Born in Maryland, but now based in Austin after several years in Chicago, Pug was actually ready to call it quits two years ago; burned out by four years on the road and in a crumbling relationship, all the joy had gone out of making music. Although, he had studio time booked and an album deadline to meet, the words had dried up, the bourbon kept flowing and the whole creative process had taken on the feel of an unwanted business obligation. So, the album was put on hold while Pug took time out to put his life back together, to reconnect with his girlfriend, get healthy and start enjoying music once more.
A year later, he began work on Windfall, stripping the music back to its honest heart with no production frills. No surprise then to find a theme of resilience against the odds running through the album or an opening track sporting the title ‘Bright Beginnings’, a slow, soulful number backed by acoustic guitar and understated piano that talks about how, since nothing’s guaranteed in this life, you should let the chips fall where they may and which you could almost hear Van Morrison singing. That resolution to roll with the punches continues into ‘Veteran Fighter’, using a familiar boxing metaphor as he sings about standing your ground on a number reminiscent of vintage Steve Earle, an echo that can also be heard on the drawled, jaunty jogging ‘Burn And Shine’ and, featuring a triumphal guitar break, ‘The Measure’, a haunting alt-country ballad about endurance and embracing “every inch of anguish, laid out side by side” because “all we’ve lost is nothing to what we’ve found.”
Elsewhere, pedal steel weeps through the five minute, early Dylan-ish weary life on the road lullaby, ‘O My Chesapeake ‘ with its images of run down hotels and the line about not quitting tomorrow what you can quit today, harmonica blows through the funereal slow march ‘Great Hosannas’, a ruminative list song about such fakery as costume jewellery, Sunday Christians and sponsored mercy, while a note of joy springs through ‘Stay And Dance’ and the strummed McGuinn-like ‘Windfallen’ is a musician’s advice about the satisfaction and survival that come from being in it for the long haul not short term glory.
Following the poignantly reflective acoustic love song ‘Pair of Shadows’, the album closes on a note of hard-earned wisdom about following dreams, but not being a slave to them, Wilco’s Pat Sansome contributing mellotron to ‘If Still It Can’t Be Found’ as Pug sings “if it’s not around this corner, it’s around the next. If it’s not beyond this river, it’s beyond the next. And if still it can’t be found, it’s prob’ly for the best.” And, like this album, sometimes it’s right in front of you, you just have to open your ears and listen.
Mike Davies
Artist’s website: http://joepugmusic.com/home/
‘Burn & Shine’ live in Madison, Wisconsin, where even the music vids have adverts:
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