Album Stream – Sage Meadows “River Roads”
Inspired by the mountains, valleys, streams, and roads that the residents of rural Southern Oregon and Northern California pray for safe passage on as they try to scratch out livings in some of the most treacherous terrain in the Western United States, singer/songwriter Sage Meadows with aid from her band High Country serenade the rugged landscapes of the American West, while telling real stories of love, struggle, and loss in the new album River Roads.
Raised on Waylon Jennings and riverside gold claims in the tiny, isolated community of Forks of Salmon, California, Sage Meadows eventually made her way north of the California border where her memories manifested into an authentic country music narrative that has named her to many as the “Emmylou Harris of Southern Oregon.” From the immediately-identifiable honky tonk edge of songs like “Portland” and “Bluebird,” to the rockabilly influence of “Cousins,” to the more progressive approach of “Settle Down,” Sage Meadows satiates every segment of the country music palette with her sincere songwriting and a soaring voice.
You can stream River Roads in its entirety below, but please feel free to support this artist if the music speaks to you.
Purchase River Roads from Sage Meadows
Purchase on CD Baby
Buy on iTunes
(Disclaimer: I, Trigger, had a very small hand in this album, so no review or rating will be given for “River Roads.”)
October 19, 2013 @ 9:29 am
That’s some good stuff! Love the steel guitar work- know who the player is?
October 19, 2013 @ 9:35 am
It’s a guy named Aaron Alkire, and he’s killer. One of the things I love about steel guitar players is the good ones always seem to be the most unassuming, humble guys that blend into the background, don’t care for the big name recognition, and just lay down the best licks like it’s nothing. Buddy Emmons and Ralph Mooney did that for 60 years.
October 19, 2013 @ 10:27 am
Great Stuff Trigger!
October 19, 2013 @ 12:42 pm
Excellent. I’ll have to look him up and see what else he’s played on. Thanks for the info, and thanks for posting the album!
October 19, 2013 @ 11:44 pm
Trigg, I know that your plate is more than full; however I think a weekley 1 hour podcast would be HUGE for us diehards.
October 20, 2013 @ 12:40 am
I would love to start up the podcast again. The problem is, so few people were listening compared to if I spent that time writing an article, I just didn’t see the point. I’ve had some offers to do some bigger radio stuff, but I’m just not sure if that’s where I want to spend my time. I’m a writer first and foremost. But some stuff may be brewing this winter, and maybe we’ll see with all the attention the site’s been getting if the podcast can stick. Stay tuned, and thanks for the interest.
October 19, 2013 @ 10:30 am
Had to buy Lovers Moon..can’t stop listening. Want to share the chords? Steel player is unreal….
October 19, 2013 @ 2:45 pm
Man this is amazing stuff. This is why I come here, not sure I’d find this stuff otherwise
October 19, 2013 @ 3:16 pm
Disclaimer: I, Trigger, had a very small hand in this album, so no review or rating will be given for “River Roads.”)Disclaimer: I, Trigger, had a very small hand in this album, so no review or rating will be given for “River Roads.” –
tambourine?
October 19, 2013 @ 3:18 pm
really enjoyed the album its perfect for a Saturday afternoon
October 19, 2013 @ 4:54 pm
Amen on the steel guitar. That is fantastic. I live not too far from Forks Of Salmon and I have never heard of her. For what it is worth, I packed into the headwaters of the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River just this past Tuesday. The mountains are gorgeous out there. I think I will pop up to Ashland for a show. Thanks for highlighting this album!
October 19, 2013 @ 8:01 pm
Sweet vocals, and nice sound overall — thanks for sharing, Trig! 🙂
October 19, 2013 @ 10:20 pm
Nice songs! I can definitely relate to the tale of heading south from Portland!
Who did the drum work on this album, by the way?
October 20, 2013 @ 12:33 am
It’s good to hear from you Eric.
October 22, 2013 @ 3:32 pm
I think you just answered the question of what Trigger’s “very small hand” in the album was.
October 20, 2013 @ 5:54 am
Great Music! Thanks for the share.
October 20, 2013 @ 5:53 pm
I have to admit.. I am quite tired of hearing what artist’s were raised on.. Its an overused statement trying to add some sort of credibility that usually gives me a negative of them from the get go. I’d rather hear someone say they were raised on Rascall Flatts and they decided it was garbage and that they wanted to play real country music..
However in regards to Sage’s music.. I dig it..!
October 20, 2013 @ 7:27 pm
I’m tired of hearing what an artist was raised on when it’s the artist themselves ramming that info down my throat in for what all intents and purposes is an arena rock song. In this case, it was my intent to set context. This is a very personal album from Sage Meadows, and the songs and words relate very intimately to who she is and where she’s from.
October 20, 2013 @ 8:39 pm
I’m not knocking the gal man.. As I said, I like her stuff.. I didn’t even know it was you who wrote that as I thought you may have copied her bio.. But with that said that I’ll tell you right now how much that line is overplayed because honestly I thought it was her bio line that someone else did for her. You’re a good writer, you can come up with something better than that to say something about an artist you believe in. Part of your goal here is to get some exposure to artists who wouldn’t typically get it right? Well do it in a way that doesn’t make them sound like every other cat out there. Keep it up dude.. I’m not putting you down..
October 21, 2013 @ 6:19 am
“What an artist was raised on” to Me anyway tells Me wether or not I may be interested in the story. Sorry Charlie…but not all the best stories are chicken of the sea?
October 24, 2013 @ 3:03 pm
Like the album overall, but her voice leaves something to be desired – it gets pretty thin at the edges of her limited range. Songwriting and arrangements are pretty good. I too dig that steel guitar.
April 24, 2017 @ 2:57 am
You must be deaf or just a jealous idiot ! she has a beautiful voice. The steel player is great but its her music a soul behind the works. You need to think before you comment about what you obviously know nothing about.
October 25, 2013 @ 8:35 am
WOW! Thanks Trigger. This is great stuff and will make my morning drive a lot smoother. I’m a native Oregonian, so I hope I can see her live sometime.