The Noyes Blog: JT and the Clouds

scattered leaves don't lie
aw' now baby, baby, quit your cryin'
like everything that ever mattered, scit-scat scattered
like every love word you heard
but that's just the way when you walk your days
in the beauty of this world

That's just the way you wander through your days without opening up to the quirky JT and the Clouds and all the folky-roots rock with soul music streaming from their tracks... a music influence ranging from the Band and Gram Parsons to the Talking Heads and the Family Stone.

It was another July apocalypse
Looked out the back window, seen my little 'sis
With her hands to the sky, waitin' on it to burst
So the very first drop to fall would be hers

And the Clouds will unveil their musical creations and revelations on July 10th at Evanston's James Park at 7:30 pm. Come raise your hands to this band with a distinct personality that combines several different musical influences to create a "country-tinged bar rock with surprising range" (Time Out New York). When they say "soul" they mean deep feeling and emotion bursting through instrumentals and lyrics presented to audiences on stages throughout the country since the release of their first album, Delilah, in 2004.

pretty little disappointments all in a row
been about a year since you disappeared through my door
and now you come back with your head on straight,
but I got no love or hate left for you, girl

The release of Delilah was key for The Clouds. Clint Mathis of the west-coast alt-country/roots rag "freight train boogie" called them "simply one of the best bands to ever emerge from the Americana scene."

Shadows of birds, shadows of planes
Invisible lines through sunny days
Nothing no good ever could remain
Oh my darlin' Clementine…
We are lost and gone forever-
But the moving feels fine

They traced their second disc "the city's hot yeah the city's hot" independently at Studio Chicago-- moving through odes of love and hate to the city of their origin. But again, they are itching to escape to the lab to finish recording their third album (by July to be released in September) that is sure to be spliced with "haunted harmonies, strange dissonances... and hard city beats" (website) drawing the admiration of those in and outside the Chi like their second.

Over mountains high and valleys deep
In a restless California sleep
My sister came to me and lit my way
Back to the danger and the love of a July day

Santa Barbara in June, UK in July, and Evanston in-between, JT and The Clouds will surely bring the summer, spellbinding buzz to all with their melodic precision. Americana UK says it: "Half boogie piano, half Memphis soul, plus another half of folky swing . . .The trick that JT & The Clouds pull off is putting soul into the white roots sound, and being as talented at both sides of the equation."

Come share in the love at James Park on July 10th. The lilting tunes and storytelling vocals won't disappoint.