Discovering something unusual or unexpected is one of the constant rewards of conversation with artists. In the case of Jamestown Revival, there was the revelation that Jonathan Clay is a real deal rancher, and that both Jonathan and Zach Chance are avid fans of Tiki culture. Add to that something in common: both Jonathan and I have run away from an enraged steer and have been thrown off of a horse (in my case, a pony). Neither of us are fans of charging bovines, and Jonathan still does not relish riding horses.

Discovering the music of Jamestown Revival’s fourth album Young Man is a pleasant surprise as well: having brought in an outside for the first time (fellow Texan Robert Ellis) and opting for an all acoustic setting for its ten songs, the duo brought their already potent harmonies to a new level. Their songs are as good as ever, too, reflecting a period of isolation and contemplation, lending the collection a feel of exquisite melancholy. Zachary and Jonathan talk about their new album and working with “guitar scientist” Robert Ellis, about how their harmonies are augmented by going acoustic, the horrifying experience and resulting injury from Jonathan’s incident with the steer, why now is such a great time to be a creative, and much more, including music from Young Man.

Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance are Jamestown Revival

Songs heard in this episode:

“Slow It Down” by Jamestown Revival from Young Man

“Coyote” by Jamestown Revival from Young Man, excerpt

“Old Man Looking Back” by Jamestown Revival from Young Man, excerpt

“Young Man” by Jamestown Revival from Young Man

Thanks for visiting Southern Songs and Stories, and I hope you might tell someone you know about the series in person or on social media (feel free to tag us in your posts!). Please follow us on any podcast platform you prefer. After that, it helps a lot when you give us a good rating and a review. Top ratings, and reviews especially, will make Southern Songs and Stories and the artists it profiles more likely to be found by more people just like you.

Southern Songs and Stories is a part of the podcast lineup of both public radio WNCW and Osiris Media, with all of the Osiris shows available here. You can also hear new episodes of this podcast on Bluegrass Planet Radio here. Thanks to Corrie Askew for producing the radio adaptations of this series on WNCW, and to Joshua Meng, who wrote and performed our theme songs. This is Southern Songs and Stories: the music of the South and the artists who make it. - Joe Kendrick

Artist stereotypes do not apply

How many times have parents cringed when their children fell in love with a musician? Let's be honest, the world has looked askance at artists of all stripes (with notable exceptions) for most of our history. Musicians tend to be thought of as people who may be great at their art but who are nonetheless pretty bad at life skills like paying bills, getting to work on time, and sticking with the missus.

Aaron turns all those stereotypes on their head; he is not only a fantastic songwriter and musician, but he also runs his own construction business and is a devoted family man living a stone's throw from where he grew up in the western NC mountains. He is as meticulous and intense about his guitar and ballads as he is about his green built homes and raising his two girls.

As you'll see in our pilot episode, Aaron does both life and art exceptionally well. The folks around him are a big part of that.