Song Premiere: Whiskey Wolves of the West "Sound of the South"

 
Nashville duo Whiskey Wolves of the West - Tim Jones (vocals, guitar) and Leroy Powell (vocals, guitar, bass, pedal steel, clavinet, keys, harmonica) - is set to unleash its debut album, Country Roots, on March 2. A sonic fusion of country, roots, rock, and blues Country Roots is a seven-track collection of genre-defying tunes that flow loosely over a base of solid, accessible songwriting. 

Fully living up to its name, the album includes the analog-lovin' tone of “Lay That Needle Down,” the modernized down-home spirit of the title track, and the bright vibe of the album’s closer, “#1 (The Ballad of Dallas Davidson).” Today, TDC is incredibly honored and excited to bring you another of the album's cuts, "Sound of the South," which Powell says, “tries to cover the history of rock and roll in 2-3 minutes or less.”  Led by a retro-soul instrumental introduction, "Sound of the South" is supported by Michael Webb's subtly dynanic organ-work and dominated by the duo's powerful and passionate vocals which pay respectful homage to the musical legends, and people, of the South.

"Scratchy old records spinning all night long, I begged to stay up late
With Charley Pride and Elvis
Bill Haley singing Rocket 88
It's a soul thing making you feel like the worlds a better place
Even up in Boston they be sharing those radio waves"

Powell explains the story behind the song below, then talks further about the track, the South, and the Muppets!
It came about after a four-hour Bub City gig, a wintry Chicago evening, and a black-out drunk. If it wasn't for iPhone voice memo, this would’ve turned out to be a hymn. Tim and I were so surprised that the song turned out as good as it did when we listened back the next morning. This song and "Drifting On" actually became the impetus to go into the studio for the first time. We felt like we had something worth laying down. 

Sometimes magic can be captured immediately in the studio. What was the recording process for “Sound of the South” like?
Tim’s friend Bill Reynolds has a beautiful studio in Nashville off of Charlotte Pike called Fleetwood Shacks. We booked out the room for the afternoon and invited some friends over. "Sound of the South" was a blast to record. My bro Chris on drums. Willie Weeks on bass. Tom Bukovac and me on guitars. Michael Webb on organ. Tim and I sang it down in two takes. 

Photo Credit: Greg Giannukos

There are so many notable things about the South that instantly come to mind when you think of that area of the US. What sounds (music or otherwise) make you think of the South?
The song was inspired by the music that I gravitate toward, which tends to be soul music. More specifically soulful music. I think the cradle of soulful music in America comes out of the South. The Cajun, German, African, English, and Irish songs and sounds all mashed up and mixed together for a couple hundred years into true American sound. It's a sound that reflects the American dream (the nice dreams and the nightmares).  It’s the wellspring of infatuation around the world: “Pretty soon everybody’s gonna come around to the sound of the South." 

Powell, who is a first-call guitarist/multi-instrumentalist for producer Dave Cobb, has backed Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton in the studio, as well as both Shooter and Waylon Jennings. Jones, a top Nashville player in his own right has worked side by side in a band with Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket) and has had Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes) as a producer and tourmate. Having worked with such heavy hitters, we asked
 
If you could put your dream band together to play this song live in the venue of your choice, who and where would it be?
I want the Muppets to do it on "Sesame Street." They would tear it up. Fozzie on organ. Animal on drums.  Mary Poppins and Dick Van Dyke singing harmonies. 

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