Cohasset's McDermott to release first 'concept album' in 'Road Tested'
Few songwriters in any genre have had as varied a life and rich lode of experiences as Cohasset’s Chuck McDermott. And that’s only part of the reason his new album should resonate so deeply with music fans of all ages. “Road Tested,” McDermott’s first "concept album," is being released to all platforms on Friday, May 19, and he’ll be playing some of the new music when he performs a semi-under-the-radar gig at Jo’s Nautical Bar in Hull on May 27.
McDermott was one of the pioneers of the country-rock movement in Boston in the 1980s, as leader and singer/songwriter for his band Wheatstraw. Along with Boston bands like The Immortals, and Laurie Sargent’s Face to Face, McDermott gave a New England face to the merging of country and rock elements that presaged today’s Americana scene. But as so often happens in the music business, the quality of their work didn’t make McDermott and Wheatstraw big stars and he eventually shifted over to a career more in line with his education and interests. With a strong interest and background in ecology and how public policy might affect that, he was soon working with political figures. Before long he was working out of Washington, D.C., and in the office of then-Congressman Joe Kennedy, rising to become the congressman’s chief of staff.
Time for a career reboot
It was only when Kennedy stepped down that McDermott took another career reboot, returned to the South Shore, and bit by bit resumed his songwriting. During the pandemic, McDermott released a seven-song EP, “38 Degrees and Raining,” and earned plaudits once again for his excellent writing and the quality of his music. That record also included the single “Here’s the Thing About America,” a tune that urged listeners to remember how the nation perseveres through hard times and divisions, and ultimately will get back to some semblance of unity and common purpose. That song helped McDermott earn finalist status in the 2022 Kerrville New Folk Festival’s songwriting contest, a field typically packed with young, up-and-coming artists.
For his latest work, McDermott wanted to try something different with his songwriting, although certainly his previous work has always had a concise, storytelling aspect, like many good country songs. As McDermott described it in the liner notes for the new record, “Road Tested” is intended to be “the story of a guy who’s tried to be a good man, has had his ups and downs, is heading into the last few laps in life, and is trying to do it with some dignity, humor and peace.”
McDermott has already released several songs from the album as video and singles. Last week he released the video for “Stick Shift,” an amiably rocking tune that looks at the way youthful misadventures are part of growing up, and each generation has their own versions. Elsewhere on the album, the title cut presents the theme and introduces you to the main character. “Inspiration Point” describes the sort of community spot that also goes down from generation to generation. And the wistful “The Season of Hard Goodbyes” looks at the thorny part of aging, losing friends and family. It is a thoughtful and moving record, but McDermott’s skill at penning melodies and lyric hooks is undiminished and it also makes for enjoyable music – four country or rock fans, and especially for Americana aficionados.
Trying something new
“I worked again with (drummer/producer) Marco Giovino, who has produced my last couple albums, since I emerged like Rip Van Winkle from my musical hiatus,” McDermott explained with typical wit. “I first had the notion of doing a ‘country outlaw’ record, and so listened to Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver and Townes Van Zandt records. Gradually I was attracted to the idea of a concept record. Sturgill Simpson did one two years ago that was very well done. I’d never tried that before, so it was a challenge. Many such outlaw albums deal with mythic figures, but I thought 'How about one about a typical life, filled with good chemistry and positivity, some mischief, but about a guy who was loved by the people he loved?' Those kind of folks are heroes in my book, and they deserve to be written about too. That was my north star.”
“I’m 72 now,” McDermott added, “and I think that’s when you realize you’re on the back nine. Even in your sixties, you feel you’re really at your peak. But I looked at it as provocative, not negative, just an age when you’re at a point of reflection. I looked at ‘Succession’ as a sort of guide in the way they’d developed whole back stories for the characters before they started filming. So I started by sketching out a life story for this guy, who he was, what had influenced him, how many times was he married, what jobs he had, and how many kids and so on.”
Personal touches, but not autobiographical
McDermott stresses that the album is not autobiographical, but he has drawn on some aspects of his own life, such as the fact that he grew up in the Midwest, so he included the older song "One Heart Acre," inspired by his grandparents' farm outside Dubuque, Iowa.
“I set about filling in some boxes in the subject’s imaginary bio,” said McDermott. “I also had some songs in my saddlebags that fit the concept. One was from my 1984 album, and some others were from later but had been unrecorded. I also wrote a batch of new ones, and then it was a process of stitching it all together to make sense to me. I sent Marco songs that fit my storyline, and we narrowed them down to the 10 on the record, plus the ‘Road Tested’ reprise.”
“I felt there were things about growing up that were share-able for everyone,” said McDermott. “Like how in our 20s, we’re all crash-test-dummies for romance. And why not give this guy a Midwest background, like me? It all felt comfortable to me, and that allowed me to write some authority.”
Coming together easily
McDermott recorded the album in Nashville with session musicians Giovino hand-picked. They put down 11 songs in three days, and the music needed very little adjustment beyond that.
“It was amazing to see the arrangements coming together before your eyes,” said McDermott. “I was thrilled to see how well the musicians could deeply evoke the meanings of the songs, making the song ‘Road Tested’ quite playful, for example, and making the ballads touchingly beautiful. It was a wonderful experience to record with those Nashville pros.”
McDermott expects to ramp up his performance schedule in the fall with a full band, and for the moment he’s satisfied to gradually introduce the new music in his limited small-scale shows. He said the Jo’s Nautical Bar show will include the title cut and "Stick Shift," along with the normal selection of his past songs.
Local record releases
There is lots of new music coming out from South Shore musicians this month. Scituate’s Ward Hayden & the Outliers have released their new album titled “South Shore,” and videos from it have already been shooting up the charts. The video for “(Breaking Up With) My Hometown” shows Hayden coming back to his old haunts around Scituate and will doubtlessly be meaningful to many local fans. Quincy’s Jesse Ahern will be releasing his next album in September, but he’s just released a video single for the song “Pray,” which takes the reasonable position that we all can probably benefit from some reflection. Ahern has been busy opening for the Violent Femmes on their West Coast tour. Weymouth’s Jay Psaros, whose PB&J Studio is in Scituate, celebrates his new “Long Time Coming” album on May 26 when he’s atop a mega-show with Aldous Collins and Like Minded Folk, and Hayden & the Outliers at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke. In between his local work, Psaros has been flying out to open for acts like Collective Soul around the country, and he has a busy summer on tap, so see him while you can.
Need a boat
Following up on last week’s column about Marshfield music promoter John Hall, he reports this week that the plans for the July 15 edition of Aquapalooza are on hold because the organizers cannot find a suitable vessel. Hall had run the event as Soundwaves for more than a decade, when it was a benefit for Save The Harbor, Save the Bay, but in recent years it had become a promotional event for Sea Ray boats, which runs similar events all around the country. This year, Mass Bay Lines simply doesn’t have a boat available big enough for the bands to play on, so if you can help, give Hall a call.
Swift takes over Gillette
THURSDAY: Catch former Carolina Chocolate Drop Dom Flemons at Club Passim. The multi-genre Iguanas, from New Orleans, get down at The Narrows Center. The hardcore punk quartet known as Off! heats up Brighton Music Hall. German DJ Boris Brejcha at Roadrunner. ‘Whale Aid’ at Big Night Live, as Matt Quinn from Mount Joy, and Marc Roberge from O.A.R. rock out to save right whales.
FRIDAY: Taylor Swift takes over Gillette Stadium for three nights, through Sunday, so Foxboro will be lit. Songwriter Josh Ritter at the House of Blues, and get there early to hear Amethyst Kiah open. Fat City headlines The Spire Center, and between sets singer Paul Redmond analyzes NHL playoffs. Plymouth’s own Nolan Driscoll celebrates his new rock EP at Soundcheck Studios. Dark Desert Eagles, an Eagles tribute, at The Narrows Center. Wreckless Wreck-chords presents a four-band showcase at The C-Note, topped by Tree. Duppy Conquerors’ reggae magic at Boston Harbor Distillery. Latrina Royale’s ‘Life Goes On’ tour at Big Night Live. Watsky raps at the Paradise Rock Club. The sibling harmonies of the alt-rock group Bailen arrive at Brighton Music Hall.
SATURDAY: The DMB Project does their Dave Matthews Band tribute at Soundcheck Studios. Original bassist Danny Klein brings his Full House Band to the C-Note for a night of J. Geils Band music. The Cabo Verdean Festival at Roadrunner. Dazzling guitarist Ana Popovic at The Narrows Center. The The Band Band – the act that drives copy editors nuts – plays music of The Band at The Spire Center. Lulu Santos heats up the House of Blues. Jimmy Ryan’s Wooden Leg sure to raise a ruckus at Boston Harbor Distillery. The Racky Thomas Band at The Next Page. The Cover Story Band at The Jetty. Country thrush Annie Brobst tops the bill at Loretta’s Last Call. Violin River’s Grateful Dead tunes at Askew in Providence. ‘Bop to the Top,’ favorite tunes from Disney Channel programs, at The Paradise.
SUNDAY AND BEYOND: Sunday night is busy with Blink-182 rocking TD Garden; r&b queen Marcia Ball at The Spire Center; the stellar harmonies of Chris and Meredith Thompson at Club Passim; and Willimantic rock quintet The World Is A Beautiful Place.. at Brighton Music Hall. Monday has the sublime sounds of Indigo de Souza at Royale. Tuesday has a special Hozier pop-up show at The Paradise; while you can calm down with Hot Milk at Brighton Music Hall. Wednesday look for Beach Bunny at Roadrunner; while Avatar hard-rocks The Paradise; and the all-female rock quartet Shallow Pools is at Brighton Music Hall. On May 26 the pop trio Waterpark plays at The House of Blues; while blues-rocker Popa Chubby takes on the Spire Center, but the big local show is at Soundcheck Studios where Jay Psaros, the Aldous Collins and Like Minded Folk, and Ward Hayden & the Outliers all get down. Note: The May 27 Booty Vortex show at The C-Note is sold out. Rock legend Dave Mason on May 30 at The Spire Center. Bryan Adams headlines TD Garden on June 10.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Cohasset musician McDermott scheduled to perform in Hull on May 27
