By Will McGuirk

The not so subtle old school country tear in my beer twang underlies this track by David James Allen from his upcoming album ‘Jubilation Potpourri’ but he comes by it all honestly, by living it. A lay-off, anxiety as provider, and an all or nothing exit to the County so yah that pedal steel rings true because it is true.

“I wrote ‘Platform No. 12 (Old Friends)’ just after I got laid off. At the time, I was the sole provider for my family, and the weight of that reality hit pretty hard. The song came out of reflecting on that pressure—not just mine, but the collective squeeze so many people feel when work dries up, when bills pile up, and when life becomes a grind. I started thinking about old friends I hadn’t spoken to in years, and how time slips away when you're busy trying to get ahead. There’s healing in reaching out with a simple phone call, and laughing with someone who knows you. It’s a sad song, but I hope it can inspire people to reconnect and not let the strange stuff swallow you up.” he says in the press release.

Great stuff and happy to see DJA will be playing some gigs west of him at the Second Wedge in Uxbridge Nov 23 and Dec 4 at our pals Local Lounge here in Shawarock City.

Aug 31 (Sun) :: Wellington ON :: Royal Canadian Legion (w/ Nicholas Campbell)
Sept 6 (Sat) :: Creemore ON :: Creemore Village Green (12:30 p.m.)
Sept 7 (Sun) :: Orillia ON :: PICNIC Tapas and Wine (2 p.m.)
Sept 21 (Sun) :: Smiths Falls ON :: Bowie's
Oct 3 (Fri) :: Picton ON :: The Andrew (w/ Moonriivr and Peter Dreams)
Oct 4 (Sat) :: Toronto ON :: The Painted Lady
Oct 9 (Thurs) :: Ottawa ON :: LIVE! on Elgin
Nov 7 (Fri) :: Waterloo ON :: Emmanuel Church Concert Series
Nov 8 (Sat) :: St. Catharines ON :: Mahtay Cafe
Nov 9 (Sun) :: Hamilton ON :: Collective Arts
Nov 20 (Thurs) :: Westport ON :: The Cove Inn
Nov 23 (Sun) :: Uxbridge ON :: The Second Wedge
Dec 4 (Thurs) :: Oshawa ON :: Local Lounge