NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Jon Pardi
By Bob Doerschuk
© 2014 CMA
Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.
Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.
Saloon
pianos clink, guitars crunch and fiddles, well, they fiddle throughout Write
You a Song, Jon Pardi’s debut album on Capitol Records Nashville. And it
fits together into a package that practically dares you not to get up and dance.
pianos clink, guitars crunch and fiddles, well, they fiddle throughout Write
You a Song, Jon Pardi’s debut album on Capitol Records Nashville. And it
fits together into a package that practically dares you not to get up and dance.
A lot of Pardi’s energy stems from days on the road and
long nights on stages throughout his home state of California. He was already
absorbing the spirit of real-world Country when he performed “Friends in Low
Places” at age 7 for his father’s 30th birthday party. His first
songs came at 12, his first band debuted two years later. The move to Nashville
followed two restless years at Butte Junior College.
long nights on stages throughout his home state of California. He was already
absorbing the spirit of real-world Country when he performed “Friends in Low
Places” at age 7 for his father’s 30th birthday party. His first
songs came at 12, his first band debuted two years later. The move to Nashville
followed two restless years at Butte Junior College.
Apparently
his experiences left Pardi unscarred. While there are no tears-in-my-beer blues
here, that’s not to say he avoids introspective material. But even on the down-tempo
“Love Hangs Around” (written by Pardi, Treat Summar and Odie Blackmon), you
sense that it’s just a matter of time before the lyric’s two long-distance
lovers enjoy a happy reunion.
his experiences left Pardi unscarred. While there are no tears-in-my-beer blues
here, that’s not to say he avoids introspective material. But even on the down-tempo
“Love Hangs Around” (written by Pardi, Treat Summar and Odie Blackmon), you
sense that it’s just a matter of time before the lyric’s two long-distance
lovers enjoy a happy reunion.
Similarly, the
rockin’ numbers have dimension. You’ll hear hardly a mention of trucks or
cut-off jeans; instead, actual stories inhabit his down-home grooves. The title
cut (Pardi, Bart Butler and Davy Ulbrich), as well as “Up All Night” (Pardi,
Butler and Brett Beavers), showcase his fondness for melodies built on tight,
repetitive motifs. The guy just sounds like he’s having a ball, and with his
amiable drawl he’s inviting us all to join him.
rockin’ numbers have dimension. You’ll hear hardly a mention of trucks or
cut-off jeans; instead, actual stories inhabit his down-home grooves. The title
cut (Pardi, Bart Butler and Davy Ulbrich), as well as “Up All Night” (Pardi,
Butler and Brett Beavers), showcase his fondness for melodies built on tight,
repetitive motifs. The guy just sounds like he’s having a ball, and with his
amiable drawl he’s inviting us all to join him.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
MUSICAL HERO
“There are
so many, I don’t know where to start. Elvis was pretty awesome, though.”
so many, I don’t know where to start. Elvis was pretty awesome, though.”
ALBUM ON YOUR PLAYLIST
“Bakersfield, by Vince Gill and Paul Franklin.”
DREAM DUET PARTNER
“Willie Nelson. Willie just takes a song up to a whole new level.”
PET PEEVE
“People who eat really loud.”
TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY
“Life of the Pardi.”