Jamie McLean Band - One Step Forward
Americana, Roots-Rock outfit, Jamie McLean Band will release their newest full-length album, One Step Forward, October 25th on Harmonized Records. Recorded at Grand Street Recording in Brooklyn, NY, the album was Engineered and Mixed by Ken Rich and Mastered by Whynot Jansveld.
Ahead of the album’s release, the video for McLean’s single, “Summer of Who Knows When,” premiered via Americana Highways who cheered, “Is there anything that feels more like summertime than heartland rock? Jamie says he had Tom Petty on his mind in composing this song, and you sure can tell it’s soaked in the vibe. Nostalgia and those summers of youth and hangin’ back rhythms. This one is sweet as they come.” Jamie McLean Band will be touring throughout 2024 making stops in Boston, Richmond VA, Washington DC, Woodstock NY, New York, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Charleston SC and many more!
One Step Forward features themes of “life, loss, and love,” says McLean. “The things that inspire us and keep us going. The things we've lost. The people we love the most. Positivity. I’m recently engaged and want to share that happiness.” The most poignant track on the album, “Don’t Leave Us Now,” was written in response to losing a close friend to suicide. The songwriter highlights how important it is for men to reach out to one another in times of despair. “I never imagined that my life would be touched by suicide. I've also personally struggled with depression. It's a rarely discussed epidemic, especially for men, and I want people to know there’s no shame in struggling, seeking help, and doing all we can to get healthy and happy and prevent these tragedies. It’s a call to action and a song of hope to help the next person who may be struggling."
The Jamie McLean Band features the songwriter’s strong hooks, deft guitar prowess, whiskey soaked vocals and includes performances from drummer Brian Griffin (The Black Crowes, Brandi Carlile), bassist Chris Anderson (Rachel Platten, Richard Marx), and the return of original JMB keyboardist, Jon Solo (Brett Dennen/Angus and Julia).
The album kicks off with the infectious and immediate, “The Summer of Who Knows When,” which finds McLean joyfully reminiscing about summers past and classic childhood summer memories. The song itself is a nod to Tom Petty’s catchy southern rock. “A true summer anthem! This is a roll your car window down, crank up the stereo, put your feet in the sand type of song featuring a big rock and roll groove and sing along lyrics! Tom Petty’s “Running Down A Dream” is name checked in the lyrics and you can feel the ghost of Petty lingering throughout. The rock and roll guitar at the beginning of the song is a quick riff that lets you know its time to party for the summer,” exclaims McLean.
The LP perfectly segues into the celebratory, “Calendar Girl," Mclean's musical love letter. “As I got ready to propose to my longtime girlfriend this song sort of fell out of me. When I wrote the lyric ‘I think she’s the one. She might be the one. I KNOW she’s the one’ it was an emotional moment that solidified my feelings about the relationship. The verses detail all the things that I love about her.”
Next up is the groove laden, “Too Little Too Late,” which highlights Chris Anderson’s melodic basslines. “This was written while I was in Nashville on a co-write with the great Jabe Byer,” says McLean. “We were talking about a relationship that hadn’t worked out and this quickly wrote itself. We tossed around many musical ideas but once we fell into this funky arrangement it felt perfect. It really grooves and the outro guitar solo really translates in the live show as a moment of musical exploration.”
“Don’t Leave Us Now,” features soaring melodies and poignant lyrics that join the chiming guitars and steady drum grooves to create a gorgeous sonic bed to discuss a topic that is touching more and more people every day. “This is a heartfelt song about losing someone close to you to suicide,” says the songwriter. “It’s call to action and a song of hope to help the next person who may be struggling.”
The intro to “New York Penny Lane” wears its George-Martin-Beatles influence on its sleeve. “Why don’t you ever write a song about me?’ is a phrase I’ve heard more than once. This time I actually followed up on it. Detailing a true-life love affair each verse takes you to a place in time of a relationship. I love the sound and feel of this track. It’s recorded exactly as I heard it in my mind originally which rarely happens.”
“Feeling Good” opens with an upbeat, gentle acoustic guitar and finds McLean painting a summery picture of the things that inspire feeling good. “I get rejuvenated by the ocean and the view into the southwest as the sun is starting get ready to go down and the ‘sparkles on the water’ like diamonds is an image I go to in my mind very often. Once I sang that this song took on a life of its own. I immediately went to wanting, ‘Good Vibrations,’ ‘Something True,’ and ‘Feeling Good.’ It encourages the listener to call out and ask “I'm Feeling Good. How about you?”
The kick of the bass drum and McLean’s percussive guitar work opens, “I Believe In Love.” “I write a lot in the early morning. This one came to me as I sat on my front step one fall afternoon while the sun warmed my face. It was a dark time personally and around the world and I was sort of reassuring myself and others that things would get better. The chorus is a mantra and something to hold on to. ‘I believe in love’ is simple and universal and powerful.”
The album’s final song is the title track and once again features the groovy bass playing of Chris Anderson laying the foundation for McLean’s rhythmic guitar riffs and Jon Solo’s dreamy organ playing. “This song started as a subtle guitar riff and before I knew what was happening a song had formed. It was a late night on the couch, and I sang ‘All night, just waiting for a little magic. Something to turn me on.’ I uess I needed some inspiration and the song became that muse. It’s me talking in the first person to myself or anyone who would listen. The chorus talks about missteps and perseverance and reassurance. “I’ve been a hurricane but I’m on my feet.”
Jamie McLean Band creates a musical gumbo that incorporates New Orleans soul, middle Americana roots, Delta blues and New York City swagger. Jamie McLean Band is a triple threat. The group’s energetic and captivating live show is undeniable. McLean’s fiery guitar has joined the ranks of Derek Trucks, Gregg Allman, Aaron Neville, Dr. John and more on stages from from Madison Square Garden to Japan’s Fuji Rock. His blue-eyed southern soul vocals ooze real emotion. And his top line songwriting chops have crafted profound, honest, and heartfelt songs that will keep you singing along, dancing along and feeling like the song was written about you.
The live show is where Jamie McLean Band excels and the band has shared the stage with the likes of Gregg Allman, Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Taj Mahal, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Trombone Shorty, Los Lobos, Blues Traveler, Marc Broussard and many more. Jamie Mclean Band has appeared at festivals such as Bonnaroo, Mountain Jam, Targhee Fest, Okeechobee Fest, Ottawa Blues Fest, Quebec City Summer Fest, and Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam to name a few. McLean has also enjoyed the sponsorship of Gibson Guitars, Fuchs Amplifiers, D’Addario Strings, Blue Microphones, John Varvatos, and Esquire Magazine.