Winnipeg based singer-songwriter Sean Burns takes life on the road and mixes it with a smooth blend of electric and acoustic guitar along with a soulful harmonica. With a talent for storytelling akin to his major influences Steve Earle, Bob Dylan, and Merle Haggard, Burns captures the grittiness of troubadour life and creates a style that hits home to fans of Canadiana, Americana, folk, country, and blues music world-wide.
Burns is inspired by legends Ray Price, Buck Owen, Haggard and Johnny Cash, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to see a number of musicians with decades of success in the traditional country music industry adding their own distinct sounds to his fourth full-length album. An album that, according to Burns, “is not a purposeful attempt to sound vintage, it’s simply what I’ve always wanted to do, traditional country music”.
Music For Taverns, Bars, and Honky Tonks is an 11-track album that includes a great mix of upbeat classic country tunes with loads of steel and acoustic guitars. Produced by Canada’s guitar wizard Grant Siemans, mixed by Scott Franchuk (JUNO, Polaris Prize nominated engineer), each tune has a slightly different feel in regards to production and mixing all while keeping that classic honky-tonk vibe.
“Farewell Parties,” written by Dan Russell, is the second track on the album and has the classic country heartache to it with just a touch of sarcasm (She’s throwing farewell parties and I ain’t even left). Nothing but steel, soft drum beats will have you crying a river of tears, until the end of the chorus, thanks to cleverly written lyrics. Well played.
Another notable song is “My Old Self.” Written by Burns, the song has a more of an upbeat tempo with a positive message of not wanting to go back to a life one once lived. The lyrics paint the picture of alcoholic days gone by and that the thought of returning would be easy. But then reality sets in, reminding him of why not to return:
I’d get back to my old self, but I don’t want to
Drink up all your whiskey, beer, and wine..
The entire album will delight fans who crave that traditional country flavor, and when Burns’ band Lost Country is made up of musicians like Harry Stinson (harmony, vocals) drummer/background vocals for Marty Stuart’s The Fabulous Superlatives, Chris Scruggs (console steel guitar) member of The Fabulous Superlatives and grandson of Bluegrass Banjo player Earl Scruggs, Canadian Blues Legend Big Dave McLean (harmonica Track 7), Winnipeg’s Joanna Miller (drums, vocals), and Bernie Thiessen (bass, harmony) – you can’t go wrong.
Music For Taverns, Bars and Honky Tonks is available this Friday, March 9th.
For more information on Sean Burns, please visit: www.seanburns.ca
Music For Taverns, Bars, and Honky Tonks Track Listing
1. Have You Seen That Train (Sean Burns)
2. Farewell Parties (Dan Russell)
3. My Old Self (Sean Burns)
4. Big Freightliner (Andrew Neville)
5. Don’t Let the Highway Get You Lost (Wade Mosher)
6. Lonesome Again (Sean Burns)
7. Sturdy Woman (Dan Russell)
8. Don’t Play with Fire (Sean Burns & Sara Bleackley)
9. One More Kick At The Can (Sean Burns)
10. Harold’s Super Service (Bobby Wayne)
11. I Wish Things Were Different (Sean Burns)
The real deal✌🏿