Grayson Jenkins : Hand Me Downs
Steeped in the rolling coal hills of Western Kentucky, combined with a voice matching the smoothness of the rolling water of a cold creek, Grayson Jenkins’ newest release, Hand Me Downs, is a testament to what great songwriting can ignite in the heart and soul.
A reflection of honoring life and all the good that it can entail, Jenkins, along with his backing band, The Resolutions, provide a sound worthy of a smoky barroom, but with points of the contrasting brightness of a warm, sunny day. It’s a mesh of melody and catchy lyricism that Jenkins continues to feed as an artist and writer.
“I’m always taking notes on my phone or scribbling down words in a notebook. I steal little phrases and observations that pop out in life or conversations and try to put them to song. Most days, I free-write about random places or things, with no rhyme or melody in mind. That helps to exercise the writing muscles and can usually pull me out of a slump if I’m in one. For me, it’s just about filling out my tool bag with different ways of writing so that I can run with whatever pops in my head,” Jenkins says of his creative process.
The second track of the album, “Downtown Devil,” demonstrates Jenkins’ ability to thread sounds and words, falling and growing with southern-style riffs and a groove fitting for a backroad drive.
I’m a Downtown Devil / I get what I put in / Come Friday Night / I’ll be drinking Jack and Jim
Including a fantastic cover of Kris Kristofferson’s “Just the Other Side of Nowhere,” Jenkins proves that he is pushing himself to learn and discover his prowess as a musician and creator – this is evident in the beautiful track entitled “Whirl.” This song portrays Jenkins’ ability to switch sounds and emotion, slowing things down and finding love and the feelings that come with all of its chances.
I’ve had the opportunity to experience Jenkins on stage on a few occasions, and there are not many who have a confidence in showing their heart and focus in their music, capturing the audience with a natural ease. Jenkins finds it as a pure rush.
“There’s no feeling like playing to a live crowd. On nights where everything seems to fall in place, it’s the best high you can get. I try to block out everything in my life but that moment and just pour my heart out to the crowd. It’s really nice when I can see that they’re feeling the same thing and that synergy is hard to beat.”
To feel that true emotion, one must be sure to soak-in the live edition of “Wouldn’t That Be Nice,” the final track of the LP, demonstrating that Jenkins is a presence that appears to only be getting better in his young career; Hand Me Downs is proof of this fact.
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