49 Winchester is the best of Appalachian country soul music you can find right now. Their sound is a unique combination of sticky barroom floor rock-n-roll, alt-country, and folk. Based in Russell County, Virginia this 5-man band is simultaneously reinventing and carrying on the music traditions of their region. They formed back in 2015 on Winchester Street in Castlewood, Virginia. From this tiny mountain town, they started out as a bunch of neighborhood teens who just wanted to play music together. As Issac Gibson, lead singer, said recently according to 49winchester.com, "As we've aged and matured our sound has gone from a softer place to this grittier, edgier tone that we have now."
49 Winchester is as true as they come, growing together as the original members. With a strong emphasis on their musical brotherhood, they play with a strong passion and comfortable melodies that vary in intensity and context. Bluegrass and country music is simply a part of their DNA and they add an element of soul that creates unforgettable music. I had the pleasure of seeing them back in May of 2023 at the Bluebird Theatre in Denver, CO. These guys easily keep up with sound and look of artists like Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, Colter Wall, and more. Let's dive into a discography that gives you a comprehensive understanding of their style. Note that the order of these tracks takes you on a journey of their storytelling and sound, not chronologically listed.
49 Winchester's Albums:
Fortune Favors the Bold (2022)
III (2020)
The Wind (2018)
49 Winchester (2014)
Long Hard Life (III)
Starting off strong, this track starts off with a gritty sound, using guitar, piano, drums, and bass instrumentals. It paints a vivid picture of a life of difficulty, which discusses the struggles of a man who is facing the consequences of his actions. You can clearly tell throughout the track that there is a particular tension between the desire for a simple, happy life and the actual harsh reality of his situation. "Well, I ain't hurt nobody and ain't nobody hurt me / Until the law man finds my house and hangs me from a tree / For what I've done." There is clearly a looming threat of legal troubles which adds a level of intensity. Further the man thinks about the limited life he has worked hard to make for himself, "And all I got to show is 13 acres of property / Three dogs, two kids, and one wife." The juxtaposition between his personal goals throughout the track and the constraints in front of him creates the core theme of the song. This song willl resonate with anyone who has faced challenges in the pursuit of a more meaningful life. Being the very first track on 49 Winchester's album, III, it sets a very compelling tone for the rest of their third album.
Damn Darlin' (Fortune Favors the Bold)
This song is from their most recent album, Fortune Favors the Bold. It is track 6 out of 10, and has a very somber tone. This beautiful ode to heartbreak is set in a Nashville honky-tonk, and occurs on Christmas Eve in 1995. The man is trying to nurse his broken heart and finds some support/peace in the "neon lights". But as the singer puts it, "Neon never looked so dim to me." The heartache this man is experiencing is so tangible as the lyrics talk about the isolation of being left in the bar, reopening his tab. There is a subtle reference to Hank Williams Jr, "And then that tear that Hank talked about, fell right on in / Out of your eye and over the rim / Of that glass that just became your only true friend / Hearts break harder, at the old Exit/In/", that adds a layer of country music nostalgia. The intensity and essence of heartbreak is echoed throughout the entirety of the track and the fact that the location he is at (Nashville) will be forever connected to that heartbreak.
All I Need (Fortune Favors the Bold)
This short but sweet track can also be found within their newest album. The singer talks about life on the road and how being with his bandmates, playing their music, and travelling the country is "all [he] need[s]". This repetitive song reinforces his love for life on the road, despite the band not having big, crazy success. He thrives off of the thrill of playing live and fulfilling his dream.
Russell County Line (Fortune Favors the bold)
This is 49's top song. It needs to be included in an overview of the band not for that fact alone, but because this song is truly the heart and soul of the band. Being based in Russel County, Virginia, this song pay homage to their love for their home. This track explores the profound journey of life and love. "And I have traveled such a distance / Just to see the smile that's on your face / And I have traveled far and wide, and I have died / And lived and flown through time and space." The lyrics beautifully describe a deep sense of longing. It dives deep into an image of enduring challenges that have "planted seeds of hope / and from them grew the flowers of our love." It also touches on life on the road, relating to "All I Need", regardless it describes home as a warm sanctuary that will forever be important to the singer. This song, especially after listening to 49 Winchester as a whole, will bring a tear to your eye. You can tell how much this song means to them.
Hays, Kansas (III)
This absolute gem has such an enticing sound. It is clearly preformed with so much passion, you can feel it when listening. The track paints a picture of a small town community where everyone knows each other's secrets and stories. There is clearly mixed emotions about this town, as there is a love for it but an unfulfilled longing for something more. This raw and soulful melody has very impressive guitar and percussion performance. According to Old Time Music, the inspiration behind this song was the desire to capture feelings of nostalgia that are both sweet and sad, as the members of 49 Winchester reminisce about the small towns they grew in. It truly speaks to the universal experience of searching for purpose and identity.
Annabel (Fortune Favors the Bold)
This song is the epitome of loneliness and regret. It recounts a painful breakup between two people who clearly loved each other but had different ideas of what they wanted. It takes the listener on a journey of being trapped by their own flaws and the deep pain that the singer feels after realizing their inability to change cost them a real love.
Raleigh (III)
This track echoes the theme of the previously mentioned track, Annabel. The difference in this track is that the singer seems to be desperately begging for a second chance. There is acknowledgement of past mistakes and a promise to make things right. I love the nod to George Jones, "Thank God the jukebox had George Jones", seeming almost like an indication of comfort in his time of deep sadness. The guitar and percussions are soulful and truly reflect the internal turmoil likely going on in the singer's mind.
Blue Ribbon Blues (49 Winchester)
This track is the best song on their very first album, 49 Winchester. As mentioned in the introduction, lead singer, Issac Gibson, believes that their first album was on the softer side. This soulful blues song tips it's hat to Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and the longing for intoxication. The singer talks about numbing their despair with "bourbon or gin" and a recollection of their past of trying and failing. Regardless, there is a tone that hints at a yearning for redemption.
So Damn Sweet (The Wind)
This tender song highlights the simple yet meaningful joys that are found in a truly loving relationship. It expresses a cute gratitude for a partner who accepts and almost cherishes the imperfections of a person and/or a relationship. There is a repetition of "She's just so damn sweet", that reinforces the singer's deep admiration for the warmth that the partner brings to their life. There is a beautiful comfort in the small things, and that love sometimes can't be adequately described in words.
Last Call (Fortune Favors the Bold)
A fun and funky sound, this song will make you want to jump up and start dancing! In this country bop, there is a strong sense of camaraderie and enjoyment where the singer doesn’t want to leave the bar. "And I'd rather be here than anywhere that I can think of / And I'm probably gonna be here until they throw me out / 'Cause last call don't mean not one damn thing to me / Well it's just another cue for me to go get my next round." There is almost a plea to keep the rounds coming and the music and dancing going. There is a repetition of "Well it's just another cue for me to go get my next round," at the end of the song, showing a stubbornness and reluctance to be done for the night.
This 49 Winchester discography highlights the sound that is the fabric of their art. The lyrics they use include a longing for comfort in places and people, capturing their values of love and resilience in the face of adversity. The honky-tonk narratives resonate with the widley understood human desire for connection and solace. They perform with such authenticity and raw emotions, recounting relatable experiences. This defines the 49 Winchester sound and style. They are powerful storytellers that use catchy tunes ranging from somber to fun sounds. There is an understanding that with 49 there will be both joy and heartbreak, which is a beautiful meatphor of life as a whole.
49 Winchester at Bluebird Theatre in Colorado, May 2023
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