Howard Simon - Tend the Fire and Don't Keep Me Waiting
San Francisco-based folk-rock/Americana artist Howard Simon just released two tracks – “Don’t Keep Me Waiting” and “Tend the Fire” – from his forthcoming album, Western Reserve, slated to drop August 27.
Howard Simon
Talking about the new album, Simon says, “Making Western Reserve has been a delight, and I had a blast working with a small, tight group of musicians, unconstrained by the acoustic conventions of typical singer-songwriter albums. I am so grateful to Derek and Libby; to my dear friend Paul Weiss, who plays slide and helped craft the music to the title song and to ‘Lost and Found;’ and to Shira Kammen, whose string playing adds so much depth to several songs.”
While “Don’t Keep Me Waiting” revisits and revamps the 1972 song by the McKendree Spring band, “Tend the Fire” displays Simon’s development from pure folk music to folk-rock, and features Simon (acoustic guitar, vocals), Derek Bianchi (electric guitar, bass, drums), Libby McLaren (keyboards, backing vocals), and Paul Weiss (resophonic guitar).
Simon’s deliciously drawling harmonica imbues the tune with sweet filaments of nostalgia.
“Tend the Fire” opens on an elegant acoustic guitar flowing into a gentle folk melody crowned by Simon’s evocative tenor. The tune gathers strength and resonance with the entry of the rhythmic elements, a vibrating bassline and tight drums. Radiant vocal harmonies from McLaren infuse the tune with gleaming depth. As the harmonics escalate, the melody takes on glowing sonority embellished by riffs from the electric guitar.
“Before we go, I just want to say / You made my life a wonder in a hundred different ways / But time moves on and the years roll by / You laugh, you lose, you learn to love, you live your life, you die / But who I am isn’t who I was / I love you and I always will, just because / And who I am isn’t who I’ll be / And you are in my heart and in my heart you’ll always be / My one.”
“Don’t Keep Me Waiting” opens on gleaming guitar colors flowing into a contagious soft rock melody with an alluring rhythm and potent flow. Simon’s deliciously drawling harmonica imbues the tune with sweet filaments of nostalgia. There’s an irresistible charm to this song, tantalizing and quixotic.
Both tracks, “Tend the Fire” and “Don’t Keep Me Waiting,” evoke an easy intimacy and the luxury of emotional and sonic commitment.
