PlusOnce a week, AK employee Michael Fuchs-Gamböck speaks to music greats. The trio High South from Nashville see themselves in the tradition of the “Woodstock generation”.
When asked if the Nashville-based trio High South feels connected to the tradition of West Coast rock a la Eagles or Crosby, Still, Nash, he can’t help but laugh out loud before answering: “We see ourselves in the tradition of freedom, optimism and adventure,” says vocalist, guitarist and harmonica player Jamey Garner cheerfully. “Our four albums so far stand for more than music, they embody a philosophy of life. Similar to the beatnik classic novel On The Road by Jack Kerouac that I recently discovered. Jack, like us, is about pure curiosity about life.”
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Even the nasty corona virus couldn’t corrupt the unbroken vitality of the threesome. “Instead, we composed songs that sound heavier and grittier than anything we’ve heard before. The main thing is that the melodies are right and invite you to sing along or whistle.”
The beauty of the melody is in the foreground with High South
Garner sees High South in the tradition of the “Woodstock generation”. “Not only musically, but also in terms of the lively ideology,” says the mid-forties enthusiastically. “Back then there was so much lightness, so much spirit of optimism, so much intoxicating naivety in the air. Anyone who calls us “hippies” is running into open doors.” In terms of sound, the three have indeed internalized a lot of the sounds of the Byrds, the Doobie Brothers, America or Lovin’ Spoonful. “These are all groups that have developed wonderful polyphonic vocal harmonies. The beauty of the melody is in the foreground throughout. That is also our creed.”
When it was founded around ten years ago, Garner and his colleagues were still working as a quartet. “But we found out relatively quickly,” says the band leader, “that the three of you work much more concentrated and get to the point better. Especially on stage you have to be able to rely extremely on the other person, otherwise there is no dynamic.”
Jeremy and the guys from High South sing tunes non-stop, “because when I was a kid, I used to crow up and down the radio top ten in the car on trips with my parents. I often felt like a personified jukebox.”
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The sound of the 70’s brings a lot of joy to High South
Why does the High South enjoy the sound of the 70’s so much? “Because we like organic songs,” enthuses Jeremy. “And that is preferably anchored in that decade. The pieces have an extreme recognition value. We really like it.”
Where does the band get inspiration for new songs from? “Since all three of us compose, I can only speak for myself,” says Garner. “Each of us has our own way of coming up with ideas. For example, I’m the inspired poet who copied a lot from Willie Nelson. Apart from that, we discuss a lot and heatedly until the completion of a new disc.” Jamey and his people are proud of having “persevered in this shark industry” for ten years, he says not without grimness. “As a rule, we allow ourselves to make mistakes once so that we don’t repeat them afterwards.”
The greatest joy at the moment is the expectation of the tour across the planet in summer. “I can’t wait to face the gang of fans again,” Garner grins broadly via Zoom. “What a gift these guys are.”