music for years and listening for even longer, the cash and dash feel of a lot of artists looking for the hottest sound must sting. Haywood approaches the “alt-country” style from a firm country background, setting up a solid foundation of familiar sounds and subjects. Instead of thinking about how to splice tone setting steel and down on your luck, head on the bar emotions into his tracks, those elements come naturally to his 2005 solo debut, Nothing Stays the Same.
His challenge was to fuse the sounds of those old-time heroes with more popular artists like The Byrds or even Gram Parsons and he handles the mix with aplomb. Honestly, the best compliment I could give him is that the record could have been made 20 years ago or 20 minutes ago. Whether it’s the backing female vocals and straight ahead melody of Waiting for Me, the road weary feel and loneliness A Million Miles Away or the banjo/steel heavy I'll Make it Through, you get the feeling Haywood is an artist that would get the nod from people aged sixteen to sixty. I could throw the record on for my dad or a North End hipster and not receive a complaint from either party.
The best part about taking a look back and digesting Jason’s full record is that now I’m even more excited for his upcoming release (spring '09 on Haysale). He’s giving away the first demo, so take a listen.
http://www.herohill.com/MP3/time_i_told_you.mp3
http://www.herohill.com/MP3/waiting_for_me.mp3 - HeroHill
Discography
A Thousand Miles Since Yesterday - Jason Haywood - Spring 2010
You Ain't Gettin' My Country - The Divorcees (co-writer) - 2006
Nothing Stays the Same - Jason Haywood - 2005
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Bio
Jason Haywood believes in sticking close to his roots and holds a deep affinity for the singular culture and idyllic surroundings unique to the east coast, where he was born and raised.
Raised on healthy doses of Buck Owens and Johnny Cash, Haywood’s music pays homage to integrity and simplicity of the old guard, while also finding inspiration in the creative innovations of Dwight Yoakam, Gram Parsons, Gene Clark, The Byrds and The Beatles. In the spirit of keeping his music truthful and unassuming, his work draws deeply on the raw narratives that mark life’s complicated journey.
Encompassing themes of affliction, hope, love, heartbreak, redemption, and even betrayal, Haywood imparts brutal honesty in telling the story. His work and vision reflect a unwavering commitment to creating music that listeners can relate to, a credo implicit in the work of the forefathers of country music, and one he strives to protect.
Haywood’s upcoming album, "A Thousand Miles Since Yesterday", taps into themes as wide-ranging as the despair of a death row inmate, to a man's recollections of a love gone wrong while traversing the country by rail. His songs embrace a narrative style, laying bare, at times, a personal acquaintance with regret, loss, and old wounds.
Prior to striking out on his own, Haywood was a founding member of The Divorcees, and co-wrote the album You Ain't Gettin' My Country. In 2008, The Divorcees received the East Coast Music Award for Country Recording of the Year.
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