Award winning Canadian Folk/Americana songwriter Robert Thomas will release his much-anticipated sophomore album “The Way We Roll” on May 1. Following on the heels of a career writing for the likes of Bonnie Raitt and the Dixie Chicks and the highly regarded 2022 release “Parallel Lines,” the first 3 pre-release singles from “The Way We Roll” have already garnered over 100K streams, 50K video views, an International Acoustic Music Award and an Official Video Selection at the Folkstone Film Festival (U.K.)
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Produced and recorded by JUNO winners Catherine Maclellan and Mark Westberg, “The Way We Roll” features, Thomas’ legendary backing unit, the sessionmen – Ray Legere and Jon Arsenault - and guest appearances by some of Canada’s finest acoustic players – Ivan Rosenburg, Terra Spencer, Carlie Howell, and Rich Knox.
“The Way We Roll,” is a Folk/Americana recording at its most elemental. In many ways, the spiritual and acoustic cousin to Jason Isbell’s “Southeastern,” Thomas’ new release is an intimate reminiscence of growing up in hardscrabble Atlantic Canada. From the spirited, universally relatable chorus of “Kick the Can” and “Labour of Love,” to the bittersweet tension and resignation of “Michelin” and “Springhill,” there is a razor sharp musical and lyrical purpose to this record. “There ‘aint nothing left but ash and dust / and the Cumberland Whipoorwills” perfectly captures Springhill, Nova Scotia where small town dreams died hard in October 1958, while “it ’aint a miracle to fall from above / it’s a labour, a labour of love” captures the youthful spirit of Thomas’ first band, circa 1976. “Beside You,” the album’s most poignant moment is stripped down to just piano and voice and Thomas’ vocal lives and breaths the loneliness of life on the road and the longing for home, as Terra Spencer’s restrained piano brings the message home.
Listen on Spotify here:
open.spotify.com/artist/5b9L5jlu4Lfjk6Acq1VN0z
Produced, Engineered and Mixed by JUNO winners Catherine MacLellan and Mark Westberg, the production is remarkably restrained, warm and present and the selection of players inspired. The always stellar sessionmen - Ray Legere and Jon Arsenault - deliver the band’s signature fiddle solos, guitar work and harmonies while MacLellan’s decision to invite dobro / banjo stalwart Ivan Rosenberg is a masterstroke. Rosenberg’s always magical playing brings a Bluegrass tinge to the proceedings that, with Legere’s fiddle, makes for very serious listening. Rosenberg and Legere take turns delivering pure alchemy on the haunting love lost ballad, “Lake Louise” and Rosenberg and Westberg combine with impeccable taste on the sparse, reflective “A River Runs Through” where Thomas, now in his 60's reflects on his short time and incisively cuts to the chase, “my two boys are now grown men / and we will not pass this way again.”
MacLellan brings rhythm section aces Rich Knox and Carlie Howell to the table for the up tempo “Cast a Line” - a sideways glance at the Halifax singles scene and the perfectly realized title track, “The Way We Roll” - Thomas’ homage to the intricate, satirical lyric writing of Ray Wylie Hubbard. The chorus of the title track, “if you wanna join the party / better bring your heart and soul” sums up this recording nicely....everyone did. This is a record not to be missed.
Thomas and the sessionmen will Tour North America in support of the album beginning May 1 in Montreal.
Tour Tickets:
May 1 Montréal QC · Petit L’Ours / URSA
May 2 Ottawa ON · Red Bird Live
May 3 Kingston ON · The Hotel Wolfe Island
May 4 Toronto ON · Hugh’s Room Live
May 8 Faribault MN · The Newhall Auditorium
May 10 Minneapolis MN · The Cedar Cultural Centre
May 11 Buffalo NY · The Caz
May 17 Moncton · The Empress Theatre
May 20 Cambridge MA · Club Passim
May 21 Woodstock NB · The Connell House
May 22 Fredericton NB · The Charlotte Street Arts Center
May 30 Saint John NB · The BMO Theatre
May 31 Miramichi NB · New Maritime Brewing
July 3 Halifax NS · The Carleton
July 11 New York NY · The Bitter End
July 12 Phoenicia NY · The Phoenicia Playhouse
July 19 Tatamagouche NS · The Grace Theatre
For more info visit:
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“These Boys Know What They’re Doin’…” - Rodney Crowell
