Jon Black is easily one of the south's best kept secrets... until now. Over the past two years he has shared the stage with Alejandro Escovedo, Ani DiFranco, Mark Kozolek, and many more; won a songwriting award for My Days Are Numbered and travelled by plane, train, and automobile to share his music with anyone willing to listen and engage.
Goodbye Golden Age, releasing on Rebuilt Records, is the much-anticipated follow-up to his 2006 release, The October Sky. Recorded over the span of a year in Oxford, Mississippi at Tweed Recordings with Andrew Ratcliffe (Will Hoge, Blue Mountain, The Damnwells) and DOMUS Studios in Cumming, Georgia with Paul Reeves, the arsenal of players on the record is stunning. Mixed by Andy Hunt (Glen Philips, Derek Webb) and Mastered by Matt Odmark from Jars of Clay, Goodbye Golden Age shows that Jon is growing in his artistry and that his comparisons to Jackson Browne, Ryan Adams, and Jay Farrarr are not in vain.
With the sonic backdrop of Americana music, Black's latest album dives deep into capturing the loneliness of the road, the hope of things to come, and the inspiration found at the end of your rope. Goodbye Golden Age is both an album of searching and finding, an honest display of fears in an uncertain world and a joyful reaction to following dreams, a friendly greeting and a quick punch to the gut. He says, "There's music you listen to at the moment and there's music you listen to forever. I really wanted to dig deep and give people something they could listen to when they need a reminder that most doubts, fears, joys, and triumphs are shared between all humans. Existence is hard but I've made it through with the help from some great artists. Hopefully this will inspire others to keep going."
If you want to know what a growing artist looks like and what happens when an artist is honest then look no further. This artist in Birmingham, Alabama is truly on the verge of becoming an important songwriter in the south and in modern Americana music.
"Jon is an amazing story teller. His words paint a picture as his melodies give pure heartfelt emotion. Each song took me to a new place and I loved every minute of it." - Andy Hunt
"...Black elevates his music to another level." - Mike Trobiano from The University of Tampa Minaret
"The eclectic nature of this collection, as well as the solid songwriting and Black’s clear, strong singing voice, is reminiscent of Lyle Lovett’s style…not a small feat. And, boy can Black hold a note - check out ‘Mouth Of The Moon’ as evidence. Don’t let this guy pass you by." - WayCoolMusic.net
"Black is a skilled songwriter and performer and here he shows off his talent across a range of styles." - Americana UK
Really enjoyed the show Friday night! I also had downloaded both albums from iTunes. Great music. I'm really in love with Nothing But A Fire. Fine piece of work, my friend.
everybody get yo towels ready cause its about to go down!! haha, man thanks so much for coming to frontier ranch and playing your awesome music and sharing Stinky Jimmy with the world. you were great! i love the music. you have a major gift. late -Isaac
Hey Jon! Been enjoying the new record. I'm playing @ The Nick on Wed. (Dec. 3rd)- first B'ham show. C'mon down if you're still in town & good luck in Athens Thurs. See ya around..
MOUTH OF THE MOON video is milestone mortar just shockingly brilliant and creative shaandar (grand) heck I was travellin miles and movin in n outa space time rhyme road of fantasia some science and song right after alll wrong wow wooouwww this is just real cooool JON BLACK may I bow physics is song is thou