HOBACK, Wyo. — There’s a recurring mythology about songwriters being either a starving artist or a superstar. By this account, as an artist, Wyoming-based Aaron Davis wouldn’t exist. But there’s a humble space between and Aaron’s new EP, Medicine, marks the Kentucky native’s fifth solo album and twelve overall release of original music across multiple projects. Listen to the 18-minute set below or on the streaming service of choice.
Recently described as “an essential force in the Americana roots music scene in Wyoming” (KHOL 89.1 FM) and“a truly phenomenal songwriter” (Americana UK) with “a searing slide guitar” (Country Weekly), Aaron is chiefly known as co-founder of national touring act Screen Door Porch, as engineer-producer-session player at Three Hearted Recording Studio, and for fronting the eclectic quartet Aaron Davis & The Mystery Machine. The decision to venture beyond his own studio in Hoback to make Medicine in Austin was born out of an artistic nudge to put the tinkering aside and focus on the material. The new tunes are bound by medicinal themes.
“The power of human resiliency, the kindness of strangers and the randomness of situational happenstance all played a role in the writing of this record. My last three releases were self-recorded, so it really was a luxury to return to Ramble Creek Studio in Austin, which has become a second home for me. Screen Door Porch recorded our first two records there and many of the stellar instrumentalists and friends we made back in 2010 and 2012 helped shape the textures on Medicine.”
Studio guests from both Austin and Teton County helped shape the textures: organist/pianist Daniel Creamer (Ryan Bingham, Shakey Graves), pedal steel player Geoff Queen (Willie Nelson, Reckless Kelly), drummer Roberto Sanchez (Justin Townes Earle), fiddler Katy Rose Cox (Jason Eady), upright bassist Kyle Clayton, and Aaron’s Hoback neighbor, harmony vocalist Hilary Camino (Freda Felcher, Whiskey Mornin’). The set was engineered and mixed by Britton Beisenherz, mastered by Jim Wilson (Dan Auerbach, Widespread Panic), and distributed by Three Hearted Recording.
Artist-friendly BandCamp [aarondavisongs.bandcamp.com] is a one-stop shop for hi-fi streaming, downloads and ordering CDs and streaming/downloads in the format of your choice, plus a digital stash of lyrics, liner notes and even a bonus track of Aaron Davis & the Mystery Machine performing “Roam” at Center Amphitheater in Jackson Hole, which you won’t find on Spotify or Apple.
Upcoming Release Shows
- Nov. 22 – White Squirrel Brewery, Bowling Green KY
- Dec. 18 – Mangy Moose, Teton Village WY
- Dec. 29-30 – Silver Dollar Showroom, Jackson WY
- Jan. 12-13 – Trap Bar at Grand Targhee, Alta WY
Live versions of songs from Medicine
For more information, visit AaronDavisMusic.com.
