The Sky Chiefs are setting up to release their self-titled debut album, which will be out on February 13th. They are, though, more than worthy of attention because they consist of a duo already known in Americana circles for their previous work. So, who are these mystery men? Only Richmond, Virginia-based artists Stephen McCarthy (The Long Ryders, The Jayhawks) and Kevin Pittman (The Dads). This isn’t some sudden coming together are The Sky Chiefs – in the early 1990s, the pair holed up in a 100-year-old bungalow that doubled as a recording studio, songwriting lab, late-night speakeasy, and occasional test site for neighbour complaints. Over the course of a year, they cranked out two dozen songs full of blood harmony, vintage country twang, and Telecasters loud enough to wake the departed. Then, life happened. The record got shelved, the tapes vanished, and decades passed. The album was lost until this year, when the original recordings magically resurfaced in a friend’s sweltering attic.
The second single from the album is ‘Engines‘ which paints a portrait of resilience, of a spirit worn down emotionally and mentally, yet one that moves forward toward the promise of something better just beyond the horizon. The track features antique pump organ, gut-string guitar, and lap steel, creating a wheezing, warm-toned soundscape that feels like a Wild West carnival drifting through the clouds.
