ALBUMs

Reformed and revived, Joe Pernice and the gang otherwise known as the Scud Mountain Boys are set to release their first album since ‘Massachusetts’ in 1996. 'Do You Love the Sun' will be out via One little Indian Records on 26^th August and a gentle Americana gem it is too.

The original Scud Mountain Boys band members Joe Pernice (vocals, acoustic and electric guitars), Stephen Desaulniers (vocals, acoustic guitar, and bass), and Bruce Tull (electric guitar, lap steel, pedal steel) returned to the scene in late 2011 with some live shows followed by the reissue of The Early Year also via One Little Indian on 8th July, which was a compilation of their first two albums Pine Box and Dance the Night Away. 

Joe Pernice has recently been on the road with Teenage Fanclub’s Norman Blake under the moniker of The New Mendicants and the reformation of the Scud Mountain Boys, Joe explains for himself below.

The record is beautifully paced from the gentle rolling melodic songs that book-end the album, title track 'Do You Love The Sun' and 'You're Mine' to harder edged tunes like, ‘Double Bed’ and 'Shes Falls Apart' to the folk influenced ‘Orphan Girl’ and even the theme from ‘Midnight Cowboy thrown in; There must be a story there?

There's more; the sweet mandolin led 'Crown of Thorns and the tender 'Learn To love Him' all add up to a very fine and long awaited record indeed.

With a few local shows listed on the band’s website, we can only hope it stretches to more and in the meantime, we can just enjoy this fine new album.

Pete

10/11

1. Do You Love The Sun 

2. Double Bed 

3. Crown of Thorns 

4. Learn to Love Him 

5. The Medicant 

6. Orphan Girl 

7. She Falls Apart 

8. Theme From Midnight Cowboy 

9. Drew Got Shot 

10. You're Mine 

Website

Joe Pernice on the reforming of the Scud Mountain Boys: 

"Raymond "Big Ray" Neades was a good friend and big fan of the Scud Mountain Boys. We'd known him in Northampton, Massachusetts from before the days of The Scuds. He was a simply a great-hearted dude.When Ray didn't show up to my Los Angeles show a couple Falls ago, I thought it was strange. I had spoken to him days before, and we'd made plans to hang out. He always came to my gigs. And he always offered to pay. (I later learned that he'd missed the gig because he'd checked himself into a hospital.) In December I got a call from Joyce letting me know that Ray had died in his sleep the night before. I felt a genuine and thorough sadness, a type that makes the sadness in love songs seem like a trivial annoyance, like a belt that simply needs to be loosened by one notch. 

I was talking to one of my best friends Frank Padellaro soon after Ray died. Frank and Ray were certainly best friends and had played in a few bands together. Frank was telling me about a benefit show for Ray's wife that was happening in Boston. I said, "Imagine if the Scud Mountain Boys got back together to play the show for Ray?" Frank said, "That would be fucking Awesome."

But I chickened out. When I quit SMB in 1997, I knew I had ostensibly derailed the band. It wasn't my intention. I just wanted to do other things. Be that as it may, I figured if there was any bridge left it was too charred and compromised to cross. I had not spoken to the other guys (nor they me) in 14 years. Ray's benefit came and went without the Scud Mountain Boys. In the weeks that followed the benefit show, Frank encouraged me to extend the olive branch. He acted as a middle man, and for that I will always be grateful. 

After a few emails between the guys and me, I still wasn't sure if they were all down with getting together. I had a solo show scheduled in Boston. Tom Shea had agreed to sit in with me. Bruce was in Oklahoma, so I knew he wasn't going to be there. Stephen was still on the fence. I wrote to him and said, "There'll be a bass rig and a mic set up for you. These are the songs I'd like to do. I'd love it if you'd show up and play. But if you want to move on with your life I'd understand." Well, he showed up. We played six or eight songs. It was like we'd never stopped. I actually think it was understood on that night, after having not spoken for 14 years, that we'd make a new album.

There's a song called "Redemption is a Myth" on the upcoming Pernice Brothers record. I can't say I completely believe that."

Joe Pernice May 2013, Toronto.