It is a treat to get to hear Richie Lawrence sing lead, as he does on the album's opening track, " On The Boat." Check out these lyrics: "As I leave my only home, I think of you and me/Your broken heart, love torn apart, a child upon the way/I'd rather seal my heart than steal another day/Take what's mine and stow myself away." This line also stands out: "We shared a type of loneliness that strangers sometimes do." He gives us a touching, tender vocal performance. Richie delivers some nice work on piano too. Shawn Nourse (who used to be a member of I See Hawks In L.A., and is known for his work with Dwight Yoakam) plays drums on this one, and Simeon Pillich (of The Underthings) is on acoustic bass. Then Katie Thomas takes over lead vocal duties on "Isla," her vocal approach having a wonderful, dreamy quality. On this track, Richie plays both piano and accordion. He delivers an excellent lead on piano in the middle, as well as some wonderful work on accordion. Shawn Nourse and Simeon Pillich play on this track as well. "You're not alone/Go find her now/Where did you leave her/Down by the river/Girl of your dreams." This song was written by Richie Lawrence and Katie Thomas.
Giorgi Khokhobashvili plays violin on "Life Long Lived," that instrument playing a prominent role right from the beginning. And on this song, which is about a woman turning one hundred, Katie Thomas joins her voice with Richie's. "One hundred years/Industrial to digital/Cars to Mars/Wars never ending." In just a few words, they've perfectly described humanity's "progress." The only time I am optimistic about humanity is when I'm listening to good music. Things change, but humanity remains the same. That violin lead in the second half has much to say about this life, this world. That is some wonderful work by Giorgi Knokhobashvili. Then some really nice work by Dave Zirbel on pedal steel helps set the tone at the beginning of "Oh Me Oh My" (you might know Dave Zirbel from his work with Phil Lesh & Friends). This song was written by Richie Lawrence and Rob Waller, and it is Rob who sings lead on it. You know him from I See Hawks In L.A. (and if you don't, please do yourself a favor, and dig into that band's work). This is a song about a couple, and actually about a specific couple, Richie and Katie. This one line tells us so much: "He overheard her laughing, she was drawn to his mournful sound." And speaking of the Hawks, Paul Marshall plays bass on this track, and provides some backing vocal work. There is something delightful about this song, particularly its chorus. "She came to paint his music, he found her in a song." Isn't that an interesting line? How do we find each other? Is it in our own worlds that we find that special someone?
"Big Fun" is a total delight, a fun and playful number. We know it right away because of Richie's work on piano in that opening section. Rick Shea delivers some excellent work on electric guitar, Paul Marshall gives us a wonderful bass line, and Victoria Jacobs keeps things hopping on drums. Katie and Richie blend their voices again on this song. "Do you ever wonder, this cloud I'm under/Can't you hear the thunder in my brain/I've got some real dreams, some clear blue sky dreams/I want to make my dreams come true." Ah, yes, dreams to push the storms away. And then they ask, "Why can't I feel good/Not quite as good as I could/Why can't I feel real good with you?" This is one of my personal favorites. It's followed by another of the album's highlights, "Leaving You," one of the songs co-written by Paul Lacques (with Richie Lawrence and Robin Ginsburg). It was recorded by Rotondi, and included on that band's great Preaching + Confessing album. It was also one of the songs played at the special celebration of Paul's life and music held at McCabe's back in April 2024. Katie Thomas does a tremendous job singing lead on it, and Victoria Jacobs provides beautiful harmony vocals. Rick Shea delivers some delicious work on mandolin, that work really helping to create the delightful vibe of the track. There is also some excellent work on accordion. "Oo-wee-oo heaven so blue as I/Oo-wee-oo leaving you/Heaven so blue somewhere above the clouds/I will love you way up above the clouds."
The sound turns darker, more somber with "The Poetry Of Lust," the vibe established with that compelling work on piano that begins the track. Tony Gilkyson plays electric guitar on this one. The song soon it becomes a strange dance just as the vocals come in. "No words spoken as eyes connect/Enveloped by your rhythmic scent/An instant recognition/Falling to submission/I should go." Stefanie Naifeh (of The Underthings) joins Richie Lawrence on vocals on this track. This one becomes a great, dark jam, featuring fantastic guitar work. Then "InFable" has a snappy groove and features some nice work on both piano and bass. Here Richie turns in one of the album's best vocal performances. "Can't you hear the sound of greed/Seeds breed bloody money." There is a great, jazzy vibe. I'm totally digging this track, especially Richie's work on piano, even before that delicious lead in the second half. This track also boasts some cool work on drums. This song's final line provides the album with its title.
The album's sole cover is "Lone Freighter's Wail," a song written by Ray Bonneville, included on his 2014 album Easy Gone. Dave Zirbel plays pedal steel on this track, delivering some excellent work. Katie sings lead on this one, with Richie and Katie singing together on the chorus. This is a beautiful rendition, and it ends with some pretty work on piano. It's followed by "The Wonderful Waltz," the album's other song co-written by Paul Lacques. This song was originally included on the Goin' South Band album Home In My Heart, and is another of the songs that was played at that celebration of Paul Lacques' life and music at McCabe's in April 2024. Richie Lawrence delivers a sweet, beautiful rendition, his voice blending so nicely with Katie's. Victoria Jacobs plays drums on this track, and Paul Marshall is on bass. "The day will come for which there is no tomorrow/And everyone's dreams will return to the scene of that evening/Home from the fields with the sun and the moon in the weary sky/Later that evening we'd all do a wonderful waltz/The wonderful waltz."
"Emily Dickinson" is a pretty piano instrumental, the only instrumental track on the album. There is a welcoming vibe to it as it begins, and then it seems to take us into collective memory, where things aren't always easy, and where there is still a sense of loneliness. The album then concludes with "I Believe In You." This song is also a solo performance by Richie Lawrence, this one finding him on vocals as well as piano. He delivers a moving, passionate performance, making this track stand out. "And spirit soars through love/And love is never bound by pain/Only time will tell your fate in this/A world adverse to truth."
CD Track List
- On The Boat
- Isla
- Life Long Lived
- Oh Me Oh My
- Big Fun
- Leaving You
- The Poetry Of Lust
- InFable
- Lone Freighter's Wail
- The Wonderful Waltz
- Emily Dickinson
- I Believe In You
Moving At The Speed Of Trees was released on March 21, 2025.
