The Brass Rail – Fort Wayne Indiana – Rock Club dressed up as a dive bar

April 14th, 2009

THE ONLY SONS are:
Kent Eugene Goolsby – Guitar & Vocals
Mike Burgess – Lap Steel & Guitar
Jonathan Merritt – Bass
Blake Loftis – Drums

Currently preparing for the release of its second album on Sophomore Lounge records, The Only Sons have come a long way since the beginning. Kent Goolsby, Blake Loftis and Jonathan Merritt have been playing music together since they were 16 years old.

Throughout their journey, the gang has seen many musicians come and go. Notable for The Only Sons was the loss of fiddle player Rebecca Ryan. However, her replacement by Andrew Mosiman and the solid lap steel/lead guitar sounds of Mike Burgess has left this band with a tight-knit group.

When asked how the alternative country sound of The Only Sons spawned, Goolsby explained that he grew up in a home filled with his parents’ vinyl collection—which included artists such as The Band, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young. Kent said, “I didn’t really get it [Southern music] growing up because I always played punk music. Right around the time that we [his former band] were going in our weirdest direction, I starting thinking that I would just like to write real songs. I started having trouble finding purpose in really weird music. I was just losing my drive.”

This new direction birthed The Only Sons and a few years later its first full-length release, Young Lungs, a nine-song collection that kicks off with the immediately catchy track “Modern Men.” From here, the album progresses through a warm path of poetic lyricism and the Southern sounds that have put Nashville on the map. “Devil Wind,” recorded only with acoustic guitar and Goolsby’s raspy vocals, stands out as an evocative creation. Tracks like “Do You Wrong” and “Bad News” are quickly characterized by demanding lead guitar divisions and driving bass lines. Young Lungs is clearly an album these guys poured a lot of heart into.

Now, less than a year later, The Only Sons is stoked to release its second full-length recording. Focusing more on memorable songwriting and less on poetic verse, Steel Hearts will feature 12 new tracks. While being released as a free download from theonlysons.net, Steel Hearts will also be sold as an album with artwork.

Working with a brand new recording setup at Grand Palace Records seemed to be an amazing experience for the band. Goolsby described Grand Palace as an incredible studio and said, “It was so much fun. I miss it already.” Along with members of The Only Sons, Steel Hearts will feature guest appearances by members of Zombie Bazooka Patrol and some contributing vocals from Joey Kneiser (Glossary). Fans can look for the release in February.

As for the future, The Only Sons plan consists of playing shows, then playing some more shows, and when that is done, playing some more shows. Along with bars and venues, the group also plans to stop by more houses and art spaces on a small February tour. Then in March, the boys will hit the road for a full-blown tour.

-LANDIN E. KING

Lee Miles is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His foray into music began with Dark Blonde Water, a rock band formed in South Bend, Indiana. After the band dissolved Miles recorded his first solo EP, So Much Pain, So Much Sorrow.^[1] Two years later he went on to release a full length LP, Bear, in the wake of a number of personal health problems.^[2] The album would garner the attention of several music publications, who drew comparisons to artists like Bob Dylan and Kris Kristofferson.^[3]

During this time Miles also tried his hand at playing in a full band again, this time under the name of lo.automatic. The group received much praise but limited success during its short lifespan.^[4]

His 2007 release, 1,000 Lions was regarded by the press as “a luminous singer/songwriter album, full of heart, brains, passion, love and hate. Miles’ offering is masterful. It’s also gutsy. And beautiful. And about 997 other things” (Greg Locke, Whatzup).^[5]

Lee Miles signed to Sixty Years War Recordings in the summer of 2007.^[6] His first release for the label, Heathen Blux gained positive attention from the press almost immediately.^[7]

“The hushed tones and careful strumming that dominated ’1,000 Lions’”, one reviewer said, “[have] been replaced by thicker melodies and a fuller sound.”^[8]