Phone Home From Far Away---PLEEZ!

Finally got a chance to listen to “Brand New Stranger” by JJ Baron, who held his CD release party at the Narrows in June.

I heard a sample of the CD earlier in the spring, and man the stuff was great.

If you've come to a lot of shows at the Narrows, chances are you've seen JJ open for somebody or headline.

The kid's got what it takes. The question is, will he waste his talent or do what it takes to build a nationwide, perhaps international audience?

But first the record:

JJ knows how to write, play and sing a tune—and he knows how to surround himself with talented players, including Slaid Cleaves, Jim Weider (The Band), Stu Kimball (Bob Dylan), Buddy Cage (New Riders of the Purple Sage) and others. I don't know if WUMB in Boston is playing this record, BUT THEY SHOULD BE! And so should the folks at UMASS Dartmouth and URI etc. My god, this record is instantly likeable. My only problem--a minor one--is that JJ's voice needs to be recorded with a bit more variety e.g. interesting harmonies, different microphone positioning, that kind of thing.

Now a note to JJ: Leave this area! Take this record on the road, or it will be ignored. Damn, I looked at his concert schedule and if I see "Rhode Island," "New York," "Massachusetts" or "New Hampshire" much more, I'm going to lose it. Listen JJ--you gotta go solo, except for New England and New York. Very few folkie/Americana artists take a band on the road, so if that's what's holding you back, fergetabout it! You're a fine guitar player all by your lonesome.

When you see JJ, tell him "Kid, we love you, but get the hell out of here!"Maybe then he will listen.

So, congrats to JJ and thanks for using the Narrows' freight elevator as your album cover!