While we patiently wait for Oklahoma singer/songwriter/rocker Beau Jennings to finally get his due from everyone who listens to and cares about great Americana music, you should gladly immerse your ears and brain in the brilliance of his newest album, “American Stories Major Chords” (Black Mesa Records, 2024). It’s the kind of record that stretches out as Jennings weaves stories of the local characters in his hometown of Norman (Go Sooners!) into his songwriter quilt, and the result is a gratifying collection of outstanding songs. Why should we expect anything less from the artist who has consistently put out exemplary music in albums such as “Heavy Light,” “Sweet Action” and “Thunderbird” with his band The Tigers, along with four solo albums and a collection of non-album singles. You can find all of this music on his Bandcamp page or website.
Jennings was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma but has lived for a little while in Austin and in Brooklyn, fronting an indie rock-Americana band called Cheyenne. He is now back in Oklahoma where he held a weekend of record release shows for “American Stories”. His most recent performance was a hometown show at an old train station turned listening room venue in Norman. “I feel like the Oklahoma music scene feels unique to me,” he muses. “There is something strangely unique about the town that we have here. I don’t know what to attribute that to.”
There’s also something unique yet straightforward in the way Jennings presents his music. “I love a lot of just classic American rock: Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, Johnny Cash. That’s just my favourite stuff to listen to, but thankfully, the band is a little more varied in their influences.”
Make no mistake, though, it’s Jennings’ creativity that comes shining through on his records. At an early age, he began drawing and learned to write his own comic books. He studied architecture in college and still dabbles when he’s not strumming a guitar. The way he began playing is an American story. “In high school, a friend loaned me a guitar. I think I’ve always been more interested in writing,” he admitted, “And my favourite songs were always stories. Those things just came together.”
Jennings recorded his mini-gig at home playing a Gibson Hummingbird he got back in Brooklyn. “I wish I had a cooler story about how I got it, but the truth is I got it at Guitar Center on Atlantic Ave. I’m not the biggest gear guy; it intimidates me for some reason. If I find something I like I use it all the time, almost exclusively. It’s a good instrument though and I’ve written every song since using it. I do kinda wish it had the Emmylou Harris floral pickguard. I suppose I can get that added but again gear scares me so I probably never will.”
Happily, he has no fear of songwriting or performing. His latest album is the audio equivalent of a Jim Jarmusch movie, bathed in vivid details and subtle, vibrant imagery. The songs explore the human psyche through a contemplative and poetic lens that is both distinctive and profound. Like Jarmusch and those songwriters he admires, Jennings is creating art that will last lifetimes.
For this Exclusive AUK Mini-Gig, Jennings plays three of his songs. ‘American Stories Major Chords’ was co-written with his bandmate and drummer Dustin Ragland. Here is what he has to say about each of them.
- “American Stories Major Chords” – This song is a collection of vague scenes and snapshots from a specific night I remember very vividly. I usually relish in the details of people and places but here it felt right to keep it a little broader. That balance is probably something I think about more than anything when I write.
- “Oklahoma Heat” – A number of folks have commented on the bleak outlook of this song since it was released and I won’t pushback on that too hard, however I thought I kinda offered some redemption there at the end. He doesn’t give up. I remember a documentary about the Dust Bowl era and how people refused to leave. That stuck with me.
- “May This Song Be In Your Heart” – I wrote this for my son.
