Sadler. F’ing. Vaden. It is written in big, bold letters on one of my favorite t-shirts, and when I wear it, it always gets remarks by people who know. As a long-time fan of Sadler’s work, I feel like I’ve watched him grow from amazing to mind-blowing over the years. I remember the first time I heard him play in South Carolina as the frontman for his band, Leslie. I remember the first time I saw him jump off the stage while dueling solos with Kevn Kinney, lead singer and guitarist for one of my all time favorite bands for three decades, Drivin’ n Cryin’. And I remember the first time I saw him set his guitar on fire while playing alongside Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. But this project showcases his solo talent on an album that brings all of the best elements from those experiences to one place. His song writing, his musicianship, and his creativity are highlighted in the most amazing way on his sophomore release, Anybody Out There?

Sadler wrote all ten songs for this album, with two songs co-written with Aaron Lee Tasjan and Audley Freed. Nine of the tracks were recorded at The Bakery and one at The Shoebox, both in Nashville. Collaborating with the brilliant partnership of Richard Dodd, Parker Cason, and longtime friend, Paul Ebersol, and playing with a tremendous group of award winning musicians like JI400U bandmates, Jimbo Hart (bass) and Derry DeBorja (piano, moog, electric piano), Fred Eltringham (drums, percussion), and John Eldridge (Hammond B3), Sadler assembled a dream team to bring his artistic vision to reality. 

From start to finish in about 40 minutes, this album will bring you back in time as it pulls from feel-good 60s beach music, powerful 70s and 80s arena rock, and then travels through elements of the remaining decades until you’ve landed squarely in the present with instruments and vocals that encompass modern musical styles. The melodies, the guitar solos, and the psychedelic elements combined with commentary on love, loss, and living today propel the listener into a positive, yet reflective realm. This album speaks to contemporary themes that are relatable and the lyrics truly drive Sadler’s overall message home: disconnect from meaningless distractions and reconnect with meaningful life and those you love. 

The anthemic, guitar driven and percussion punctuated first track, “Next to You” recounts the highs and lows of living life on the road, and how returning each time continues to drive him and give him hope. Sustaining a relationship while chasing his rock ‘n roll dreams can be challenging, yet he still has the one he loves on his mind. Those emotions can be felt through the rising tide of his voice when he sings, “Now cross my heart/ hope to stay alive/ know that I’ll always be by your side/ hell, highwater, misfortune at times/ all this I will go through/ just to be next to you.” 

Slowing down with the thoughtful, “Don’t Worry,” Sadler addresses anxiety and looking with a positive lens into the future when times are difficult or life plans don’t go as initially envisioned. This song is for those who need hope, and his chorus gives sage advice to anyone who needs to hear it, “Honey, wake up and see the dawn/ ’cause the amber sky, it don’t last long/ if you can, try to leave some room for the rest/ but honey, please don’t worry yourself to death.” In the end, he speaks to what so many of us feel when music saves us, “Don’t get lost in all the fuss/ as time goes by, it all turns to dust/ but if you do, you’ll have this song/ just some words to help you move along.” 

After an animated guitar intro, Sadler exclaims, “I’ve been the one since I was born!” This song, which was the last one he decided to include on this album, explores varied levels of privilege as he takes on the persona of a “Golden Child.” He has been perceived as someone without want, but just wants to be seen as someone who didn’t have it all despite this perception. “What do I do to get you to think/ that I don’t have everything/ I break your heart with just a smile/ the Golden Child.”

Co-written with Audley Freed, the title track, “Anybody Out There” starts with some outer worldly percussion and blazing guitar that stops you in your tracks to listen as Sadler pleads for connections in a disconnected world. The psychedelic details dotting the musical landscape of this song brings attention to his almost ethereal question, “Staring at the sky/ they say it's falling, oh well/ if we’re running out of time/ could you even tell?” The guitar solo in the middle absolutely burns through you as it leads to the final chorus, “No one asks if I’m doing alright/ does anybody seem to care?/ I’m just trying to get through tonight/ so tell me, tell me is there anybody out there?”

“Curtain Call,” has the most beautiful vocals and string accompaniment by Alicia Enstrom (violin), Kristin Webber (violin), Emily Nelson (cello), and Michael Rinne (bass and co-arrangement). This absolutely stunning and painful song, with themes of loss and references to Tom Petty both lyrically and instrumentally, seems to validate his influence on Sadler. “I don’t want to be left behind/ while I’m waiting for my star to shine/ I can still hear you sing 'I Won’t Back Down'/ but is my curtain call now?”

The instrumental crescendo builds into this comforting and reminiscent drumbeat that harkens back to memories of an easier life before technology ruled in “Modern Times,” and you can feel it. I was lucky enough to have lived the simplicity and realness of what he describes when he sings, “I remember back in ‘93/ we’d run down the beach, and watch MTV/ our imagination was all that we could see.” This is a stark contrast to the synthetic creations being constructed with contemporary technology, “We’re not who we think we used to be/ We live and die by what the world sees/ create a whole new existence by the touch of the screen.” That’s a powerful statement on some of the vapid and fake information we are fed on our news feeds and media streams, as well as how it has potentially changed our worldviews and self-concept in harmful ways when he questions, “In these modern times/ it’s hard to know someone for real/ in these modern times, who am I?”

Friends, Aaron Lee Tasjan and Sadler Vaden co-wrote “Peace and Harmony,” and they don’t hold back as they address societal troubles. Bursting out with Tasjan’s lyrical mark of community, and coupled with the both artists influencing those grinding guitar breaks, this song is a biting commentary directly addressing issues with, “Everybody’s screaming, everybody’s fighting/ gotta give it up, and love it up/ everybody’s drawing a line, you gotta cross it.” Through all the polarizing bullshit, he continues to encourage positivity when he tells us that we, “Gotta shake it up, and love it up/ don’t you wanna try a little peace and harmony?”

“Good Man” is a reflective and responsive song that addresses accountability and shifts in thought, yet is melodically upbeat. He starts by singing, “Not everybody feels the same/ but still I want to be the change/ in the mirror I can see, just who I wanna be.” Turning a blind eye and overlooking challenges from the past, he sings about growth, change and fighting the good fight, “But through the clouds I see clear water/ for all our future daughters/ and I ain’t giving up the war, and I know what side I’m for.” 

A slow and sultry love song about getting away from the world’s distractions and just being present for each other is the theme of “Be Here, Right Now.” A testament to examining priorities for a successful relationship is evident through the purposeful chorus, “We gotta take some time/ to shut it all down/ meet each other’s eyes/ here right now.” The guitar solo that closes this song feels like it brings an urgency to the final lyrical refrain, “Be here, right now.”

“Tried and True” has been described as Sadler’s love letter to rock n’ roll. With it’s bouncy beach vibe and backing harmonies, along with the almost grateful tone of Sadler’s voice, he shares the perfect song to end the album, “The tried and true that we once knew/ I believe in you, my baby blue/ I was you yesterday hiding in the lost and found/ So I know you’re gonna come back around.”

Sadler began playing guitar at 10, started writing songs at 15, and became a professional musician at 18. At 34, he has accomplished much as a singer, songwriter, musician, and producer, and he continues to demonstrate that he has so much more to give the music community. He has a humble and gracious nature one minute, and will burn the stage to the ground with his guitar the next. Currently, he is serving dual roles as a solo artist and with JI400U; he has several dates supporting this album scheduled for spring, with more being planned. How ever you can see him and hear him, do it. If he comes close to you, or you can travel, GO. Sadler’s message is one that should be heard. Anybody Out There was released on March 6th (Thirty Tigers), and is available everywhere now. 

Sadler Vaden:

sadlervaden.com

Cover Photo By Melissa Payne:

melissapaynephotography.com

Additional Photos By Bridgette Aikens:

bridgetteaikens.com