Jon Pardi Surprises & Pays Tribute w/ “Rancho Fiesta Sessions”
There once was a time in country music when you couldn’t even consider receiving a record deal, or a slot on a major tour, or radio play, or a Grand Ole Opry berth until you put in untold hours cutting your teeth on country music classics and cultivating your chops. For many of today’s country stars, they couldn’t fathom having to put in 5,000 hours in honky tonks before receiving catering before every performance. But for interior California’s Jon Pardi, those days of paying tribute never ended.
We shouldn’t be surprised that Jon Pardi is one of the few new mainstream stars who can rattle off a handful of country classics at a moments notice. He’s about as traditional as mainstream country gets. Hell most of today’s radio stars have little to no idea who Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakam, or the late great Joe Diffie even are, let alone can light into songs from their repertoire at a moment’s notice. But leave it to Pardi to pay tribute to these legends, along with George Strait, Keith Whitley, and even Tom Petty and Prince on his surprise album, Rancho Fiesta Sessions.
Keep your expectations in line with the spirit of the project, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what this little eight-song release has in store. Produced by Pardi himself, and recorded during a one-night live jam session with his touring band at his home in Nashville (a.k.a. “Rancho Fiesta”), it certainly captures some rough and rowdy moments with of a bunch of guys just hanging out, cracking beers, and careening in and out of the cuts they love to play when they get to play what they want.
Rancho Fiesta Sessions is another COVID-19 special, meaning it was recorded to keep Pardi and his crew from going crazy, and to remind you they’re still around since the quarantine is keeping them off the stage. We’ve received plenty of these releases lately, and few if any of them are anything spectacular. But you can’t judge them beside proper studio releases where years are spent vetting and refining songs before recording them in a major studio. This is a screw off, and that comes through in some of the audio quality, and the (lack of) seriousness brought to the effort. But that’s also what’s cool about it, because it captures Pardi and the boys in their element without any pretense, overdubs, or bullshit.
Jon Pardi fans will be more than happy to finally have proper recordings of his take on Merle’s “The Bottle Let Me Down,” and Dwight’s “Honky Tonk Man”—two fellow Californians that critically influenced a young kid from the small town of Dixon. In fact if you’re a Pardi fan exclusively, you’ll find little to complain about. You were just gifted an unexpected album from one of your favorite artists, covering some of your other favorite artists. Life is good.
But some of the criticisms that have hounded Pardi since the beginning about the lack of distinctness and presence with his voice won’t be helped by the bad acoustics and poor mix the live room resulted in on Rancho Fiesta Sessions, while his cynics will wonder why they need another version of “Marina Del Ray,” and why he’s going anywhere near a song once recorded by Sinead O’Connor.
But this record isn’t for them anyway. It’s for the hardcore Jon Pardi fans to tide them over until life returns to normal. And not just with COVID-19, but the new streaming model that compels and in some ways necessitates artists continue to release music on a regular basis, don’t be surprised if we see more and more of these kinds of releases in the future. It’s also Pardi paying tribute to his heroes, which nobody should get in the way of.
But maybe mostly importantly, Rancho Fiesta Sessions is for Jon Pardi himself, and his band, to have a little fun, to blow off a little COVID steam, and keep from going crazy. They just allowed the rest of us to peer in and join the party. (Or “Pardi”? No, let’s not go there.)
1 1/2 Guns Up
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Purchase Rancho Fiesta Sessions
August 20, 2020 @ 11:30 am
I dig this idea. I’d rather have a project like this vs most “new” country out there.
August 20, 2020 @ 11:32 am
Its fun for what it is. Of course it sounds like an average bar band doing covers, but I like that kind of thing live. Two stepping around the floor at a honky tonk, with a band like this playing classics , is a great night out for me and The Mrs. Add some cold ones in between songs and it doesn’t get much better!
I like Pardi. Heartache Medication is a pretty good tune. Hes not gonna blow you away with an epic voice but he is entertaining and solidly rooted in tradition. Will I buy this? Probably not as I’m not big on all cover albums. But I get it, he was bored and shut in, so this was the end result. And its undeniably country.
August 20, 2020 @ 11:36 am
Fiddle, steel, drums, twangy guitars…sounds a little too country to taint it by association with the mainstream.
I’ve always liked this guy. Fun stuff.
August 20, 2020 @ 11:37 am
(Un-)Popular Opinion: meh.
So the sound is really bad…& it’s not my notebook.
The grating voice of Jon Pardi & the god awful cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U” are the icing on the cake.
“Nothing…” is already on my Worst Song of the Year list.
After hearing Jon Pardi butchering “Somebody’s Doin’ Me Right” i searched my archive for the fine S-K-O (Schuyler, Knobloch & Overstreet) version of the track…released in 1986 on the original S-K-O album. The label was MTM Records & labelmates were Holly Dunn & Judy Rodman.
Paul Overstreet left & Craig Bickhardt took his place for the second & last album No Easy Horses (1987).
S-K-O had a Top 10 hit with the debut single “You Can’t Stop Love” (#9) & #1 hit with the second single “Baby’s Got A New Baby” (still one of my all time favourites).
The two trios had a couple of more hits…but never returned to the Top 10.
August 20, 2020 @ 11:44 am
SKO were great! Good memory there Olar. Thats a group that was short lived but were fantastic , and then forgotten. Kind of like Desert Rose Band till they went their separate ways.
August 20, 2020 @ 12:14 pm
I was 6 years old & we had a weekly one hour radio show on public radio with the current Billboard charts.
Tanya Tucker with “One Love At A Time” is to “blame” for turning me “full-on-country” in ’86. A couple of weeks later S-K-O with “You Can’t Stop Love” was played for the first time.
Glad i have some of the S-K-O tracks on CD & as mp3…& the No Easy Horses CD.
August 21, 2020 @ 2:17 am
Count me in as another who loves S-K-O and S-K-B! Love both songs mentioned, plus “Givers And Takers” when they became S-K-B.
Anyway, I have to agree that “Somebody’s Doin’ Me Right” is not a song really suited for Jon Pardi’s voice. It sounds much better in the hands of a smooth vocalist like Keith Whitley or Paul Overstreet. Actually, Glen Campbell also recorded it on his 1991 Unconditional Love album, and I also like that version, too. Still, it’s nice that we actually have a modern mainstream country artist who even knows that song, let alone chooses to cover it, even though I still prefer the older versions.
August 20, 2020 @ 1:32 pm
I’m in the “meh” camp as well.
Yoakam is a tough vocal cover, and they just didn’t bring anything additional or new to the table on that or the Diffie cover, so I just clicked off of the playlist.
August 20, 2020 @ 5:55 pm
Hank,
Why bring something new to a good cover?
August 20, 2020 @ 9:23 pm
I like when artists reimagine and rearrange songs, especially if they can’t eclipse any aspect of the original.
Some may fall flat, but it’s more interesting than just doing an average cover that only makes people appreciate how good the original is.
I got to the chorus of “The Waiting” before I got the urge to turn it off and just be sad that Petty isn’t around anymore.
August 20, 2020 @ 11:44 am
Been a vocal Pardi detractor, but got no problem with this one. The drums are not overwhelming and the songs themselves are of course fantastic. Plus the feel is… real, honest, and fun.
August 20, 2020 @ 11:45 am
United we Stan
August 20, 2020 @ 12:24 pm
Nope.
August 20, 2020 @ 1:15 pm
Jake, please name one other mainstream act that is as traditional as Pardi is on their music, taste, and production…
I’m waiting….
We all should in some way support Pardi.
Pardi is the only mainstream act to have fiddle on his music.
He’s the real deal. Authentic and soulful in everything he does.
August 20, 2020 @ 2:15 pm
I support him, 100%. And I agree with this last comment of yours. But I also agree with Trigger:
‘“The term ‘Stan’ was never supposed to be a term of endearment, or something to be proud of.”
But whatever, this is a big moment for you I know. I won’t be more of a dick about it. Enjoy dude.
August 20, 2020 @ 3:27 pm
“United we Stan” is meant to be a silly phrase. You can’t take a joke I guess… I thought your “nope” was in opposition of any type of support for Jon. (I didn’t read your above comment first)
August 20, 2020 @ 11:55 am
Trig, back in early July – Pardi revealed on a podcast that a Heartache Medication deluxe album with about 5 new songs was possibly in the works!
I wonder if that project was cancelled in lieu of this Jam Session ep?
Most deluxe albums come out around the 1 year anniversary of the original release date. I would think if a Heart Med. deluxe is being planned, that a fall release would be the plan.
So to the Pardi fans out there… There is a possibility we might get new music again by the end of this year or so.
August 20, 2020 @ 1:14 pm
We still may get a deluxe edition. We’ll have to see. Album has been lagging a bit.
August 20, 2020 @ 1:20 pm
I assume a deluxe edition would help the “lagging” numbers.
California Sunrise never had a deluxe.. But it didn’t need a sales boost.
Fyi to others, the album is usually #45-ish each week on the Billboard top Country Charts. It’s nearly a year old. However, California Sunrise is routinely in the Top 30 each week & it’s over 4 years old.
August 20, 2020 @ 1:31 pm
It’s also up for several awards. They might wait until the ACMs awards to announce something , just a guess
August 20, 2020 @ 1:03 pm
I knew he was “The Goods” when he went behind the drums and the band launched into Highway To Hell for an encore here a few years back. Not sure this little cover thing will make my rotation with the enormous amount of new albums we’re currently dealing with. Props to him and the fellas for not lazing around pissing and moaning about not being able to play gigs. I like the effort and will squeeze in a few spins I’m sure.
August 20, 2020 @ 1:52 pm
Sorry, but I love this record. Lots of fun, and great versions of some classics.
Strange to see the criticisms of the production. The first thing that grabbed me on this was the great, full, live sound. Record sounds great to these ears.
August 20, 2020 @ 2:46 pm
Alright review besides Dwight is from Kentucky (I kid in jest since he cut his teeth playing in California)
August 20, 2020 @ 3:25 pm
Dwight grew up in Columbus Ohio. His family moved from KY to Ohio when he was 4. He likes to tell people hes from KY though, more hillbilly cred than Ohio I guess. He graduated high school and went to Ohio State and dropped out and moved to LA. While in Ohio he had a rockabilly band briefly, but it was in LA where he met Pete Anderson and the rest is history.
August 20, 2020 @ 3:08 pm
It’s great! Go Jon!
August 20, 2020 @ 3:08 pm
Damn! That’s some good stuff! Of course I’m not professional critic either.
August 20, 2020 @ 3:12 pm
I get ads from Main Street Crossing, in Tomball, Tx- the most recent had this guy I’d never heard of. He does a great job on covers-
My grandson was just listening, not watching and told his Dad- that sounds like Pop 😉
Not mainstream for sure.
August 20, 2020 @ 4:56 pm
For the record, so to speak, Honky Tonk Man was a Johnny Horton hit before Dwight covered it. Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers killed it too 🙂
August 20, 2020 @ 6:44 pm
I really think u nailed the review. I enjoyed some things u didn’t..
August 21, 2020 @ 8:16 am
I see what u did there…
August 20, 2020 @ 8:11 pm
Hey Trig,
Not to be nit picky here, but I’ve noticed you referring to where he’s from as “interior” california a few times before. I’m sure you are trying to make the distinction between what most people think of when they hear California but being born and raised in the central valley, I gotta say, i’ve never heard “Interior” california. Where he’s from I would say he’s from northern california or near Sacramento as dixon is 30 minutes away or maybe inland california. Solano County hugs the San Fransisco bay. Maybe some other northern Californians can correct me.. Madera county… now thats inland!
August 21, 2020 @ 6:38 am
I agree. I grew up in Bakersfield, and then moved to the Madera/Merced area. Dixon is definitely Bay Area. Everything from Sacramento to Bakersfield is Central California, or The Valley (Short for San Joaquin Valley). Dixon is in between Sacramento and San Fransisco. Technically inner, or inside California I guess, but not far from Frisco.
August 21, 2020 @ 9:24 am
Having spent many years living and traveling through actual Northern California and Southern Oregon—or the State of Jefferson if you will (aka from Redding to Roseburg), I have been corrected often calling Sacramento or San Francisco “northern” California. That’s only northern if you’re not from Yreka.
I agree “interior California” is not a common term and I’m probably not in a position to coin it unilaterally. And yes, I am using it so when I say he’s from California people don’t immediately think either L.A., or even Bakersfield. But I wouldn’t consider Dixon (which I’ve been to) “coastal” either. It’s a pretty agrarian settlement, as that is what I’m trying to imply without going into some lengthy explanation on geography.
So in short, you’re probably right. But I’m just trying to convey he’s from the land of cow pastures, not palm tress.
August 21, 2020 @ 4:31 pm
Hey Trig,
I hear ya on that. Agreed on the northern California part. I could understand why counties north of Sacramento make that distinction.
And I assumed you were making that distinction. I have to make that personal distinction myself daily when speaking with family in Idaho and beyond. When you say California, people automatically think of the big cities and beach lifestyle. I get it, but if they only new there are working cattle operations hugging the central coast and the majority of California is ag.
One things for sure, California is one big ass state and can change drastically driving just 70 miles north of LA.
August 21, 2020 @ 7:07 pm
It seems someone is always wanting to split California, north and south, 7 different states. And everyone is sensitive about which part they belong to. It always seemed to me that there is the coastline and then the rest of the state which is mostly ag or desert. They should just split it down the costal mountain range and call the two states Left California and Right California.
August 21, 2020 @ 11:20 pm
not a bad idea!
I’ve always looked at california split between northern and southern based around weather, terrain and maybe culture. Other large states do the same id say… eastern montana or the texas panhandle etc. even smaller states do it… eastern and western kentucky etc.
For better or for worse, California is the state of factions. I don’t particular care if another californian knows im from kern county. But, when speaking to folks from other states, I make the central valley distinction as most folks seem to have a bad taste of Californians because of places like LA and SF among other things.
August 22, 2020 @ 5:03 am
Yeah but which side do you call Left California and which one Right California? 😉
August 22, 2020 @ 7:09 am
The coast would be left since its already known as the left coast.
I moved to South Carolina a few years ago when I retired. When people ask where I’m from and I say California, I can almost read their minds when they roll their eyes. Another lefty coming to our state to try and change things. I find myself also explaining that I’m from the Central Valley and literally lived surrounded by farms and orchards. No beaches or Hollywood stars in site.
August 23, 2020 @ 2:05 am
the correct term for places like Dixon (and Sacramento) is the Central Valley, home of a HELL of a lot of country music fans across a lot of different small medium and large communities. It’s a vibrant agricultural area with loads of tradition. You won’t be confused with Northern California as in Humboldt or Mendocino or San Francisco if you say Central Valley, everyone who’s been here will immediately get the picture that you’re talking about rural Californians surrounded by farmland.
August 23, 2020 @ 6:19 am
Thanks, noted.
August 20, 2020 @ 10:53 pm
I think he is fine with his original stuff but these songs i guess cause the originals are great i just don’t care for this
August 21, 2020 @ 6:42 am
Could never get into his music or his nasal voice. I think this is probably his best album. He should make more music like this.
August 21, 2020 @ 7:34 am
I used to be against cover albums. I took the view why listen to a cover when you can hear the original. As I have got older that view has lessened. It gives newer fans the opportunity to discover some great songs and learn about some of the legendary artists they might sadly never hear about and would never hear on the radio. It is certainly one way I discovered some of the great older artists such as Johnny Horton through Dwight Yoakam’s cover of Honky Tonk Man. Emmylou Harris introduced me to the Louvin Brothers and others. Jon Pardi is a real country music singer and I can think of few better for such a project. They are just great songs and the covers are fresh and respectful.
August 23, 2020 @ 2:20 am
Someone in the comments complained about his voice. I was thinking the other day that a few of the modern California folks share the same vocal affectation- we don’t have a Southern accent here and young people here don’t have a distinctive rural accent anymore, and that tends to make singers sound a little bit like Bob Dylan imitators. Pardi does it, as does Jesse Daniel, and a number of lesser-known locals I’ve seen. Something something “forward placement” vocals etc
August 23, 2020 @ 10:16 am
I really enjoyed this EP, except for the arrangement of Nothing Compares 2 U, with its loud instrumental fills that seem at odds with the quiet, heartbreak lyric. When I saw that song on the track list, I was hoping Pardi would turn it into more of a country torch song.
August 25, 2020 @ 6:15 am
I listened to him talk about this album on Justin Moore’s podcast. He might not be the most talented vocalist out there, but i respect his trying to keep traditional country alive. There will always be a critic, but i for one would love to see more of this. He talked about making this album in his barn and wanting it to have the feeling of an old 1980’s recording. I dig it.