Mike and the Moonpies- Touch of You: The Lost Songs of Gary Stewart
February 20, 2020, I was standing out in front of the Tractor Tavern in Seattle. As usual I was the first in line, for that matter I WAS the line (was WAYYY early). While standing by the front door, a van that had been parked in front of the venue opened and Mike Harmier and his lead guitar player Catlin “The Pride of Uvalde” Rutherford jumped out. They lit some smokes as we spoke for a couple of minutes and then Mike asked me, “Are there any dive bars around here?” I took him 3 blocks up the street to The Sunset where we drank some beer and talked some more. In between him telling me about the new ostrich boots he'd just gotten from the vintage shop next to the Tractor and discussing both of us looking for feathered hatbands, he told me about this 'hush-hush' project that he was working on, and that I had to keep it under my hat…and I did.
Apparently Gary Stewart’s daughter, Shannon Stewart, had approached him to see if he’d be interested in hearing some music that Gary recorded but never released. After listening, she asked Mike if he would be interested in recording these songs. I am not sure of the exact words he said to her, but I am sure that they were something along the lines of, “HELL YEAH I WOULD!”
For those not familiar with Gary Stewart, he has been referred to as “The King of Honky-Tonk.” His work spans 35 years, 14 albums, 29 singles and countless shows to adoring fans. His career peaked back in the mid 70’s with the release of his album “Out of Hand.” Sadly, he never got the big break that most artists need to propel them into being a household name. This wasn’t through any lack of either trying or talent, but because he didn’t fit “neatly” into any standard musical genre definition. Mike Harmier even went as far to say that, “The music of Gary Stewart has been the driving influence of our band from the first notes we played together.”
This new album has 10 previously unreleased songs by Gary Stewart, many of which Mike recorded with the help of some very talented friends.
“Smooth Shot of Whiskey” is a post break-up song where two friends are meeting up at a bar to talk about their wives who have left them, sharing old stories and memories and drinking through their problems. The vocal intro to the song says it all:
“The only good thing that’s turned up for us lately has been the bottom of a glass”
Guitar, bass, and drums drive this song, with pedal steel adding a solid embellishment. Lyrically it's written like a conversation between two friends going over old memories and commiserating their newfound singleness. For this song Mike chose his friend Mark Wystrach, lead singer of the band Midland, to join him and sing the other part.
“Dance with Barbara” is a strong honky-tonk standard that, frankly, I am surprised that Gary never released. It has got a great driving beat and bass line and some solid pedal steel work on it. In this one they let Catlin go, and his guitar work is showcased on this song. As an added bonus, Courtney Patton joined in on this piece adding her voice to the chorus. The lyrics are straight forward as Mike sings about Barbara’s love of dancing:“When she starts movin’ and she starts shakin’ She’s the best show in town / And all the boys want a chance with Barbara / They know that Barbara sure does love to dance / She’s got the moves, make you blow a fuse / She can put the boogie woogie in a poor boys boots / All the boys love to dance with Barbara, and I do too”
The first single from the album, “The Gold Barstool,” was recorded with the talented Zach Wilkerson. The humor in this song lies in how the topic is framed, as an achievement in life, in the pursuit of something that falls short of excellence.
“A railroad man would get a watch and chain / A carpenter, a set of golden tools / But what 20 years of drinkin’ has gotten me, is my very own gold barstool”
Everyone must have something that they are proud of, right?!
Like the track before it, this one is a faster and very danceable full band piece with lots of great tongue-in-cheek humor. It's no wonder why Mike and the boys chose to make this one the first single off the album.
“Heart a Home” is the last track on the album. Mike certainly saved the best for last. It’s a post breakup/heartbreak song that opens with some great lyrics:
“New car, new home, new divorce / single again, but not by choice / I thought we had it all ‘til she showed me that we had nothin’ at all”
It's an understandably slower full band piece with a slow dance beat. It features Dave Percefull doing some great piano work that makes for a perfect intro to the song and adds depth to the whole piece. Courtney Patton and Jamie Lin Wilson both added their rich voices to this gorgeous song, further softening it. The chorus at the end of the piece has Mike asking, like only the broken-hearted can:
“Please help me find my heart a home / It has no place to call its own / All it needs is someone’s arms to lay down in, all night long / Please help me find my heart a home / someone left it outside in a storm / Please help me find my heart a home”
In the end, Mike Harmier, The Moonpies, and all their friends, put together an amazing collection of songs. They played them in an authentic way that paid homage to the late, great singer and songwriter, and damn if this new album doesn’t make someone want to sit for hours listening and drinking beer. And there couldn’t be a better tribute that I could think of, to Gary Stewart, “The King of Honky-Tonk," than that.
