Julian Davis Proves He’s One to Watch with “Make Americana Great Again”
With so many albums being released every week—especially now that anyone with a laptop can make a record and get it on the internet—tribute albums, compilations, live albums, acoustic albums, live acoustic albums, and records that feature mostly cover songs all have an uphill battle to fight to get heard compared to studio records of original music. And that’s the way it should be. But every once in a while you have a record that comes by that breaks this mold, and that’s the case with Make Americana Great Again by Julian Davis and his Hay-Burners.
There are now so many versions of standards from the American country, bluegrass, and old time songbook, it is an art and discipline in itself to find ways to squeeze new life out of old songs, and one so few have mastered. It’s fun for artists to play cover songs, but it’s rare that it results in anything exceptional or original for the audience these days.
But this Julian Davis record draws you in almost immediately and never lets you go. It’s the incredible enthusiasm for the material that drips off of these recordings, it’s the astounding instrumentation that enhances these timeless compositions, it’s presenting a new standard in the adeptness with which these songs are interpreted, and it’s Julian’s uncanny, almost ghost-like singing that breeds something that is as original as it is warmly familiar.
It’s hard to know if the topmost praise for Julian should lie with his flatpicking guitar skills, which rise to the peak of that discipline where it’s truly impossible to physically move fingers any quicker than he can, while also knowing how to instill taste and melody into the runs—or whether it’s his other-worldly ability to channel the by-gone legends of American roots music and make a collage of their greatest attributes accumulated into one voice every time he opens his mouth to sing. So let’s just call it a draw, and sit back and be stunned.
And after having no choice but to listen to this record multiple times in a row from the infectiousness and energy it renders, possibly the most astounding development is when you start poking around behind-the-scenes to discover that Julian Davis is only 16-years-old. It almost seems impossible, like a Dominican Republic baseball phenom who clearly must be lying on his birth certificate, especially when you hear the maturity in Julian’s singing style.
Make Americana Great Again is a mix of old time country standards, bluegrass numbers like “Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms” and “Freeborn Man,” Western Swing songs such as “Window Faces the South” and “Miss Molly,” and more contemporary covers like Blondie’s “Call Me” and a jumping take on “Midnight Rider.” There is some slow and mid-tempo material here, but speed is definitely an attribute to the Julian Davis and Hay-Burners experience.
And it’s a great band behind him, consisting of Seth Campbell on upright bass, and Shannon O’Shea on a smoking fiddle. And there’s more music where this came from. Another album, though harder to find called Who Walks In When I Walk Out is lurking out there as well, and includes more original material. Stay tuned for a more in-depth analysis of that.
And on top of all of this, apparently Julian Davis is wrapped up somehow in the current season of America’s Got Talent, and will be featured on the show. So who knows where this thing could end up, but Make Americana Great Again is most certainly a very promising start.
1 3/4 Guns Up (8/10)
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June 20, 2016 @ 6:44 pm
Nice!
June 20, 2016 @ 9:13 pm
16? Dare one say, “Protégé?” I’ll most certainly be picking up this release. I can see that Pokey LaFarge influence sneaking in (and I like it). Thank you for sharing this find!
June 21, 2016 @ 4:48 am
Awesome! Trig – please try to give us a heads up if/when you find out when he’ll be on AGT. I don’t pay attention to that show but wouldn’t mind tuning in to support this kid. In the meantime, I’ll pick be picking up a copy from one of the links you provided. Thanks!
June 21, 2016 @ 8:36 am
I’ve never watched the show, but from what I understand, not even the performers know when their auditions will be featured on the show. I guess that’s one way they keep you tuning in.
June 21, 2016 @ 11:05 am
Love that show.. Good time.. I think it is fine family entertainment most of the time.
June 23, 2016 @ 9:19 pm
Hey Trigger. If you want a little info on that first record, hit me up. It was recorded when he was only 15.
June 21, 2016 @ 6:37 am
Phenomenal picker
June 21, 2016 @ 7:45 am
Currently shuffling through both albums “Make Americana Great Again” and “Who Walks in When I Walk Out?” (God, I love my Apple Music subscription…) I agree with everything you wrote. As one who listens to a lot of flatpicking, and is a flatpicker myself, I’m blown away. He’s got the runs and licks down pat. I hear a great deal of Tony Rice influence, especially in songs like “Freeborn Man” (Which, by the way, is on both albums.) He certainly channels up the spirit of Country Music Past. He hear a little Hank in his voice. This is what Americana music sounds like. I was unable to find any track listings with songwriting credits and such, but I did read about his song “Special Delivery”on the “Who Walks In…” album. Has a great gypsy-jazz swing vibe to it. How does a kid get this good at such a young age?
Thanks for turning me on to this kid’s music!
June 21, 2016 @ 8:40 am
I met him at my band’s recent gig at Westport Saloon in Kansas City, total sweetheart! Hanging out and ‘passing the guitar around’ upstairs at Little Class Records before we played, Julian just blew everyone away with his picking. He deserves all the support we can give him so thanks for the review Trigger!
June 21, 2016 @ 11:08 am
Was waiting for this. He’s from my hometown of Pittsburg, KS and I’ve been following from KC for a couple years.
He’s got what it takes.
June 21, 2016 @ 11:48 am
We just saw him at Nashville Boogie. Phenomenal talent…hard to believe he’s only 16! The guy plays like lightning…saw him break guitar strings and never quit picking, just used the remaining strings. He definitely likes to play western swing style which is extremely welcome to my ears, I think it’s one of the most neglected music forms. He can bluegrass with the best of em as well although I think his audience is more likely going to come from the roots rockabilly and vintage country fans. Love bluegrass but the hardcore grass fans tend to think narrowly, if it ain’t Flatt and scruggs or Bill Monroe don’t waste their time ! Anyhow , it’s refreshing to see a kid discovering forgotten music like this.
June 21, 2016 @ 4:00 pm
See?????!!! See?!!!!!!!!
THIS is the kind of young person I want in Country Music, not twenty-something Miley Cyrus stunt-doubles or whatever the heck Kane Brown is…
This is exactly what I like, even though a part of me hates being out-flat-picked by someone so much younger than I am… I LOVE IT.
June 21, 2016 @ 6:27 pm
Thanks so much for the great, honest review. Julian is as authentic as they come. As his record label and management, we still can’t even say how this young child has such an old soul. Keep your eye on this one folks.. He’s going to be huge.
June 22, 2016 @ 9:38 am
Now we’re talking.