Well, we haven’t had one of THESE in a while! I’m stoked to have a little more free time to write up what’s new and notable in my (Americana) world, and Adam Hooks & The Huckleberries’ debut album is certainly notable. I played “Brown County Blues” on last week’s podcast, and it’s giving me faith in the Sad Bastard corner of Americana. Hooks and his bandmates are punk veterans, but once they found themselves grounded by COVID they came together in their Albuquerque stomping grounds and made an Americana album. If you like this blog, you will love this album. There’s every evidence the pair has been studying some of the music that’s fueled me for the last 10 years: with an intensity and yowl reminiscent of Lee Bains III, the belting of Matt Woods, the soaring punk of Quiet Hollers, and the storytelling of BJ Barham, So Far Gone is appointment listening. (Also, if you listen close you will definitely hear some hints of Arliss Nancy and Two Cow Garage.)
The album’s opener, “Brown County Blues,” which you can hear on the podcast, is a searing ballad of teenage rebellion and living with its aftermath. It’s the perfect opener: one that showcases the band’s sense of adventure and purpose.
I would think that living in the shadow of Mt. Sandia does give one an Old Testament frame of mind. The band digs into an almost metal-like thunder with “Thy Will Be Done,” which as far as I can tell is about putting the outlaw in outlaw country. If you’re into heavy rock, this is the song you want to start with. Hooks and his Huckleberries use this one to flex their punk bonafides.
But the band has a lot of fun, too. Songs like “Bad News” and “Minor Villain” — an excellent turning the tables on a heartbreak song — show us their playful sides. The lyrics are funny and smart, and showcase the band’s storytelling strengths.
So Far Gone concludes with one of my favorite Americana subgenres: those songs that remind you to go at your own pace. As one of the last people in my friend group to get married, “All My Friends” gives me comfort even though I am decidedly settling down.
In short, this album is like the last 10 years of Americana never happened and, frankly, that’s a compliment! Jump in headfirst here on So Far Gone.
Adam Hooks & The Huckleberries — Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram