Review – Country Side of Harmonica Sam’s “Back to the Blue Side”
It seems somewhere between stupefyingly uncanny and outright implausible that the band that’s best suited to recreate the Golden Era of country music in the modern context is an outfit out of Sweden of all places. But this is the unequivocal conclusion you will come to when you give a listen to The Country Side of Harmonica Sam.
From the lyrics, to the music, to the production, and even the clothing and everything else in between, it’s like Harmonica Sam and his band walked straight out of a time portal from 1957, and straight into the hearts of classic country fans who love to hearken back to a more pure time in their favorite genre of music.
On their fourth album called Back To The Blue Side, The Country Side of Harmonica Sam leaves jaws on the ground, boots shuffling across the floor, and hearts filled with a host of classic country songs that prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the sentiments found in classic country about love and heartbreak are truly timeless.
They’re sure to impress you with their interpretations of country music in the past tense, but these songs are not reenactments. Sure, there are couple of covers and classics like “Has Anybody Seen Me Lately” written by Harland Howard and popularized by Hank Cochran. But part of the genius of Harmonica Sam is writing and finding new original songs that slip right into the time period they evoke like they were penned 70 years ago.
To accomplish this, the band paired with another remarkable throwback country performer from Europe in the form of French native Theo Lawrence, who Saving Country Music featured via his recent album Chérie earlier this year. Another guy whose knack for penning country classics is Austin’s Jake Penrod, and he also contributes a couple of tracks to Back To The Blue Side.
It’s a song like “I’ve Overstayed My Welcome In Your Heart” written by regular Harmonica Sam contributor Dan Englund that mesmerize you with its simple sentiments so perfectly encapsulated. This album is full of these kinds of songs. They found another great one called “I’m Not Supposed To Love You” from a songwriter outside of Houston, TX named Betty Jean Lewis that has been writing since the ’70s but is just now finding a band to perform her songs.
But none of these songs would feel so alive if it wasn’t for the treatment this band brings to them. Along with Harmonica Sam who sings these compositions exquisitely, steel guitarist Peter Andersson and lead guitarist Johan Bandling Melin can go up against any of their peers Stateside, and bass player Ulrik Jansson and drummer Patrik Malmros are equally dialed into the classic country sound.
The Country Side of Harmonica Sam is a modern musical marvel that proves no matter who you are or where you’re from, the love of country music can find its way into your heart. The love of classic country music will find its way into your heart through Back To The Blue Side.
8/10
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October 3, 2023 @ 8:36 am
These guys should play some shows in Texas (Gruene Hall, Ameripolitan, etc )
October 3, 2023 @ 11:24 am
Yeah, these folks need to do a North America tour soon. Love to see them live someday.
October 3, 2023 @ 8:48 am
I love this!
October 3, 2023 @ 9:05 am
If you are a traditional country music fan then this is the real deal!
October 3, 2023 @ 11:28 am
Love these guys. Nobody needs to complain that traditional country is still not being made.
October 3, 2023 @ 2:02 pm
I’ve seen these guys a couple times in Nashville. They are a hoot. Primarily, they only travel for big rockabilly festivals. In Sweden they have a local following and a live show they regularly play called The Grand New Opry. As strange as it is to imagine, there is a very traditional country music scene in that part of Europe.
I realize the retro throwback thing is a turn-off to many here that frequent the site. But for some of us, we aren’t looking as much at the kitsch aspect so much as the actual music. And these guys deliver the sound on all cylinders. I know the outfits seem ridiculous, but I’ve met these boys and they have such a reverence for the sound that they wear the getup as a show of respect to the original music. Believe me, they are legit fans of Jones and Ray Price and Webb Pierce and the like. Over here, we might see it as unfortunately fake hipster, but these dudes don’t see it that way. When they were in Nashville, they were respectfully in awe of the history in the town. I found them very humble and engaging to talk to. I wish em the best.
October 4, 2023 @ 7:39 am
I’m happy any time I see a band with matching Nudie suits. To me, that isn’t retro or kitsch or hipster…it’s just what you wear on stage if you’re playing country and western music.
October 3, 2023 @ 2:28 pm
Love this band and their music!
October 3, 2023 @ 4:07 pm
I’ve only become interested on n country music since moving to Texas about 15 years ago. But this group here beats most of what I’ve heard on any country music awards show and anything bro-country by a country mile! These is retro, yes…but sounds so damn good. Refreshing, really. Thanks, Trigger for bringing groups like this to our attention via this great website!
October 4, 2023 @ 3:42 am
It is rather sad that other countries can deliver a more authentic sound than what is homebrewed. It seems all the TRUE country music left for Europe. While that is not to say that there are some homebrewed artists that emulate the sounds of yesteryear, there seems to be a larger concentration of it in Europe. Considering that an article here https://savingcountrymusic.com/alan-jackson-tops-most-listened-to-classic-country-artists-in-the-world/
References this, in most of Europe,Johnny Cash still reigns supreme. Waylon told us for a long time here in Texas that Bob Wills is Still the King, I want to say that George Strait could be considered that, but Bob still holds a lot of popularity here. More power to Country Side of Harmonica Sam for keeping the stylings of Buck Owens and Ray Price alive, and I say let them play here in Texas and Perhaps the Opry to remind everyone TRUE country is alive and thriving!
October 4, 2023 @ 2:04 pm
Cosplay, but excellent cosplay.
October 4, 2023 @ 7:17 pm
I did listen to this album earlier today and felt like I was in country heaven with George Jones and Loretta Lynn were smiling down on us. Pedal steel guitar and honky tonk piano. In other words, the real deal!
My father was from Norway and I was fortunate to visit when I was 12 in 1966. We were visiting family, including my step grandmother. All of a sudden a country song came over the Norwegian radio station and she put her hand over her heart with great emotion and exclaimed with delight- Yim Reeves!
I do know country music has been popular in Scandinavia for decades. I yust (wrong spelling on purpose) didn’t think the Swedes would do it so well!
October 6, 2023 @ 7:09 am
Have these guys been on the Grand Ole Opry? If not, they should play there once. Love these guys, got all there CD’s.
October 11, 2023 @ 9:08 pm
This is great stuff, played with passion and beautifully arranged.