Accessible soulful heartfelt Rust Belt americana that demands attention from needle drop to run-out groove.
Raise high the red, white, and blue swallowtail of the Ohio burgee (the only non-rectangular state flag in the union); you’re in for some soulful, heartfelt Rust Belt americana from Shannon Clark. His hometown is Greenville, at the western edge of the Buckeye State, almost nudging the Indiana state line, around 30 miles northwest of Dayton. Clark’s latest is bang on target, as true as the aim of sharpshooter Annie Oakley, aka Little Sure Shot, star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, who rests in peace in Greenville alongside her husband and fellow marksman Frank Butler.
Music is a family business for Clark. His mother was a DJ on duty on the decks of local classic rock and country stations in the ’90s. A fellow member of his church congregation, Brittany, was enlisted as the drummer for his first band, a musical partnership that later progressed to marriage vows. A tragic family bereavement saw Clark take a break from music, but his eldest daughter, Navie, encouraged him to start playing again. First up, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, came From Memorial Hall (The Sugar Sessions), recorded ‘live’ but without audience at Greenville’s Memorial Hall. Clark’s band, The Sugar, included Brittany on drums and Navie on keys and vocal. The impressive pair of R&B/soul covers included on that recording, Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, and Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine, showcased Clark’s vocal prowess. Studio albums Marks on the Wall (2023) and This Old World (2024) complete the Shannon Clark & the Sugar catalogue.
All You Need To Know, released under Clark’s own name, started life with songs written on a sailing boat with daughter Navie and producer Mark Howard. The resulting material was recorded in Nashville and produced by Clark and Justin Weaver. Clark’s guitar and vocals were accompanied by Weaver (guitar/bass/mandolin/vocal), Josh Hunt (percussion), Dane Bryant (keys), and Matt Combs (strings). In keeping with family tradition, Navie provided additional vocals.
A brief mandolin burst heralds the gritty blue-collar opener Hard Living as Clark sets out his stall. His storytelling shines on Bluest Eyes, “the good, the bad and the in between stuff I call life,” as it is referred to in his bio. This includes both joyful and painful experiences of parenthood – “The kids grew up like Midwest corn/ On a hot August when their second was born/ We lost her to this rocky world/ And that’s all you need to know”. There are generous helpings of infectious tunes and sympathetic instrumental arrangements throughout, such as in Call Me Home, with elements reminiscent of the traditional song Green Rocky Road, and Postcards, which simmers like Springsteen’s I’m On Fire. The rock dials are turned up for Hold On Me, a celebration of long-term love with echoes of Southside Johnny. The gospel tinged Nothing might be a pitch for a wedding first dance, whilst the American public, as well as the current U.S. Administration, will be hoping that all those playing their part for Uncle Sam in the Middle East will be carried home by the Wind.
A quote from Clark’s bio reads, “I wanted this record to be easy to digest, mostly happy and a record you could drive to”. Judging by a recent spin on the M5, his mission has been accomplished. All You Need To Know is highly accessible Heartland rock that demands the listener’s attention from needle drop to run-out groove.
