Garrick Rawlings' self-titled new release is a striking blend of Americana, a wonderful culmination of his Midwestern roots blended with a strong dose of the American Southwest and Southern California. From romantic and broken-heart songs, to adventurous and desolate story songs, to songs of hope and social conscience, they’re all here—he lived

Garrick Rawlings' self-titled new release is a striking blend of Americana, a wonderful culmination of his Midwestern roots blended with a strong dose of the American Southwest and Southern California. From romantic and broken-heart songs, to adventurous and desolate story songs, to songs of hope and social conscience, they’re all here—he lived it, and he lives it.

You can hear his rock roots right along with his acoustic folk, à la Tom Petty. Rawlings and producer Rick Shea, another great songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in his own right, put together a crack band, took his literate lyrics and expressive melodies to heart, and made them soar—each song flowing into the next like a fascinating journey.

Perla Batalla, who sang, wrote and toured with Leonard Cohen, makes an outstanding appearance on the Latin-influenced song “No Tengo Palabras.” The lyrics are half English/half Spanish. Rawlings explains, “You can’t live in L.A. without soaking up a lot of beautiful and passionate Mexican music. What I take in usually comes back out in my own songs in some way”.

They recorded the basic tracks as a band, together in a room, and it shows. The arrangements vary from fully acoustic to great blends of electric, slide and steel. Wonderful touches were added, like Skip Edwards’ accordion on a sparse and stark arrangement of “Pancho & Lefty,” where Rawlings restores the original lyrics. “Lost In Time,” a lovely song about a lost love, features a sublime cello accompaniment. The legendary Paul Marshall, of I See Hawks In LA, and Jaimi Lyn Shuey provided gorgeous harmony vocals.

Rawlings served as Ramblin’ Jack Elliott's road manager, opener and sidekick for a couple years. He performs all over the Southwest, opening shows for world-class songwriters/guitarists Dave Alvin and Rick Shea, as well as on his own, which are best described as Neil Young & Johnny Cash meet the MC5 riding horseback through the desert chasing Woody Guthrie, Townes Van Zandt, Led Zeppelin, Tom Russell, John Prine, Guy Clark and a mariachi band to some obscure, magnificent raging campfire.