Happy Curmudgeons is a diverse group of studio musicians that decided to come together, as they tell it, simply for the love of writing and playing music. Their motto: “If it sounds good to us, others may feel the same way.” Their debut album titled Meant 2 Be came out in 2017, and they’ve just released a new double-sided single titled “All on You / Rustic Glory.” I had a chance to explore their music and am happy to report they make exceptional music.
Let’s start with the “flip side” first. The song title “Rustic Glory”is evocative of Neil Young’s acoustic, folk-rock albums, and the Happy Curmudgeons sound on this track is built up from similar elements. It’s based on jaunty, rhythmic acoustic guitars playing in lock-step with the bass. The vocals by songwriter Dave Hamilton are a little weathered but nicely performed, establishing an implied intimacy with the listener. Thematically it deals with regrets and ruminations on a past (or continuing?) love affair, as established with the lyric “I woke up this morning/ thinking just about you.” There’s a lot to appreciate about this song and I found it to be very well written and palatable.
Within the middle section, a captivating acoustic guitar interlude unfolds, evoking an unplugged rendition reminiscent of the jamming styles of the Eagles or the Allman Brothers. Complementing this, a poignant presence of churchly organ and skillful lap steel guitar emerges. Collaborating alongside are accomplished musicians such as Billy Cox, Bobby Balderrama, Jim Moose Brown, and Todd Glass all of which are very impressive. The production was skillfully helmed by Mark Byerly, while the mastering took place under the expert hands of Bill Skibbe at Third Man Records in Detroit.
“All on You” is the newer release, and while it sounds like the same group, this one has some obvious differences. The chiming acoustics are both picked and strummed, at first sounding a bit like “My Sweet Lord” but soon establishing its own chord scheme. The bass has a Weather Report slinkiness, and the percussion by Pepe’ Espinosa and producer Mark Byerly includes lively bongos and congas. Jeff Warner and Amy Dixon-Lavery trade lead vocals like a seasoned performing couple on the road, sometimes coming together in sweet harmony. It’s a short but engaging song that demands an almost immediate replay. Not quite folk and not quite country, but it certainly has elements of both.
The exceptional talent of these musicians is undeniably evident, accompanied by a remarkable innate chemistry within their group. Personally, I have become a fan and eagerly anticipate exploring their extensive catalog, given the high caliber of this song. If their other tracks maintain this level of excellence, there will undoubtedly be an abundance of enjoyable moments to savor.
The Happy Curmudgeons have crafted two exceptional songs that contribute to their diverse and captivating body of work. Give them a listen, and they are guaranteed to uplift your spirits and dispel any traces of curmudgeonliness!
Garth Thomas