The Saddlemen are a Brooklyn rock & roll band with a big passion for high-energy barroom-bangers and honest story-telling. I’ve really enjoyed their singles, and it sounds like an album is coming out soon. The band writes, “We hope our tunes make you want to hug your friends, crack one open, and roll those windows alllll the way down.”
All three band members contributed to this interview, spilling the deets on “Sing This Song,” their van activities, and the first concert they ever saw.
Do you write lyrics or music first?
Paul: For us, it totally depends on the song. “Sing This Song” was the child of a Neil Young binge in the winter of 2021. I had been working on a version of the track that was more down tempo and solemn (think “After the Gold Rush”), when I visited Armando for a weekend of writing. He was working in Suffolk County, Long Island at the time. It was cold as hell and there was two feet of snow on the ground. We got to reminiscing about playing shows and the world in the Before Times. We built new chorus lyrics from that. And despite (or because) of our surroundings, I think we really made a summer song — an ode to a world that felt like a dream at that time.
How do you kill the long hours in the van?
Armando: A favorite game of ours is picking apart harmonies to new tunes we are writing (or oldies). We recently spent like two hours singing weird harmonies to Fat Bottomed Girls. Why not!
Do you have any go-to albums to listen to in the van?
Paul: We drive around in an old Chrysler Town and Country. It’s got an aux but we love it for the CD player. Armando keeps the console stocked with a constant rotation of albums. We’ve listened to some wild stuff. But it’s extremely rare for a long drive to NOT feature a Sade record.
What do you think you could do to make your music or shows more accessible to a more diverse audience?
Paul: I think one of the best parts about being based in NYC is that the clubs, audiences, and general population are all so varied and diverse. We find ourselves performing in front of different audiences at almost every show — and that’s a unique thing in this country and time. It’s one of the main reasons we call this city home!
What’s the first concert you ever attended? What do you remember about it?
Austin: Earth Wind And Fire!! I distinctly remember Verdine White’s bass booming in my chest — and being blown away by his skill.