It seems a bit odd to be writing this feature about an artist who is signed to Rounder Records and had his debut produced by T Bone Burnett. The paradox with Ledger is that despite this, not that many people know about him and his work.
Ledger grew up in the San Francisco Bay area as a Bob Dylan fan who drilled into the background of his songs and found a trove of roots music. He was also a film buff and studied film at university before moving to Nashville to follow his muse as a bluegrass guitar player. There he met Burnett and joined his band for a few years. An injury put a stop – or at least a lengthy hiatus – to that ambition, so Ledger focused on being a singer-songwriter and, with support from Burnett, who produced his self-titled debut.
“Logan Ledger” came out on 3rd April 2020, just as the world had locked down for the COVID-19 pandemic. The album captures the essence of Ledger’s music. Nine of the album’s eleven songs are written by Ledger. The musical backing comes from an all-star cast assembled by Burnett: Dennis Crouch, Marc Ribot, Jay Bellerose and Russ Pahl. The songs are a very Californian take on classic country and range from the almost whimsical to the quite dark.
Throughout, though, it’s Ledger’s voice and delivery that grab the listener’s attention. The opening track, ‘Let The Mermaids Flirt With Me’, has a dreamy quality with an almost woozy feel, reminiscent of some of Fred Neil’s work.
The second song, ‘Starlight’, sounds like it could have been written in the 1950s and underpins Logan’s classic country credentials.
The penultimate song on the debut is a co-write with Steve Earle in which the song’s narrator is incarcerated in Alcatraz, gazing at the twinkling city over the bay. ‘The Lights Of San Francisco’ is a wonderfully evocative song, and its five minutes are gone way too soon.
During the pandemic, Ledger put in an appearance on the Camden venue, the Green Note’s streaming channel, Virtually Green Note, and wowed viewers. The comments in the broadcast chat were both complimentary and enthusiastic.
Ledger’s follow-up album, “Golden State”, was released three years after his debut. The record was produced by Shooter Jennings at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, with a Jennings’ Werewolves of Los Angeles rhythm section, Ted Russell Kamp and Jamie Douglass, Nick Bockrath on guitar, and Pahl returning on pedal steel. Jennings contributes piano.
Once again, though it’s Logan’s voice that shines, whether it’s the folky title track, the twangy ‘All The Wine in California’, or the nightclub smoky ‘Midnight In LA’.
He also duets with Erin Rae on the delightful ‘Some Misty Morning’.
Ledger is currently touring as part of Margo Price’s band, playing guitar, providing backing vocals and acting as Price’s foil in duets. Hopefully, this exposure will encourage a wider appreciation of Ledger’s music.
Regardless, though, he is a seriously talented singer, songwriter, and musician; listening to whose music will be time very well spent.
Such a great choice – Logan is a criminally underrated artist! And Golden State is such a special album