Revered Chicago-based singer-songwriter Michael McDermott announces simultaneous September 13 release of two new albums, 'Lighthouse on the Shore' & 'East Jesus' (Pauper Sky Records)
Lighthouse on the Shore and East Jesus, the two riveting new albums, respectively acoustic and electric, by Michael McDermott, which are jointly packaged for simultaneous release on September 13 2024 on Pauper Sky Records.
Music has two personalities, a duality frequently characterized by quiet introspection and power-driven proclamation. If you were a photographer, it would be light and dark. If you were a painter, it would be black and white. For a musician, itâs acoustic and electric.
Revered Chicago-based singer-songwriter Michael McDermott revelled in his creative duality to craft a first - two full albums, one acoustic and one electric, to be released on the same day as companion pieces of work. Lighthouse on the Shore, the acoustic opus, and East Jesus, the electric collection, arrive September 13 on McDermottâs own Pauper Sky Records.
âI guess itâs always been a bit of a balancing act, my multiple personalities,â says McDermott. âOne of my personalities grew up listening to early Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Odetta, traditional Irish music, and Tom Waits. The other one was raised on The Stones, The Who, Van Morrison, and U2. My songwriting varies wildly, to sometimes great effect and other times a seemingly incoherent array of songs that never find homes on my albums. This time I thought Iâd lean into both, make a quiet record and a loud one.
The quiet record, Lighthouse on the Shore, was recorded and mixed at Pauper Sky Studio in Orland Park, Illinois with a stellar group of musicians: McDermott on guitars, piano, bass, and vocals; Heather Lynne Horton on fiddle and vocals; Matt Thompson on stand-up and electric bass; Will Kimbrough on guitars, banjo, and mandola; John Deaderick on piano, keyboards, organ, and Omnichord; and Katie Burns on cello. Lighthouse on the Shore was produced and mixed by McDermott with additional production by Deaderick.
In 10 self-penned songs, McDermott explores deep and resonant emotions with gentle melancholy and open-hearted honesty.
Here are four highlights:
- âBradbury Daydreamâ -A thoughtful, poignant ode to life-affirming love even as we contemplate the end of our mortal days.
- âI Am Not My Fatherâ -We are all our parentsâ children, whether we like it or not. Coming to grips with that truth is at the core of this mid-tempo ballad.
- âGonna Rise Upâ -A rave-up about survival and sobriety. McDermott recharges his commitment to not let past demons take control again.
- âLighthouse on the Shoreâ -The albumâs gorgeous centrepiece, a picturesque, poetic confession to a love that provides the beacon for lifeâs direction.
The loud one, East Jesus, was recorded and mixed at Transient Sound in Chicago and Pauper Sky Studio in Orland Park, Illinois with these great musicians: McDermott on guitars, piano, and vocals; Heather Lynne Horton on fiddle and vocals; Grant Tye on guitars; Matt Thompson on bass; Steven Gillis on drums; Will Kimbrough on guitars and banjo; John Deaderick on keyboards and organ; and Gerald Dowd on additional drum work. East Jesus was produced and mixed by McDermott and Gillis.
These 10 songs, all written by McDermott, emerged from a decade anniversary test of sobriety where he realized that all recovering addicts and alcoholics keep sharpening their lifesaving weapons.
Here are four standouts:
- âBerlin At Nightâ -An anthem-like rocker that speaks directly to the war that rages inside and how love is the fortress that shields us from harm.
- âEast Jesusâ -Never let your guard down because temptation is always lurking in the wings waiting to invade. McDermott sings with the conviction of a warrior.
- âQuicksandâ -Rhythmic rocker with a groove-filled chant, this song explores the everyday forces trying to pull us down as we try to rise above.
- âHead Full of Rainâ -A breezy, melodic paean to hope that reminds us to think sunshine even though the psyche feels like a raging storm.
Reflecting on his unprecedented accomplishment, two full-length albums, Lighthouse on the Shore and East Jesus released as companion pieces on the same day, McDermott says: âThere are always leftovers at my table, but this creative expansion allowed for a wider variety of songs to find a place, and hopefully to great effect.â
McDermott begins a series of US concert performances in early September to promote Lighthouse on the Shore and East Jesus, as well as 2022âs powerful St. Paulâs Boulevard and a recording history that spans more than 30 years.
Acclaim for Michael McDermott
âThere are certain artists that have innate ability to capture both passion and purpose through songs that ring and resonate even on first encounter. Michael McDermott has always been one of those individualsâ The Alternate Root
â(McDermottâs) writing is so powerful and the images so strikingâŚso gutsy and authoritativeâŚexhilarating and passionateâ American Songwriter
â(McDermott) cemented his place among our best singer-songwriters with his recent workâŚIf you havenât discovered McDermott by now, you need to as heâs one of the best songwriters we have.â Glide
âLong noted for lyrics that seem drawn from Pulitzer-worthy novels, McDermottâs talent for writing brain-lodging melodies seems as profound as the words he conjures.â The Herald Courier
ââŚthe finest wordsmith there is in rock n roll.â Maximum Volume
âComplex, Biting, Mature and BeautifulâŚâ Rocking Magpie
âItâs about time people recognized him as the one and only Michael McDermott.â Scottish Daily Express
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