Grackles

They came with no warning, or maybe they had been here all along. The sky went dark and the dust from construction sites billowed below like sprouting fungi to the lower levels of the cranes, bars, fancy restaurants and hollowed offices. The ancient swooping sound filled out hearts with an aching for somethin better, somethin real, something our parents talked about their parents dreaming about. Then it was gone, the sky went hazy and everything was anything but what it had been.

In October of ‘22, in Arlyn Studio, Austin, Texas a recording session became a band. Drummer Jimmy Paxson was finishing a leg of his world tour with The Chicks at Austin City Limits Festival. Jimmy was in contact with Jason Mozersky, his Grammy award winning guitar player and bandmate from Ben Harper. Jason discussed with Kyle Crusham, producer for Paul Simon and Edie Brickle getting together to do some recording and lastly songwriter and indie rock musician Noah Lit (Oliver Future, Noah and the MegaFauna) was added to the mix. With the band in place, they looked to Noah, now a restaurateur in Austin, and way, way out of the music business, to write some tunes. “The band was ready to rock, and they looked at me and said, ok Noah, go write some songs” explains Noah. Never one to back away from a challenge, Noah dug deep into his musical former self, woodshedded, and pulled 13 songs out of the ether, that became GRACKLES.

The music leans heavily into Noah and Jason’s many years in Austin. Dark blues rhumba with country ballads. Singer songwriter aesthetics meet blazing guitar solos and danceable 12 bar tunes. Hammond B3 drives the vintage guitars, and Beatles-esque 12 string Rickenbackers, while string sections sweep above in Roy Orbison arrangements. Noah leans into a deeper, lower register croon and growl. Part Leonard Coen, part snarling dog, the lyrics flow like shoal creek over limestone. Guest vocals by Kat Edmonson and Lauren Harris, add ethereal chords, and full throated whimsy.

The live band is an 8 piece country, rock, blues explosion. Their sold out first show at the iconic Antone’s, downtown Austin brought echos of old Austin into a new updated package. Like a classic car with a Tesla Engine, Grackels is all that was classic Austin, with thoroughly modern vibes.

The album with be released on Vinyl and through all major streaming services November 14, 2023.