Hello Reader,
Welcome back. Hope you’re doing well.
On February 17th the album Restless Spirit was released via WarHen Records for your listening pleasure. This is the second album for the Appalachia based band Tucker Riggleman & The Cheap Dates. Their debut album also released via WarHen Records is titled Alive and Dying Fast (2021). Tucker Riggleman & The Cheap Dates have also released three EPs: Heaven EP (2019), Time Machine (2019) and Silver Queen EP (2020).
The band consists of well-respected musicians in the WV/KY regions. The frontman is Tucker Riggleman on guitar, lead vocals and songwriting, M Tivis Clark plays drums, Mason Fanning plays bass guitar, vocals and Paul Young plays guitar and vocals. Riggleman has been playing in DIY bands for over 15 years, having co-founded alt-country band Prison Book Club with good friend John R. Miller (the same John R. Miller that has put out killer albums in recent times via the fabulous Rounder Records), and Riggleman played in indie fuzz-rock band Bishops, heavy punk thrash band RHIN and co-founded garage rock band The Demon Beat with Jordan Hudkins and Adam Meisterhans, both currently with Rozwell Kid. Adam also plays with the band Slaughter Beach, Dog.
And now for some hype for your ears!
Letting the music cure some of what ails you, “Shotgun”:
(All credits and rights to Tucker Riggleman & The Cheap Dates)
The next song after Shotgun, is the one and only “Queen of Diamonds”:
(All credits and rights to Tucker Riggleman & The Cheap Dates)
The titular song with an exciting video, “Restless Spirit”:
(All credits and rights to Tucker Riggleman & The Cheap Dates)
Contributors to the albums sound are:
- Tucker Riggleman – guitar, vocals
- M Tivis Clark – drums
- Mason Fanning – bass guitar, baritone guitar on “Queen of Diamonds”, vocal harmonies on “Bucket and the Boot” and “Telecaster” and Rhodes piano on “Silver Tongue”
- Lee Carroll – perhaps best known for touring with The Judds, Carroll played organ on this album.
- Duane Lundy – The Lexington based, Grammy-nominated producer, produced the album and played synth on “Educated” and “Virtue”
- Jason Brown – vocal harmonies on “Virtue,” “Shotgun,” and “Familiar Bridge”
- Justin Perkins – mastered the album. He’s highly regarded within the industry as one of the best doing it today.
- Paul Young – when the band performs live, Young joins on guitar and vocals.
Overall, Restless Spirit is another positive step for Tucker Riggleman & The Cheap Dates. You expect twang from the band, and you get it in spades. The perfect amount, I’d say. The melodies are ones you could put on a road music playlist and/or listen at home alone and/or put on for a small group dance party. Those who partake will feel that vibe and get after it. The band and the contributors are in top notch form. Great choices were made to include each one and to choose the instrumentation they played where and when as well. Long time fans of Tucker’s are familiar with his gift for the written word, specifically prose. And he once again delivers, showcasing his poetic roots in general but to me, the analogies easily stand out in verse. Often the themes delve into dark places and spaces, exploring feelings and sentiments of the past and present while ultimately finding hope for the future amongst them. Riggleman’s vocals are heart on your sleeve honest and well delivered.
The opening song “Educated” explores Riggleman’s upbringing in the South and the negative connotations that may have for many in a reflective, honest light. The lyrics are over the top of an easy-going melody complete with twang, drums, guitar and synth.
The next song, “Virtue” features some nice guitar solos from Riggleman and synth from Lundy, in between Riggleman’s vocals about mental health, more specifically feeling anguish amongst reluctant acceptance. Jason Brown provides harmony vocals.
In “Familiar Bridge” Riggleman offers a new take on the idiom water under the bridge as he explores his choices while alone whilst moving on as the idiom alludes to. The melody screams 90s alt-country in the best ways and is made complete with dueling vocals at times, from Brown and Riggleman.
The fourth song on Restless Spirit, “Shotgun” showcases lyrics that look back at a former friendship with fondness and hope for the future, ultimately using music to get over and past. The melody, while different than the previous song also is alt-country in all the best ways. Jason Brown again joins Riggleman in harmony vocals to add emphasis to certain refrains adding a well-placed complimentary voice.
“Queen of Diamonds” features a melody that is slow dance of your choice worthy including keys, slowed but right on time drums from M Tivis Clark and the deepness of a baritone guitar played by Mason Fanning. The lyrics feature some of Riggleman’s best analogies on the album among a theme of unrequited love.
The song “Restless Spirit” is truly rockin’ from the start. The melody slithers. The lyrics are a bit of a taunt. The restless spirit is no holds barred, going after both the past and the present.
In “Telecaster” we hear a song named after the popular guitar model, the first mass-produced solid body electric guitar model, and one that Riggleman holds dear enough. The lyrics explore touring, the life of a band trying to make it, frustrated. This song is complete with a refrain to end the song about decreasing mental health, struggling. The multi-talented Mason Fanning adds harmony vocals on the most raucous parts of the song. Overall, it’s a beautiful song, with perfect musical instrumentation from the band to complete the melody.
“Paradise” is moving past one’s former existence. Past its emptiness and non-relatability. Insert your own idiom of your choosing here, but the sentiment is of realization. The melody is full of twang on guitar, and to me reminiscent of a melody you could put in the past without second thought. Something in say the mid or late 90s in the best ways while retaining their own style.
In the song “Bucket And The Boot,” I love the clever analogy that Riggleman makes an idiom of being both a bucket and a boot. Lyrics that are downtrodden, facing mortality, seriously examining drinking and its effects. Some exquisite guitar, drum and organ work here by the band. The song title becomes a refrain in which Fanning joins Riggleman on harmony vocals to enhance the message.
“The Blues” starts with guitar strumming. Accompanied soon after by organ from Carroll. Next the drums kick in followed by the twang of a guitar twang to fill out the melody. The lyrics within this song are reflective and come to a realization of past behavior including feelings about a certain lady and how she makes him feel. To put a chemical perspective on the feeling: Dopamine.
“Silver Tongue” The melody carried by guitar from Riggleman and steady drums by Clark and solos on Rhodes piano from Fanning. And lyrics that again find Riggleman reflective of past behaviors and present ones as well.
Restless Spirit gets 4.5 out of 5 Scum Drops from me. Truly an excellent album. Riggleman’s lyrics coupled with melodic choices and the skillful musical instrumentation make this an easy choice for a 4.5 for me. You can tell Riggleman has roots in poetry. The band is so talented and work so well together. And it all comes together brilliantly. I imagine their live shows are something you’ll remember years later. The sonic quality is fantastic on the album. Worth listening to on any format of your choosing. And owning. Add this album to your collection!
Restless Spirit Track listing (song length)
- Educated (3:13)
- Virtue (2:55)
- Familiar Bridge (2:57)
- Shotgun (3:00)
- Queen of Diamonds (2:46)
- Restless Spirit (2:54)
- Telecaster (3:36)
- Paradise (3:05)
- Bucket And The Boot (3:21)
- The Blues (3:05)
- Silver Tongue (3:27)
Total runtime: 35:19
I’ll always advocate that you take the time to listen to every album in its entirety. This process is usually an hour or less from start to finish. Along the way, you’ll discover your own favorite songs without influence or bias of others. After a few listens on my own, the songs that are highlighted in green font above are my favorite songs on the album.
For more on the band, including where to find more of their music on their informative website here!
After you’re done perusing their site, the band’s Bandcamp site is awesome. One of the best I’ve seen in awhile, and can be found here: right here.
The artist has graciously shared some tour dates with us. If you’re anywhere nearby, check them out!
Thank you for reading and supporting good music.
Until next time,
Alex
Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site, scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions and SWT Interviews. And all of our socials.
Questions, feedback, or more? Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com
