Hello reader,
Welcome back or welcome if this is your first time at SWT.
Today, we’re going to delve into San Gabriel, the solo project of James Bookert, an Oregon-based artist best known for his work as a banjoist with the acclaimed bluegrass band Whiskey Shivers. They’re known for their fusion of Bluegrass, punk, and Americana to make incredible and fast music. Bookert has also collaborated with Ester Dean, Trinidad James, Harvey Mason Jr., DJ Khaled, and Anna Kendrick on the Pitch Perfect 3 soundtrack.
According to his debut album’s press release, Bookert, “After stepping away from Whiskey Shivers and enduring personal health challenges, Bookert began recording the deeply personal debut album —written and produced entirely during off-hours while working at a liquor store in East Austin. Affectionately named after his shifts in the liquor store, San Gabriel’s debut record, Nights and Weekends, is a collection of synth forward optimistically melancholic songs, chronicling Bookert’s tackling of lost love, grief, and grappling with an uncertain future both musically and professionally.”
And thus comes Nights and Weekends out via Share It Music on Friday, August 15th, for your listening pleasure. We’ve mentioned Share It Music label before, and they continue to do fantastic work, sending a portion of the proceeds from album sales to incredible causes. San Gabriel chose AAM (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians), a nonprofit organization that provides access to affordable healthcare for Austin’s working musicians. Truly incredible work that AAM does. For more information about AAM, you can also visit: https://www.myhaam.org
Giving credit where it’s due. Nights and Weekends album credits:
- All songs written, produced, engineered, recorded, and mixed by James Bookert
- Mastered by Jonas W. Karlsson at Northsound
And now for some hype for both your eyes and ears via San Gabriel’s YouTube channel:
The night, West Texas landscape serving as the setting in the video for the opening song and catalyst, “Tape Machine”:
(All rights and credits to San Gabriel)
The gorgeous lake backdrop for the video for the catchy synth-heavy song, “Alone In My Room”:
(All credits and rights to San Gabriel)
The West Texas desert setting for the video for the song, “Play with Fire”:
(All credits and rights to San Gabriel)
The night skatepark setting within the video for the rollicking song, “Running Out Of Time”:
(All credits and rights to San Gabriel)
Overall, Nights and Weekends is one hell of a debut. The album serves as a starting point that sees James Bookert accomplish what some dream of for decades within the industry. There is also room for growth and evolution in future offerings for him. As you listen to the album, I think you’ll notice early on that Bookert has the IT factor. Something that may be difficult to describe, but you know it when you hear and see it. I think charm and charisma are aspects of that factor. I believe that this solo album debut will catapult Bookert into a more household name, although not overnight fame, but rather a significant increase in new fans both within music media and beyond. Yourself included. Those new fans in music media will rave about this album, and hopefully, the music fans will support Bookert on the album supporting tour.
There’s a lot to like about the album’s overall vibe and sound. The vibes are chill at their core, but also offer the listener shimmery, hazy pop, and moments where the synth fully takes over, but you’re on board with it. It works well. This album features lyrics that are devoutly explorative and emotive. Some themes explored include the past (loss, reliving memories and moments), the present (feeling stuck and/or lost, the process of decision-making, uncertainty), and the future (second chances, uncertainty), among others. I know when you listen, you’ll discover a few more. Bookert pens his thoughts out into the open in a fantastic, relatable way. Often they seem carthatic. And serve as examples of his songwriting and songcrafting. Structurally, the beats and accompanying melodies are great throughout the album. The production level is top-notch from song to song. I love how Bookert created these compositions that we, the listener, get to hear in their final form. To me, they are even more impressive given the writing sources of the liquor store gig. The songs truly flow well from one song to the next. Bookert uses refrain in his choruses so damn well to the point that they become earworms in not only your ears but your brain as well. Kudos. It’s a wonderful listening experience.
Nights and Weekends gets 4.5 out of 5 Scum Drops from me. I’m thinking the lower to middle of that range, so somewhere around the 86th to 89th percentile, as I liked it a lot. And you will too. The vibes are right with this one. Some chillwave, some shimmery, some hazy pop, and others darker and more explorative. This is an excellent album from start to finish and one that will be amongst the better new album releases of 2025.
I’m looking forward to more music from Bookert whenever we’re graced with that. This album is worth adding to your collection in the format of your choice. I think the 140 gram vinyl would be a great idea.
I’ll always advocate that you take the time to listen to every album in its entirety. The listening process with Nights and Weekends will take just over 40 minutes from start to finish, less than an hour and a half if you listen back-to-back twice. Along the way, you’ll discover your own favorite songs without the influence or bias of others. After a few listens on my own, I found the songs highlighted in green font below the cover art to be my favorite songs on this album.
Nights and Weekends Track listing (song length)
- Tape Machine (4:14)
- Over My Shoulder (3:44)
- Alone In My Room (3:15)
- Play with Fire (3:08)
- Running Out Of Time (2:53)
- Lost in Translation (0:24)
- Take Me / Leave Me (4:28)
- Close 2 U (3:35)
- Going Nowhere (3:37)
- Elegant Creature (3:50)
- Straight Lines (3:55)
- Say Goodbye (3:35)
- Breathe (3:33)
Total runtime: 41:12
For merch, the latest tour info, and more, check out San Gabriel’s site, follow his Instagram, Facebook, and check his Spotify, YouTube, and Bandcamp for more music. There’s awesome merch there, too.
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
