Even before the novel coronavirus pandemic turned life upside down, major changes were afoot for Chatham County Line. Banjo player Chandler Holt departed, although he is still playing with them on their new album and even joins them on some of their virtual concerts on their YouTube channel lately. Sonically, the big difference with Strange Fascination is the addition of drums -- Yan Westerlund, who is known for his playing in Mipso and Phil Cook’s group, is heard throughout the album, which was recorded at Mitch Easter’s Fidelitorium studio; Chris Boerner, who is often featured on guitar when touring with Hiss Golden Messenger, mixed and mastered it. The band has also moved away from using a single, ribbon type old school microphone towards singing into individual mics.

Chatham County Line songwriter and frontman Dave Wilson and multi-instrumentalist John Teer are our guests on this episode of Southern Songs and Stories, where you will hear songs from their latest album, Strange Fascination, along with conversation on their lives in the midst of a pandemic, how they enlisted Sharon Van Etten to sing on the album’s title track, how Dave enjoys writing lyrics that make their point subtly and poetically, and more.

I hope you enjoy this episode on Chatham County Line, and that you will subscribe to this series on your podcast platform of choice, and give it a good rating and a review. Great ratings, and reviews especially, will make Southern Songs and Stories and the artists it profiles more visible to more people just like you. Southern Songs and Stories is produced in partnership with public radio station WNCW and Osiris Media, and you can find us on Apple/iTunes here, on Stitcher here, and Spotify here. Our theme songs are by Joshua Meng, with a link to his music here. Thanks for listening! - Joe Kendrick

Songs heard in this episode:

“Oh Me Oh My” from Strange Fascination (excerpt) 

“Strange Fascination from Strange Fascination 

“Free Again” from Strange Fascination

“Your Don’t Know How It Feels” from Sharing The Covers (excerpt)

“Brice’s Crossroads” from Speed Of The Whippoorwill (excerpt)