“I grew up in a really tight-knit community. Bakersfield isn’t necessarily a small town; however, it definitely has that energy. A lot of folks never leave, and this song is really based around that feeling of being trapped by your hometown,” says up-and-coming artist Jake Neuman about his hometown.
Yeah, good ol’ Bakersfield is renowned for its country music scene seventy-so years ago that called Merle Haggard and Buck Owens pioneers, yet it’s nice to hear a new name from the California desert. Although he’s now a Nashville resident, somehow, Bakersfield sounds more glamorous when describing the background of this 25-year-old.
Neuman’s vocals are built of an authoritative rasp that sounds years beyond his quarter-century on the planet. When hearing his potent song approach, the names of Jason Isbell and Zach Bryan come to mind, while his band, The Jaybird, certainly reflects the creative workmanship of the 400 Unit.
Through social media and live performances, he has built a loyal following, catching the attention of New York City-based artist and producer Gregory Dwane Griffith. The two met at Americana Fest 2022 and hit it off, leading to the production of Neuman’s debut EP, Little Bitty Town, at Griffith’s Peacedale Records and Studio based in Connecticut.
For the recording, Griffith brought in a talented group of local musicians, including Jeff Hill on bass (Steve Earl, Shooter Jennings, and Rufus Wainwright), Tony Leone on drums ( Little Feat and the Chris Robinson Brotherhood), and Jimmy Wallace on keys (Jack Ingram, Dierks Bentley, and Parker McCollum).
Glide is premiering the title track, “Little Bitty Town,” from Jake Neuman and the Jaybirds. The track carves up a buzzsaw breeze of alt-country that seems to have passed with the onslaught of mainstream Americana, giving hope for fans of Steve Earle, Marty Stuart and Jim Lauderdale
“I have been influenced a great deal by the red dirt scene of the early to mid 2000’s! Folks like Chris Knight and The Turnpike Troubadours have been huge influences on me. However, I would say the number one influence for this song and the record as a whole would be Tyler Childers,” explains Neuman about this Bakersfield themed track.
The post SONG PREMIERE: Jake Neuman and the Jaybirds Lay Down Gritty Alt-Country On “Little Bitty Town” appeared first on Glide Magazine.
