Steve Drymalski Photo credit: Eddie Wills
Along For The Ride, the new full-length record from SunDown47, stands proudly at the intersection of Big Sky Americana and Heartland Rock. If you appreciate the classic vibes of artists like Tom Petty, Ryan Adams, or Matthew Sweet, SunDown47 should hit all the right notes. The Big Takeover is proud to premiere the video for album standout “Winter.”
Despite sounding like a deeply in-the-pocket band with decades of playing together under their belt, none of Along For The Ride was rehearsed in advance. Frontman and songwriter Steve Drymalski would play a demo for the band, and the group would sit down and discuss the “feel” they were after. Then they would immediately start tracking. Drymalski and his team were meticulous, and Along For The Ride is one of those rare records where the final result surpasses the initial vision.
Word – and music – started to spread organically through Drymalski’s friend group. When Zach Bryan heard the record, he asked Drymalski if he’d consider opening some shows for him. “At first, I thought he was joking” says Drymalski. “However, he was VERY real about it, and after some coaxing, I said I would do it.”
Along For The Ride is their road map, but it’s live that this music truly shines. “It’s where these songs belong” says Drymalski. “Taking the music out of the controlled environment of the studio and throwing it out to the chaos that a concert is gives the songs a whole new dimension.”
Regarding “Winter”, Drymalski tell us:
[It] “comes from that place between present and absent. When we find a person, in any capacity, that really has an impact on us, whether it be a lover, a family member, a mentor, or a great friend, I believe we keep a little piece of them in our soul. When, for whatever reason, that person is no longer available to us, I think that little ‘reserve’ tucked away inside us kicks in and keeps that person with us. More than a memory, more than just a thought… Our mind recreates their presence to fill the void. In that fleeting time before that reserve fades, we live in that in between space between tangible and not so tangible. ‘Winter’ reflects that space.”
An outflow of musical vision merged with time and experience, Along For The Ride reflects an astounding rock n roll history. Drymalski has spent years working side by side in multiple capacities with artists such as Neil Young, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, and Aerosmith, among others. Yet, at its heart, what truly make this record special is the way in which it captures the essence of a moment in song. “As a kid I spent so many hours on my bedroom floor listening to records with an album cover in my hands. My imagination would take me to wild places…” tells Drymalski. “Who were these amazing people who made this, and how did they do it? Along For The Ride was me finally realizing my imagination! If this music makes anyone feel those same things than I achieved what I set out to do.”
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