We recently featured Ken Woods and The Old Blue Gang as they channelled their art as activism with their important and historically adept debut opus, Ride the Rails, so when we found out that Ken and the band were back with Sundown Town, we couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
Establishing the mood with another dimensional rock soundscape with rolling, textured drums and a dark Americana adjacency, Ken Woods opens Sundown Town with prophetic prose and the intentional depth with cinematic allure that we have come to love from this project.
Perfect for a massive Western synch deal, and full of poetic prowess and vivid imagery, Ken Woods and The Old Blue Gang reimagine another historical moment with their unique brand of storytelling. The guitar solos are sublime, astral and almost akin to fireworks exploding at sunset – we are enthralled.
Sundown Town tackles the dark, often suppressed history of racial exclusion in America – specifically the phenomenon of “sundown towns.” These were towns that either openly or covertly barred African Americans (and sometimes other minorities) from remaining within their borders after sunset, oftentimes through signs, intimidation, and violence. The track serves as a powerful musical warning and call to accountability, confronting this uncomfortable legacy head-on.
Blending classic rock influences like The Eagles and Lynyrd Skynyrd with rich guitars and organ, the song forms another part of the upcoming concept album Silent Spike, which tells the story of Chinese railroad workers in the American West. The band’s moniker reclaims “Old Blue Gang” from a racist past to challenge hate and honour diverse musical traditions.
Naturally, we have added Sundown Town to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the Ride the Rails, and anticipate the remainder of the groundbreaking and activism-driven project!