Americana outfit Driftwood returns to their Upstate New York roots with the release of their new album, "December Last Call," which was made available on all major streaming platforms last Friday, March 22.
The record is a retrospective collection of tracks highlighting the musical journey of the band and the relationship they built with one another through their 15-year-long career.
Through their lead singles off of the record, Driftwood has already generated critical acclaim for their foremost project, receiving props from No Depression, Holler, Glide Magazine, and the Americana Music Association, among others.
In essence, "December Last Call" is an amalgamation of "down-to-earth" narratives told through folkish ballads that honor the band's bluegrass roots while also looking towards the future by incorporating contemporary sounds like hard-rocking guitars and driving percussion.
On the Inception of Driftwood's 'December Last Call'
The record was self-produced and recorded in the basement studio of guitarist Joe Kollar's home, a scene reminiscent of the band's start when they were still filling up their "musician shoes" and making music in the same space.
Similarly, Driftwood's album goes full circle and loops back to narratives surrounding ways in which the group grew closer, and at times, farther away from each other.
Tracks like "Up All Night Blues" exemplify this theme, as it is about the arduous yet fulfilling journey of being an upstart parent, especially amid the global pandemic where the issues are exacerbated.
Their coming-of-age anthem: "Just a Kid," on the other hand, fully leans on the retrospective element of the album and embraces its "callback" nature. Similarly, "Every Which Way But Loose" latches on the record's narrative as a "catchy, uncomplicated gem" (Magnet Magazine).
And for the album's title track, "December Last Call," everything culminates into what Glide Magazine describes as "the kind of big-hearted roots rocker that is meant to be cranked up."
Driftwood's defining feature as a band is the overflowing songwriting and vocal talents of its members, which comprise vocalist/violinist Claire Byrne, Kollar, guitarist Dan Forsyth, bassist Joey Arcuri, and drummer Sam Fishman.
This creative "free-for-all" makes for a diverse record, which inherently had a sense of vulnerability and "community" baked into it upon creation, something that is beautifully apparent in every track on "December Last Call."
Spreading the beauty of their new record, Driftwood is set to embark on a band tour going through New York, Boston, Washington, and DC, among other cities across the coming Summer. A full list of the dates can be found here.
You can now stream "December Last Call" by clicking here, or you can preview the album's tracks below.
