At the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers in New Bern, self-taught musician and native Jeremy Squires writes and records music from his North Carolina home. With hair well past his shoulders, scruffy beard, and arms ink-coated in tats, at first glance you might think he prefers classic rock licks and riffs. But you can’t judge this book by its cover. The Americana singer-songwriter is known for his poetic storytelling congested with heartfelt sounds and haunting lyrics. Dark but honest, the remembrance of his fragile past flashes back with startling clarity from beginning to end.

On November 9, 2013, Jeremy Squires released his new album When Will You Go… featuring a confluence of emotion and struggle leaving a lasting impression on its listeners. The album’s dire and gloomy memories of death (“J.L.P”), isolation (“Oblivious”), and heartbreak (“Like a Thief in the Night”) are not for the faint of heart, but are consoling shared through his soothing Southern vocals. The addition of Anna-Lynne Williams (Lotte Kestner) on backup vocals and Shane Leonard (Kalispell, Field Report) on fiddle, percussion, bass, and organ, complement each other beautifully on the twangy emotional resonances of “Gleaming” and “I Am Still Here”.

Luckily, through all adversity comes triumph. With the word “Salvation” tattooed knuckle-to-knuckle on his picking hand, every strum of every chord serves as a permanent reminder there’s a brighter future. When Will You Go… is a brave story for the right place and the right time—a fitting accompaniment to a night of self-reflection and whiskey on the rocks.

December 30th, 2013 – Hart Roberts