John Doe – The Westerner – 2016
With 10 songs clocking in at 35 minutes total John Doe’s newest release, The Westerner, belies the singer’s punk rock roots. The instrumentation is sparse, the production simple. Recorded in Arizona, the influence of the desert is evident. This is John Doe’s first album in 5 years and shows the singer-songwriter back in fine form, spinning tales of loss and introspection.
Fans of X will embrace the rollicking “Go, Baby Go”, which features Debbie Harry (Blondie) harmonizing with Doe. The song “Sunlight” recalls Calexico in attitude and presentation. If the story-song “Sweet Reward” makes you assume the 62 year old Doe has softened and become less cynical in his years, “The Other Shoe” quickly dispels those notions. The plaintive “Sunlight” proves that very few can hold a note with such determined desperation as Doe. More Western than Country, The Westerner offers fans of the multi-talented Doe his strongest work in recent years.
THE WESTERNER TRACKLIST
- Get On Board
- Sunlight
- A Little Help (Featuring Chan Marshall)
- My Darling, Blue Skies
- Go Baby Go (Featuring Debbie Harry)
- Alone In Arizona
- Sweet Reward
- Drink Of Water
- The Other Shoe
- Rising Sun
John Doe LIVE
June 23 /// Fountain Valley, CA /// Don The Beachcomer
June 24 /// Pioneertown, CA /// Pappy & Harriet’s
June 25 /// Ventura, CA /// Mission Park
June 26 /// San Francisco, CA /// Great American Music Hall
June 28 /// Portland, OR /// Doug Fir Lounge
June 29 /// Seattle, WA/// Tractor Tavern
July 2 /// Prosser, WA /// Brewminatti
July 8 & 9 /// Denver, CO /// Lion’s Lair
July 12 /// Dallas, TX /// The Pool at Dallas Power & Light
July 15 /// Houston, TX /// The Mucky Duck
July 16 /// Austin, TX /// Continental Club
