Gallardo featured as an “Artist You Need To Know”
in September 2017 issue of Rolling Stone Country
Nashville-based Americana singer-songwriter Don Gallardo is set to release his next album, Still Here, on April 27, 2018 through Rock Ridge Music (with distribution via ADA). With music that walks the line between Americana, folk, and roots-rock, mining the influence of classic 1970s singer-songwriters while still pushing ahead toward something new, Rolling Stone Country called Gallardo “a singer-songwriter that is one of the Country and Americana scene’s true journeymen.” The first single, “Something I Gotta Learn,” will be released to streaming services on March 16th and will also be available as the instant-gratification track for digital pre-orders.
Gallardo’s forthcoming album, Still Here, was self-produced with the help of David Pinkston and Dylan Alldredge, and it’s different from any of his previous efforts. “My prior albums had almost no co-writes on them; I usually just wrote my own material,” says Gallardo. “This time, I sought out songwriters that I really respected for co-writes—Tim Easton, Carey Ott, Mando Saenz, Luke Amelang, Robby Hecht, Doug Williams, David Borné and Jesse Cole.” The resulting collection includes songs about Gallardo’s son, past relationships, the music industry, the late 16th Century, bullying, and some songs with UK references, with a common theme running among them: no matter how grueling life can be, giving up is not an option, and persistence and positivity can prevail over anything.
Joining Gallardo in the studio in East Nashville where he laid down the tracks was a veritable who’s who of Nashville talent, including: Dave Roe on bass (Johnny Cash), Micah Hulscher on keys (Margo Price), Bryan Owings on drums (Justin Townes Earle, Patty Griffin), Brent James on guitar (George Jones, Willie Nelson), Richard Bailey on banjo (Steeldrivers), Joe Andrews on mandolin (Old Crow Medicine Show), and Erin Rae singing on two songs. Additionally, all of the guys in Gallardo’s live band, as well as other special guests, played on the album.
Gallardo grew up in Northern California and spent years building his songwriting career on the West Coast before relocating to Nashville in 2008. With four full-length albums, a live acoustic release, and an EP under his belt, Gallardo has earned a devoted audience on both sides of the Atlantic. A road warrior who frequently tours the UK, he earned praise from Rolling Stone Country, who named him one of “10 New Country Artists You Need To Know” in September 2017 and called Gallardo’s music “the intersection of folk, road-worn country and amplified bluegrass, performed by a singer-songwriter who began earning his road-dog stripes before the new millennium.” No Depression deemed him “one of those rare gems… Don’s writing style harkens back to a time when Nashville was overflowing with great storytellers.” Nashville Scene said Gallardo “writes intelligently about the boredom and charm of small-town life” and praises his “country-rock with brains, charm and experimental impulses that are perfectly integrated into a familiar context.” Glide Magazine declared that “our ears deserve something that’s righteous, honest and ballsy in just the right spots and Gallardo nails that equation.” His most recent album, Hickory, received a four-star rating from MOJO and was named one of 2015’s best country albums by The Telegraph, proof that Gallardo’s career has truly gone global.
In addition to catching one of his live shows, fans can hear Gallardo’s music prominently featured in films like “Jolene” and Jackass Presents “Bad Grandpa,” as well as television series such as “The Vampire Diaries,” ABC/CMT’s “Nashville,” and the Netflix series, “The Ranch.” Gallardo plans to hit the road before the record is out and has already booked a run of shows on the West Coast in February (see tour dates below). He’ll be sharing a bill with The Battlefield, who will also be his backing band on all of the dates. For his two hometown shows in Fairfax and Petaluma, the members of the band San Geronimo will also be joining Gallardo on stage. He is planning tour dates in the UK in March and will be back on U.S. soil in the Northeast and East Coast in April. Additional shows will be announced as dates are finalized.
Don Gallardo Tour Dates:
Thursday, February 15th – Harvard & Stone / Los Angeles, CA – 9pm
Friday, February 16th – 19 Broadway Nightclub / Fairfax, CA – 9pm
Saturday, February 17th – The Big Easy / Petaluma, CA – 7:30pm
Sunday, February 18th – Northstar California / Truckee, CA – 3pm
Monday, February 19th – DownLo (below Lost on Main) / Chico, CA – 7pm-9pm
Wednesday, February 21st – Pengilly’s Saloon / Boise, ID – 9pm
Friday, February 23rd – Snowbasin Resort / Huntsville, UT – 3:15pm
Saturday, February 24 – Snowbasin Resort / Huntsville, UT – 3:15pm
Sunday, February 25 – Snowbasin Resort / Huntsville, UT – 3:15pm
(all dates with The Battlefield)
Don Gallardo
Still Here Track Listing:
1. Something I Gotta Learn
2. Kicking Up The Pavement
3. Oh Jane
4. Same Ol’ Alley Talkin’ Blues #12
5. The Golden Rule
6. The Losing Kind
7. Stay Awhile
8. The Bitter End
9. I’ll Never Be Alone
10. A Boat Named Harmony
11. Ballad of a Stranger’s Heart
12. Trains Go By