Scott Ballew follows up “Leisure Rodeo” w/ “Rio Bravo” & new single - “Suicide Squeeze” :: 03/29

There isn’t much that Texas native Scott Ballew can’t do. A former football star in college, Ballew would go on to become a film director working with the likes of Yeti, Margo Price, Yellowstone’s Ryan Bingham, Jack Johnson, the late Jimmy Buffett, J.B. Manney as well as working on the documentary/film piece highlighting the life and career of the great Terry Allen entitled “All That Is Sacred”. Ballew fell on hard times struggling with substance abuse, but eventually found a more clear path in music and went to write and record his monumental debut at the age of 37 entitled “Talking to Mountains”. An outstanding self portrait of loss, cosmic rodeo celebration, the radical disconnect of the soul, family, and the crippling hooks of addiction, Ballew recorded an instant classic that stands the test of time. I was late on discovering Ballew in relation to his 2021 debut, but I can say with full confidence that discovering his music last Summer truly gave me a sense of hope and for that I’m truly thankful and inspired. With the help of his friends and community, Ballew drew a cosmic hand and summoned Jesse Woods and Terry Allen’s son Bukka Allen to help bring “TTM” to life. A dormant body of work with songs like “Bar Fly”, the albums’s opener “Tent Song” and “Good Luck Kid” all sprawling alongside windy back country roads in the silent morning of a Lone Star meditation. You would think Ballew has been writing songs and playing music his whole life and this is exactly what makes him so unique and extremely important in today’s world of chaos. He had to live his life before he could sing about it and that’s something a lot of musicians aren’t blessed with in their careers.

Ballew has returned with his third album entitled “Rio Bravo” and is set for release on the 24th of March on La Honda Records. This makes the musicians debut on a label outside of his own production Leisure Rodeo and he couldn’t be in better company alongside folks like Colter Wall, Vincent Neil Emerson and Riddy Arman. This give his work a proper home to where he can receive the attention and love his music truly deserves. Back in the fall Ballew graced me with a pretty earlier advanced listening of the album and mentioned it was quite different from the previous two LPs. I was beyond excited and honored that he trusted me with his music that I made sure I listened to it almost everyday for two weeks straight till it sank in. The album’s first single, “Suicide Squeeze” is this gorgeous swaying number that reminds its listeners of the likes of Brian Jones’ Rolling Stones and Nico’s “Chelsea Girl”. The burning violin seers across this unconscious landscape of dried and flaking acrylic paint, its purples and reds pure and bold from native fruit dye. The musicianship is nothing short of perfect and iconic. Written and inspired at the time Ballew was watching PTA’s “Licorice Pizza” with a friend, the musician mentions that, ‘the song is about growing up I guess you could say’, as Ballew demonstrates his naturally born gift as a songwriter of his time once again.

Across the album’s 11 tracks there are numerous depictions of faith, companionship and the cerebral hum that is left behind when we endure pain in our lives. The cold San Marcos river sobers bones and the weathered skin of a hard days work under the ancient sun. The first strike of an ox scapula shovel into Texas soil to the first strike of a note in Ballew’s humble bungalow, “Rio Bravo” is a stunning picture of life, youth, comedy and what it feels to be a real living person.