Red Bandana

by Aaron Watson

Overview

Aaron Watson designed Red Bandana as a celebration of his 20 years in the music business. The 70-minute record sprawls over the course of 20 songs -- a track for every year he's been a professional country singer. All that space allows Watson to stretch to the outer limits of his comfort zone, playing every kind of music he finds interesting. Even if Red Bandana shows considerable stylistic range, Watson tips his hand by opening with "Ghost of Guy Clark," making his debt to the iconic Texas troubadour plain. While Watson may not stick to the dusty country Clark called his own, he keeps returning to a similar style of storytelling and also favors a soundscape that simultaneously seems lean and cinematic. Most of Red Bandana relies on this kind of appealingly weathered arrangement, which is why the departures are so vivid: "Am I Amarillo" is an easy-rolling nod to George Strait's "Amarillo by Morning," "Kiss That Girl Goodbye" bustles with arena rock energy, "Shake a Heartache" swings to a retro-rockabilly beat, and the brief Tejano interlude of "El Comienzo del Viaje" underscores the dramatic undercurrent running through the album. None of these left turns seem unexpected. Rather, every bit of Red Bandana flows easily, if sometimes charmingly crooked. After 20 years, Watson is allowed to take meandering indulgences like these, since he knows that all the mess and unfinished edges add up to a soulful, resonant record that sums up his restless, wandering spirit. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	06/21/2019
Label:	Big Label
UPC:	0190296911859

Tracks

1. Ghost of Guy Clark
2. El Comienzo del Viaje
3. Dark Horse
4. Heartstrings
5. Old Friend
6. Kiss That Girl Goodbye
7. Country Radio
8. Legends
9. Am I Amarillo
10. Blood Brothers
11. Live or Die Trying
12. Riding with Red
13. Red Bandana
14. Trying Like the Devil
15. Home Sweet Home
16. Burn Em Down
17. Shake a Heartache
18. You on My Hands
19. To Be the Moon
20. 58

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Aaron Watson   Primary Artist,Vocals
Tony Harrell   Keyboards
Jedd Hughes   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Rob McNelley   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Stuart Duncan   Fiddle
Kris Donegan   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Justin Schipper   Guitar (Steel)
Eli Beaird   Bass
Austin Hoke   Cello
Leif Shires   Trumpet
Charlie Worsham   Banjo
Dave Cohen   Keyboards
Jason Goforth   Harmonica
Nate Coon   Drums,Percussion
Kristin Weber   Violin
Alicia Enstrom   Violin
Cassie Shudak   Viola
Wes Hightower   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Luke Forehand   Assistant Engineer
Justin Niebank   Mixing
Aaron Watson   Composer,Producer
Lowell George   Engineer
Shauna Dodds   Design,Art Direction
Anthony "Gino" Genaro   Executive Producer
Jordan Lehning   Engineer,Producer,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Sarah Dodds   Design,Art Direction
Austin Atwood   Assistant Engineer
Lindsey Cotton   Photography
Alyson McAnally   Production Coordination
Dan Davis   Assistant Engineer
Chris Athens   Mastering