Is it the intriguing band name Jonathan Warren and the Billy Goats, the goat on the cover of their latest album Gruff, the infectious twang of the track “Guy Clark,” or the fact that the album almost didn’t happen that catches one’s attention or is it all?
No matter the answer, one is hooked from the start.
The six track album Gruff from the Bosie, Idaho based band is sheer proof of their determination to music as it almost didn’t come to fruition due to health issues.
Frontman and songwriter Jonathan Warren says,
“This album came about by grace, perseverance and luck. I decided to name the record Gruff because that was what the process of recording this album felt like. It was more of a struggle to complete than any previous album I have written. I suffered a traumatic brain injury during the process of recording this album, which originally began in 2001. Following the accident, I had to take time off from music to heal and try to find the motivation, energy, and creativity to begin writing songs again.”
He further adds,
“Struggles with anxiety, depression, and self-doubt were often obstacles in beginning the process of writing and performing music again.”
Thankfully, however, Warren’s struggles were fought with what would become Gruff, including album closer “Shady Grove,” one of the first songs the band ever played together, finally being released by the band, something that took Warren back to the early days of the band and rejuvenated him to push through his pains and make the record he knew he needed to make.
Warren says,
“It’s a traditional bluegrass song. It felt good to relive the energy and experience of performing during the band’s early days.”
He continues,
“Though it took some time for the songs to come to me, it did turn out how I heard it in my mind. I was glad to add ‘Shady Grove’ to this album, it is a song we’ve been performing since the beginning of the band and was a nostalgic step back in time that allowed us to reconnect with the energy we brought to the stage in the beginning; as the track was recorded live.”
That energy helped Warren find his passion again and complete Gruff, as well as learn to let go, realise when it’s time to put a song down and release it to the world, and not to overthink or overanalyze songs too much, to just let them have their say and come to life as they wish.
“In the process of recording, I’ve realized that the outcome will never be perfect. Each recording is just a snapshot of a song, a small moment in time captured that will never be performed in that exact way again. I believe that each time we play a song it evolves, however subtly, into something different. There are always slight changes that can be made, the dynamics, the instrumental length, the melody of the solo, or the vocal phrasing that can be improved or added to make a song different.”
One big difference on Gruff compared to each previous Billygoats release is that Warren was the sole songwriter; previous releases have had songs penned by cellist and songwriter David Henry.
But, this added further complications in the completion of the record, because Warren was battling with writer’s block, but knew the only way through was to challenge himself and see what he was made of. He confesses,
“I never expected an album to be as difficult as this one was to make. It forced me to take a deep look at myself and find the reason that I started writing songs in the first place. Writing songs has always been easy to me, I didn’t have a choice in the past. A melody or lyric would come to me and I would find myself running to my phone to record a voice memo, or frantically searching for a pen and paper to jot down a lyric.”
As some may say though, everything happens for a reason. This struggle forced Warren to confront a lot about himself, his songwriting, and how he approached things, sometimes pushing him to the brink, but making him a better songwriter for it in the end. The result was a record that he reached deep in himself to make, creating a six-song storybook about love: the joy, the loss, and the continuing search for it.
When asked how he would label his sound, Warren is hesitant, noting,
“Labels are a dangerous habit and I hate to use them.”
But, when pressured for an answer, he says,
“If I was forced to put our music into a box, it would be ‘progressive psychoBilly folk-grass’. But labels are dangerous.”
He does acknowledge,
“I believe this album could pass seamlessly through several different genres including, folk, rock, bluegrass, country, and even appeal to jam band fans. Each song offers something different, a unique perspective into a different sound.”
Throughout the six tracks of Gruff, Warren pushed himself to be honest with himself, and the listener, writing songs he felt would connect easily with the audience, avoiding complicated chords or showing off to impress, but rather connecting directly with the mind and heartstrings of the human experience.
“The lyrics are as honest as the major chords played behind them. I’ve never attempted to make a song difficult or complicated in order to display the band’s musicianship. The main goal of my songs are to tell a story that the audience can hear, relate to, and hopefully gain something they needed from it.”
Now, with the record done and set for release April 5th, Warren acknowledges the songs will sound different once performed live, but that is something he is very excited about.
With pure enthusiasm he says,
“The album will sound different live, we will be performing each song with the band’s new drummer Mike Apodac. Several songs on the album were recorded without percussion and Mike will be filling in those holes live.”
Giving shoutouts to other Boise artists that have inspired him, including Charlie Sutton, who will be joining the band at their album release show, Warren says,
“He traverses the same path of folk into rock and country that the Billygoats do.”
Other local artists to influence him include Ryan Curtis, Jeff Crosby, and Hillfolk Noir. The result is a record he hopes can connect on a national level with fans of bands like The Avett Brothers and Langhorne Slim, two other influences on him.
Now, he just hopes to reach a wider audience with Gruff.
“My goals for this record include gaining the attention this collection of songs deserves and hopefully offering listeners a break, a needed cry, a moment of strength or the dance party they needed to make it through the chaos of today.”
Check out Gruff on April 5th and hear the record that brought Jonathan Warren and the Billygoats back to their roots, and helped them find their passion once again.
Until then, listen to “Guy Clark”.
