Finstock Music

*****

If you want to hear a master country songwriter’s finest work, then this excellent tribute to James Hand’s classic Lonestar honky-tonk brand of country, by the vastly underrated Ags Connolly, is a highly recommended introduction to the little-known Texan cult hero, who sadly passed away in 2020. James excelled at creating a thoughtful musical template that plied its emotional terrain through mournful melodies with a pervasive melancholia. Few country artists have so effectively married sad-tinged country melodies with equally heartbreaking lyricism. Ags, and a crack band of like-minded musicians, shuffle through should-be country classics and an Ags’ original, that could soundtrack any tavern. At the same time, they draw out the palpable emotions and mine them for all their worth. The arrangements are spare but effective, sharing a sound that’s solid, stoic, and yet also flush with a clear determination.

Twangy careworn missives, amiable introspections, and gentle toe-tapping romps abound. Ags has a voice that can convey regret, sorrow, pain, and love in equal measure, and over the years his own songwriting has proved equal to the task of bringing out all these emotions, so he is a natural fit for bringing these James Hand songs to new audiences and listeners. Because I’m so familiar with these songs, it’s very easy for me to assume that everyone knows them, but of course, that won’t be the case. Whether it’s the affable uptick of Baby, Baby Don’t tell Me That, the low-key gait of You Were With Me When, or the steady stride and easy ramble found in Midnight Run, Ags manages to caress each tune with a tenderness and tenacity that imbues an emphatic imprint. My Witness is a parched ballad full of self-recrimination set to hollowed-out, weary guitar matched perfectly by Ags’ mournful vocal.

Through a lilting jogging beat and rustic vocals, there’s the feeling of simultaneously rolling forward and looking back in a self-reflective rearview mirror in Shadows Where The Magic Was. The heartbreaking The Pain Of Loving You, with its delicate acoustic guitar and lilting rhythm, sounds effortless and completely natural, particularly Ags’ voice, and the result is perfect for a Sunday morning coming down. The pedal steel-drenched Lesson In Depression, with ironic and playful lyrics and delivery show that, in the battle against depression and angst, sometimes some sweet guitar static and a sticky melody are as good a defence as anything your therapist can give you. Ags’ self-penned Corner Of My Street, which closes the album, in its own way, stands with the best of James Hands’ work and could easily be mistaken as one of the master’s own songs.

The extensive liner notes, penned by Ags, puts the reason behind this release in perspective, as he describes at length the first time that he saw James Hand in concert, and the massive impact it had on his own life and career direction. Strangely enough, I was at that same concert in North London in 2006, having been a huge fan of the Texan’s music for several years. I didn’t know Ags, I was there to see one of my country favourites and  for a short interview. Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me, but thinking back to how sparse the audience was for what I considered, such an iconic performer, I can now picture Ags—something of an intriguing looking guy—standing in front of the small stage, totally mesmerised, as was I.  

https://agsconnolly.com

November 2024