“Just a dude pushing through to the end of the in-between”.
A sexagenarian dude no less, nobody can argue that Kevin Gordon is anything but tenacious. For the best part of thirty years Gordon has put words and music to “all that old southern shit”. An inspiration to the likes of Lucinda Williams, Jim Lauderdale and Aaron Lee Tasjan, his duet with Williams, ‘Down the Well’ is a great song, brilliantly covered by the Hard Working Americans in happier times. ‘The In Between’ is Gordon’s first full-length album since 2018. The liner notes on the record thank several oncology doctors explaining the years in between.
Of the themes on ‘The In Between’ Gordon writes retrospectively about his early punk rock days, family trauma, heartbreak, raising his children in Nashville, his cancer and how others cope and get by. ‘The In Between’ adds a few narratives to Faulkner’s aphorism, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past”. And Gordon has lost none of his lyrical wit. The first couple of tracks are great and have been really well mixed by Tchad Blake. Guitars, drums and bass were completed for most of others prior to Gordon’s cancer treatment meaning that precise moment-in-the-studio sound is sometimes lacking. But the musicianship is excellent and the album has been lovingly produced by Joe V. McMahan.
Lead single and album opener, ‘Simple Things’, might be considered just another song written during the pandemic but it takes on a whole new meaning knowing that Gordon has had to withstand radiation and chemotherapy since. It’s a rocker with the memorable lines: “Normal’s never gonna be the same/ But maybe soon I can hold your hand/ Drink a beer in a bar and hear a rock n’ roll band”.
‘Keeping my Brother Down’ is not subtle but it is a worthwhile listen, stuffed as it is with historical and contemporary references. It’s definitely heartfelt, the engine room’s stoked and you hope Gordon’s pipes will survive to the end, helped home by Adrienne Reagon’s soulful voice. ‘The In Between’ has some lovely tenor guitar from Gordon and pedal steel from the wonderfully named Fats Kaplin. It’s a slow burner that unavoidably brings to mind a man from Jersey. ‘Love Right’ is an enjoyable, nostalgic rock n roller. Lines from ‘The In Between’ and ‘Love Right’ mention staying with your partner for 30 years. He sure must be doing something right. Meanwhile, Gordon sings, “You can’t erase your mess/ But you can sure change your address”. ‘Tammy Cecile’ is hilarious. Fats Kaplin now adept on fiddle. Great lines once again. “Tammy Cecile/ We had the requisite break-up sex/ Just a couple of naked wrecks/ Laid out on your floor” and “First name twangs like a country tongue/ Middle name like some French ideal/ Tammy Cecile”.
Then the album’s tempo becomes a bit hit and miss. But ‘Marion’ is worth a mention, remembering the Aids pandemic of the 1980s. It’s very Costello-like, brave and clever songwriting. You have to admire Gordon’s longevity, resilience, and talent. Rolling Stone once called him a Juke Joint Professor. Here’s hoping the dude’s got a few more years at the lectern. He’s earned it.
