SADLER VADEN : DAD ROCK

SADLER VADEN : DAD ROCK

Townsend's Theme
Dove
The New You
Staying Alive
Holes
The Rescuer
I'll Always Come Back
Two Balloons

Label : Dirty Mag Music

Release Date : 2024

Length : 34:05

Review (American Highways) : For the most part, rock music hasn’t been a place for dads. That’s not to say that male musicians aren’t out there making babies – they most definitely are. But, music-wise, for every (somewhat rare) song about the bond between father and child (Springsteen’s “My Hometown”), there’s a song (like Harry Chapin’s “Cat’s in the Cradle”) that emphasizes the gulf between the two. But that seems to be changing over the past decade – some combination of pandemic stay-at-homes, Kobe Bryant’s legacy as a “Girl Dad,” and fathers on social media taking pride in, well, being a father has made it OK to write about this most natural of topics. Guitarist-singer-songwriter Sadler Vaden very much takes this to heart on his just-out, surprise album Dad Rock, a collection of songs about both being a dad and the changes in your “old” life when fatherhood comes calling. Emblematic of Vaden’s look at the intersection of fatherhood and touring is the album’s first single, “I’ll Always Come Back.” The jangly tune shows the perspective of both father and child (Vaden and his wife have two sons), with lines like, “How long until you leave this house?/What will I do when you set out?” reflecting both Dad leaving the house to go back on tour and that time in the not-so-distant future when young adults leave the nest. But, after having an unnatural amount (for a musician) of time with his growing family, the twist in the gut that comes from leaving them behind is more acutely felt, and it’s the thought of home that keeps him going – “I didn’t know I needed you/You lit my way out of the blue.” Vaden made an effort to include like-minded dads on Dad Rock. A riffy take on The Whigs’ 2012 alt-rocker “Staying Alive” includes the band’s drummer, Julian Dorio. Heartbreaker Benmont Tench shows up on the Springsteen-esque “The Rescuer” and the more acoustic “The New You,” which has Vaden dipping back into his own past – “I’m making mistakes, getting lost in a daydream/Well this is the new you and the old me” – and finding out that’s where some things are best left. And album wrapper “Two Balloons” turns out to be the best guitar song on the record, in no small part because of the inclusion of Elliot Easton of The Cars. As Easton sprays riffs and solos all around him, “Dadler” pays tribute to his two young boys, always on his mind – “Two balloons, went up in the sky/Stay together for the rest of time” – no matter his venue on any particular night. That’s good Dad-ing. Song I Can’t Wait to Hear Live: “Two Balloons” – I grew up in the 80s – give me ALL of those Easton guitars. Dad Rock was produced by Sadler Vaden, engineered by Owen Lewis and Bobby Holland, mixed by Lewis and mastered by Richard Dodd. All original songs written by Vaden (“Dove” written with Joel Hamilton. “Staying Alive” written by The Whigs). Musicians on the album include Vaden (vocals, guitars, keys), Fred Eltringham (drums), Julian Dorio (drums), Timothy Deaux (bass), Dominic Davis (bass), Elliot Easton (lead, 12-string and acoustic guitars), Benmont Tench (piano, organ), Art Edmaiston (tenor saxophone), Kirk Smothers (baritone saxophone) and Marc Franklin (trumpet, horn arrangement).

Review (Americana UK) : If you need to ask who Sadler Vaden is, then you have not been paying attention to the domination of Jason Isbell and his 400 Unit as the reigning superstars of the Americana music genre. And indeed that might be the case if you get your fill of Americana (or any other genre) from social media/streaming platforms, rather than from the hardware of real CDs where he is credited as the co-lead guitar foil to Jason Isbell, encouraging the band’s leader (and himself) to greater and greater performances. And after two decades of recording and live playing, Vaden has himself attained guitar hero status. Vaden was born in Myrtle Beach North Carolina and spent his youth between North and South Carolina, forming his own band in his teens and joining Drivin’n’Cryin’ when he was 25, then producing that band’s series of EPs. Isbell recruited him just as his breakout album ‘Southeastern‘ was released in 2013, and he has been a mainstay of the band ever since, whilst at the same time producing and releasing two solo albums of his own, the self-titled debut in 2016 and the highly-regarded sophomore ‘Anybody Out There’ in 2020, and producing others for the likes of new star Morgan Wade. And now, in 2024 he delivers a surprise brand new release, ‘Dad Rock’ (only 8 tracks, but almost full length, written during the time from his last album and since becoming a father ), released to celebrate Father’s Day weekend and particularly his recent fatherhood. He has two sons with his wife Candice and it is their cooing and giggling that kicks off the album on ‘Townsend’s Theme’, dedicated to his son named after a Vaden guitar hero, Pete Townsend. Interestingly, for a self-confessed rock’n’roll nerd, this is a tender and rather beautiful instrumental track, although it does rock out during the middle part. The ‘Rock’ part of the album title is there in spades, just as in his previous outings, with plenty of influences that Vaden is not afraid to display, rather than play down. Most obvious is Tom Petty, both vocally and instrumentally (particularly on ‘Holes’), but there are a number of others. ‘Staying Alive‘ has all the hallmarks of a Thin Lizzy track, the aforementioned Pete Townsend is evident in places; and the George Harrison-inspired ‘I’ll Always Come Back’, a song to his boys when he has to tour for a long time, is a real highlight (and not surprisingly chosen as the profile track). It has a more country rock vibe than much of the rest, with Beatle-sounding vocals and a guitar solo straight out of the Harrison songbook –“I didn’t know I needed you You lit the way out of the blue How long until you leave this house? What will I do when you set out? I didn’t know I needed you When you get lonely, And your heart is under attack I’ll always come back”. ‘The New You‘ is the one other gentle vocal track and features guest (and father) Benmont Tench on some lovely piano, while Vaden’s voice sounds a bit like Marc Bolan. Tench features again on the bluesier ‘The Rescuer‘ where he uses a range of keyboards, and the track is beefed up with some great horns. On only one track does Vaden give up lead guitar duties and that is on the lovely rocker, ‘Two Balloons’, that closes the album, where guest Elliot Easton of the Cars (also a father) takes charge. This song, written some years ago, is a tribute to his parents whose memory is served by a tattoo of two balloons on Vaden’s arm. “Two balloons, went up to the sky Stay together for the rest of time Never leave each others side Red and Blue and intertwined”. The other guest musicians are The Whigs’ Julian Dorio (drums) and Timothy Deaux (bass) then award-winning drummer Fred Eltringham and Dominic Davis (bass), each providing rock solid rhythm for half the songs. Vaden is a great guitarist and, like Jason Isbell, never overstays his welcome on the solos, which are a perfect length and very melodic. He overlays his guitar playing with fine keyboards and it is no surprise that he is now very much in demand as a producer, as this album is beautifully produced by him. As a rocker, and influenced by other rockers, the Americana connections can be a bit tenuous, but there is no doubting his singer-songwriter sensibilities which allow him in to the ring. A fine addition to his oeuvre.

Review (Concert Hopper) : Happy Father's Day! That's the message from Sadler Vaden, who brought a gift for dads (and everyone) in the form of a surprise solo album, Dad Rock, released on 6/14. Don't be fooled by the title of the album. Far from “dad rock,” Vaden has delivered a compact 8-song half-hour of straightforward roots rock and roll. Vaden is best known as a guitarist, currently for Jason Isbell's 400 Unit and previously for Southern rockers Drivin' n’ Cryin', but he has released two solo records previously, the last 2020's Anybody Out There? Since 2020, Vaden's personal life has gone through some major changes, the biggest being the birth of his two sons. In the album's press materials, Vaden notes that his children “...really shifted my perspective in life and how I write songs.” While the songs on Dad Rock are mostly new, Vaden did use that new perspective to reconnect with some old material he hadn't yet released. Dad Rock kicks off with the instrumental “Townsend's Theme.” The chattering of children leads into a song that starts as a melodic mid-tempo number before changing gears mid-song to become a crunchy guitar showcase for Vaden, a reminder of why he's one of the best in roots rock and roll today. The album's highlight is in its second song, however. “Dove” may sound like the title of a tender ballad but nothing could be further from the truth. From the initial drum intro to that first big guitar lick, the song drives forward and never lets up. “Love, I'm begging for your mercy / Stop before you hurt me / 'Cuz I'm all yours,” Vaden sings before a bass solo launches the band into another full-band jam. Another high point is “The Rescuer.” Here Vaden goes fully Muscle Shoals soul, complete with a horn section and some deft piano work from Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers). Lyrically, it's the tale of a man who is committed to a relationship that his lover seems intent on making as hard as possible. “If loving you is easy,” Vaden snarls, “Why do you have to make it so hard? / I'm trying to please you / But you don't see the weight of my heart.” Vaden brings in some guest “dads” to contribute instrumentally to Dad Rock. In addition to “The Rescuer,” Benmont Tench also plays on “The New You.” Elliot Easton (The Cars) lends his multi-instrumental skills to “Two Balloons.” Julian Doro (The Whigs, Eagles of Death Metal) not only plays drums on several tracks but lends Vaden The Whigs' “Staying Alive,” the album's only cover. As Father's Day gifts go, Dad Rock is much better than most. But this isn't just an album for dad to enjoy. It's fun enough that mom and even the kids may sneak off with it for a spin or two.

Review (Rock The Body Electric) : The newest album from Sadler Vaden is titled Dad Rock and from that alone, you pretty much know what to expect; mid tempo guitar/bass/drums/keys that would sound just fine blasting out of a Camaro. "Dove" (which Vaden wrote with Joel Hamilton) seems custom made to do just that as the track soars with layers of vocals, tempo changes, deep bass and scratching guitars; it almost feels like you should get Marlboro Miles just for listening to this jam. Vaden recorded the album solo (key, guitars, vocals) in Nashville, but had help on drums from Fred Eltringham and Julian Dorio and bass from Timothy Deaux and Dominic Davis with others pitching in along the way. Having played for years as part of the 400 Unit behind Jason Isbell, here Vaden focuses on his solo talents. The album opens with chatter between father and son, adding another dimension to the title as this is the first album Vaden has released since becoming a father. The acoustic guitar begins an instrumental track that begins and ends in breezy fashion but gets pumped up in the middle while album closer "Two Balloons" is a big mid tempo rocker with a great guitar solo that sings about how nothing lasts forever. Vaden has touches of Tom Petty throughout the album, most prominently on the acoustic/piano led "The New You", while he covers The Whigs on a, chunky riffed, marching version of "Staying Alive". The easy swaggering of "Holes" works well as does the big arena rock sound of "The Rescuer" which pumps up the horns and piano while "I'll Always Come Back" pushes a smoother, smokey 70's AOR vibe with nice distortion on Vaden's solo. A short but sweet record, Dad Rock takes classic tropes of modern rock and just strums, plucks and bangs along in successful fashion from Sadler Vaden.