No Motorcycles and No Tattoos

Been streaming Derrick McLendon a lot this week.. Well that’s not anything different than many of my weeks, except for the fact that the Jana Sessions has become a reality.

See, We have this mutual friend who puts out a little podcast down ‘round San Marcos, Texas.Blake Farrar, host of the Texas River Tonk radio show. I actually listened to the show where Blake’s telling Derrick his mom only gave him two rules, “no motorcycles and no tattoos.” See these seemed like pretty simple rules until one day Blake’s mom started getting tattoos and riding a motorcycle.. Well Blake’s mom was named Jana and she kinda adopted Derrick McClendon as one of her own after he wrote that song about her and thus the Jana Sessions were born.

The Jana Sessions is the latest EP by Derrick McClendon. Track listing is of course Jana’s song , 1. No Motorcycles, No Tatoos. 2. I’m Sorry Mama, 3. Front Porch Serenade, and track 4 is a remastered version of Interstate Day Dreamer , the title track from McClendons previous album Interstate Daydreamer.

The Jana sessions were produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Tommy Detamore at Cherry Ridge in Floresville, Tx.

Give Derrick a chance and you won’t be disappointed. For a good time and if you’re like me and those sad ballads make you happy take a deep dive into some of his previous work. Start somewhere with Dear Johnny maybe mix in California Heartbreak and top it off with the Jana Sessions.

Pancho.

Honky Tonk Heart

I have been in love and I’ve been heart broken more than once in my life. If I have learned nothing else in the last 47 years, I have learned that well written music fits in both occasions.

The new EP by Lucas Jagneaux and the Roadshow released this week. The album is plumb full of she’s packed her suitcase and she’s leaving songs. Ain’t it funny how sometimes a sad song can make you cry and other times it can bring light to all those dark places that you have carried around in your heart.

The Roadshow still makes music that sounds like country music. The twang of a guitar and sounds of the steel guitar that I grew up in. This Louisiana bunch is one of my favorite groups these days . I am forever grateful for another of my personal favorite artists, Seth Jones , who turned me onto this sound.

This album features 4 original songs. Recording took place at Rosewood studios . There is definitely something in that part of the bayou that those Jagneaux boys grew up in. Lucas and Tobin are both amazingly talented, not to mention Waylon who plays the steel sets, and then there is that boy from next door, Derrick Mclendon , a wonderful song writer and performer on his own. His voice can be heard in the harmonies and backing vocals.

Lucas Jagneaux and the Roadshow are moving into stardom in Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma. I have no doubt they will soon be popular throughout the World. I encourage everyone to keep spinning these sounds and then one day you can look back and join me in saying…”Remember When.”

Pancho.

Interstate Daydreamer

Derrick Mclendon is a Louisiana based singer/ songwriter.

Yesterday Mclendon cut his second full length album. Interstate Daydreamer. As I gave the album a listen this morning I gained visions of this man and his life through his words and song. The man is a storyteller and he accompanies his story with his simple acoustic chords.

The songs on Interstate Daydreamer are deep tracks that talk about things like the battles of addiction, balancing a career and a family, not feeling like your life is what you dreamed it would be. I certainly could relate to each word and reflect on my self. I am pretty sure everyone who streams this album should be able to find themselves in this poetic compilation as well.

A post from Derrick’s Facebook page says that the Interstate Daydreamer project caused him a lot of heartache. Derrick wasn’t even sure if the project would come to fruition at all.

“But, something in me changed. I decided to quit feeling sorry for myself and I sat down and took the time to learn how to use my recording software. Slowly, after minor tweaks and changes, I began to soften my views on the album and eventually decided to release it.” Derrick posted

The important thing is, that he eventually had a change of heart and decided to do it anyway.

“Maybe all the grief was a way to keep me humble, because Lord knows that if I would’ve gotten my way with everything, I would’ve had the big head. My wife wouldn’t have been able to tell me anything. Luckily, I got my way with one thing – getting to share my songs with you.“ said McClendon

I for one and glad he did it. Listen to Interstate Daydreamer anywhere you stream your song.

Pancho.