Mechanical Bull | A Million Yesterdays
Woodstock MusicWorks
Review by M.R. Smith
You’ve got to hand it to songwriter Chase Pierson. Alongside knockout chanteuse Avalon Peacock, he’s made the most of the deep talent pool of Woodstock, utilizing the services of producer/guitarist extraordinaire Adam Widoff and local legend Chris Zaloom (on steel and slide guitars), among others, to bring his rural song stylings to life as Mechanical Bull. Recording at the renowned Stoney Clove Lane, signing to the new Woodstock MusicWorks (see Jan. issue), playing out in Woodstock, Kingston, and beyond…good moves all, making MB the premier new “country” contender in the region. Let’s hit play...
With opener “Dreaming Days,” Avalon takes center stage with a laconic Lucinda Williams-style delivery, supported by mandolins and dobros, starting things with a more laid-back Texas style. Chase comes in with vocals on “Crazy Lady,” which hits with a more Southern Rock style a la Marshall Tucker, and we can see right off the bat that we’re taking the Nashville bypass. “Desert Air” featuring Avalon’s buttery-sweet delivery over Stratocasters and Hammond B3s, reminiscent of the outro to “Freebird” complete with ooh and ahh choruses confirms this. Welcome to California, by way of Florida.
The next five songs feature Chase on lead vocals, with mixed results. On the plus side, the songwriting and production seem to settle into a distinctly country-fried groove, with some choruses becoming more apparent (“Debts,” “Find a Home”), and Chase’s personable salt-of-the-earth persona getting more play...
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