Mostly Folk Podcast
Episode 627
Southern gothic Americana outfit Bonnie & the Mere Mortals’ new album Live & Unplugged showcases alt-country swagger and fellowship around live music. It delves into relationships, mental health, occult mysticism and folklore, putting forth the idea that you can make your own destiny. It was filmed and recorded in front of a live studio audience in Pittsburgh at Club Cafe, encapsulating the intimacy of the live experience following the Covid lockdown era.
Frontwoman Bonnie Ramone is a queer-identifying, tattoo artist, Dolly-Parton-meets-Elvira kind of character who writes literary songs about people who need to feel seen. “I write sad songs with happy lyrics and vice versa,” says Bonnie.
“This Old World” was written as a John Prine style song, originally, but morphed into more of a Tom Petty tune. We wrote this because we wanted to paint a heartfelt portrait of modern American life. It’s important to us that everyone has a voice. We recorded the track at Welcome to 1979 studio in Nashville on all 2″ tape and all analog, which I love.”
“Tennessee (live & unplugged)” is a song about feeling you don’t belong and aren’t wanted where you are, and that universal feeling of longing to belong. I wanted to re-release this because I love that song, but also – in “Tennessee “right now – I don’t think that feeling has ever been more palpable, and I wanted to be able to contribute something positive.” – Bonnie Ramone
How does such a song com to be? Well, Brett explains that in this case very easily: “It was a bleak winter during the middle of the pandemic. One night around 4 a.m. Rennie started screaming in her sleep. She screamed, ‘Come into the circle Joseph! There’s no moon tonight.’ Scary as it was, I thought, man, that’s a good chorus!” The rest is musical magic, dark magic no doubt, but magic nonetheless.
“‘Things Don’t Have To Change’ is a meditation on Megan’s past, and is about letting go of pain and heartache. As ever, the story is brought to life through Megan’s emotive vocals, and bright yet melancholic country rock instrumentals. The addition of Mae’s and Taylor’s vocals in the chorus give it a wonderful sense of depth.
Megan and Shane’s Peaks and Valleys LP, engineered by multi-Grammy winner Brandon Bell, is set for release on 14 July.