To truly appreciate the song "26th Interstate" by the folk rock band Kennebec, you should watch the music video. It's like drinking a glass of blueberry port wine and following it up with a dark chocolate chaser. The wine itself is sweet, but when coupled with the chocolate, it encapsulates a new taste that lingers with you for an even longer time.
That being said, "26th Interstate" is a groovy and strong song, and I am honestly surprised it does not have more views at its home on Youtube, especially considering that the video was selected for the 2011 Live From Memphis Music Video Showcase.
Click the Youtube link and give it a quick listen. I'll wait.
Oh hey, you're back! So what did you think?
I could see a hint of Johnny Cash's influence here, provided we take into account what Cash might have sounded like if he had started out in the modern generation. This song is strong on its own, but the video adds on a thicker layer of emotion via its powerful visual imagery. Coupling the lyrics of a bad relationship with a poker game is brilliant, and we can all relate to driving alone on some long, desolate road, filled with thoughts of past or current relationships of both good and bad varieties.
The music is sexy, and it is filled with surprises. Its light and easy beginning tricks you into believing you're about to take a mellow ride à la The Doors' "Riders on the Storm". Instead, when the "man" (Ryan Gosling's dead ringer, Jeramy Blackford) belts out the first line, he essentially smacks you awake, and you know you're about to experience something interesting.
What would rockabilly, pop music and folksy blues sound like if we threw the three into a blender? The answer is "26th Interstate".
The song ebbs and flows right up to that last 30 seconds when the electric and acoustic guitars fuse together in a driving beat that works up to a slamming crescendo that is very much akin to orgasm. All of the bitterness, anger and passion (maybe even the remains of what used to be "love") is balled up into one final exhausting release, and what are we left with after such a strong physical confession? The ever-present bad relationship between two broken souls who long for any kind of connection in an attempt to feel a little less lost.
Buy the song on iTunes here and support the artist. While you're there, check out the rest of this band's fine work. You can also visit their pages on Facebook or ReverbNation.
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