NASHVILLE |
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DT: JUNE 15, 2017
FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MIKE GOWEN
MSO PR
ROD MELANCON
–AMERICANA ROOTS ROCK ARTIST–
DIGS IN DEEP IN NEW Q & A
NEW FULL-LENGTH ALBUM
‘SOUTHERN GOTHIC’
IS OUT THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 16 VIA BLUE ELAN RECORDS
AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW
 Above: ROD MELANCON
“I wanted to push the boundaries of what’s expected from an “Americana” artist,” says ROD MELANCON. “I wanted the production to reflect the character’s state of mind. ‘With The Devil’ opens with what I imagine the inside of that man’s head sounds like.”
The Louisiana born-and-bred and Los Angeles-based artist digs in deep in a new Q&A (see below) about his second full-length album SOUTHERN GOTHIC, out this Friday (6/16) via Blue Elan Records and already generating critical accolades (see below). MELANCON and producer Brian Whelan push the sonic soundscape and take listeners on a journey into the dark, and often twisted, night of the soul on songs like “With The Devil,” “Perry,” “Dwayne and Me,” and “Different Man,” about the psychological darkness of a returning vet. MELANCON also reflects on his past in “Promises”-“You can’t go back to promises come and gone”-and jumps headlong into the infectiously rootsy + rocking groove of “Redhead.”
Recorded over the course of two years, SOUTHERN GOTHIC is the restless yearning of a young, new South that has been represented by The Drive-By Truckers, Sturgill Simpson and Jason Isbell. With this new album, MELANCON takes an unflinching look inside the heart of Americana darkness as he stylistically dives deeper into the roots of his own imagination nurtured in the badlands and bayous of his home.
SOUTHERN GOTHIC will be available digitally and physically on CD and vinyl. The album can now be pre-ordered–which includes instant-grat tracks, “Dwayne andMe” and “Redhead”–via iTunes here, Amazon here or Blue Elan Records for special packaged bundles here.
 Above: ROD MELANCON onstage this past Sunday (6/11/17) at the Grand Ole Echo in Los Angeles
Credit: Alex Loftus
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Q&A
ROD MELANCON Q: What was the mindset when the songs were written for this new album Southern Gothic?
A: The record was written over the course of two years. There were stories I heard growing up about family members that I had always wanted to write about. I just didn’t feel like I was ready to try to tackle them yet. They were personal tales and I wanted to do them justice. One day I just sat down and started in on “Perry.” A troubled cousin I never met but had heard tale of. It was working and I knew I was finally ready. Nothing feels better than feeling like you’re growing as an artist. I was ready to tell their stories.
Q: A follow up question to that would be, do your life experiences play heavily into the writing process, or are they just a catalyst, launching an idea for songs?
A: Both “Perry” and “Lights of Carencro” are told from my father’s point of view. They are both based on fact. I changed the exact date and names of “Carencro” because I wanted to be able to color outside of the lines a bit. A lot of my songs stem from truth. A feeling or moment I once witnessed. Things that, for some reason, never left my memory. I was brought to Perry’s grave when I was a kid. It read “Perry Faucheaux: Still Doin’ Time”. How could I ever forget that?
Q: Southern Gothic has a distinctive sound showcasing various sonic templates, can you tell us a bit about that?
A: I wanted to explore more than the go to “Americana” template. So many of those records end up sounding the same. Instead of where a steel guitar would maybe go, let’s add a pulsating synthesizer. I wanted to do something original. I wanted to push the boundaries of what’s expected from an “Americana” artist. I wanted the production to reflect the character’s state of mind. “With The Devil” opens with what I imagine the inside of that man’s head sounds like.
Q: One of the album’s standout songs, the uptempo “Redhead,” has elements of humor and excitement-not to mention a great sax solo-that is reminiscent of a light hearted Springsteen track off The River. What was the inspiration to write a song about the desire of a red head…and did you find one?
A: I wanted to allow the listener a chance to come up for air. A bit of a break from the troubled characters they met before. Something for the smoke filled dance halls. Also yes, when I first met my now girlfriend she was a redhead. Though she’s naturally a blonde. That has to count for something right? Mission complete, y’all.
Q: The song “Different Man” off Southern Gothic tells the story of a man who seemingly returns from war and describes the unfortunate reality of some soldiers who return unnerved from what they have experienced. The musical dynamic of the song builds to a crescendo that channels the mental state of the soldier; tell us how this song came about and what it was like recording it in the studio.
A: This is another example of the production echoing the mindset of the character. Savage and unhinged. This song was recorded live onto analog tape. It was the last song recorded for Southern Gothic. I was inspired by Larry Brown’s Dirty Work and the film Born on the Fourth of July. When I was a kid there was a middle aged man that would always spend his time walking back and forth in his front yard in his pajamas. He lived in a house that was on the way to my dad’s crawfish pond. It always seemed strange to me. One day I worked up the courage to ask my dad what was with him. “He served in Vietnam,” he said. He was a different man. War.
Q: “Southern Gothic” is such a thought-provoking title. How did it come about?
A: The title of the record spawned from my love of Southern Gothic literature. I felt silly about the title until I was invited by Larry Brown’s son Shane to check out Larry’s writing room in Mississippi. Larry Brown is a “southern gothic” author from Mississippi. He is a huge influence on my writing and one of my literary heroes. I was standing right where he wrote Dirty Work and Joe. I ran my fingers along his typewriter. As we drove from place to place in what was his dad’s old truck, he said “Man, I wish dad was still around today. He would have loved you. He would have taken you under his wing.” That was the moment I all of a sudden felt okay naming my record Southern Gothic. It’s more or less a tribute to Larry Brown.
Q: If you overheard one fan talking to another after leaving a show of yours, what would you like to hear them say about the gig and how they describe the music?
A: “That guy meant every goddamn word.”
EARLY PRAISE FOR ROD MELANCON AND SOUTHERN GOTHIC:
“on his forthcoming album…the dapper rocker takes a look inside the place where he grew up and puts the people and stories to music in what can be described as dark Americana and workingman’s rock and roll…the tune [‘Redhead’] brings to mind Jason Isbell at his fiery best with a dose of Jerry Lee Lewis’ rocking country swagger thrown in, making it a perfect anthem for a whiskey-soaked night on the town.”
“Rod Melancon must have spent many a twilight hour in creepy bayous, because Southern Gothic brings to life the stories of his childhood in the badlands and bayous of his home in a brilliant-albeit chilling-album. In the spirit of Sturgill Simpson and Tom Petty, Melancon rocks his way through the land and the darker spirits who inhabit it, from a fun-loving hedonist to the man who was ‘born to fight’ and die in prison, to the very Devil himself. Listening to the tales told and feeling the pulse of this album immerses the listener in the dark, and often twisted, night of the soul. The journey though the heart of darkness that is Southern Gothic may leave listeners unscathed, but not untouched.”
“…if Sturgill Simpson’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth was a pleasant yet surprise Grammy Album of the Year nominee, I’m gonna go way out on a limb here and say that a Southern Gothic nomination would be a no-brainer.”
“The Southern Gothic songs include the sonically heavy, dark ‘Lights of Carencro’ and ‘With the Devil’; country-rock of ‘Perry’; Rolling Stones swagger of ‘Red Head’; and Springsteen-and John Mellencamp touched ‘Promises’ and ‘Different Man.'”
Like many songwriters, Rod Melancon (pronounced Mel-AWN-sawn) has explored identity in songs. With Southern Gothic, his third album…he finally seems comfortable with it…a dedicated fan of the Boss who performs lived-in covers of Springsteen chestnuts like ‘Highway 29,’ Melancon still reflects that influence on Southern Gothic, particularly in the ‘Glory Days’-style spirit of ‘Promises’ and saxophone (Ron Dziubla’s) squalling through the lusty ‘Red Head.’ But as he’s done onstage with guitarist Will Walden, Melancon expanded his sonic palette in the studio with savvy guitarist/producer Brian Whelan. Songs addressing addiction, violence, belief, family loyalty and loss rock with tougher conviction. He adopts his father’s point of view to recall his namesake uncle and dead cousin (‘Lights of Carencro,’ ‘Perry’) and inhabits characters to tally the costs of war (‘Different Man,’ ‘Dwayne and Me’).
“Rod Melancon, a solo artist from Wright, Louisiana, has infused local surroundings, family lore and other stories into his third album, Southern Gothic. Southern Gothic can best be described as a blend of the folk, rock and country music genres. ‘With The Devil’ as a whole might remind one of an episode of ‘Swamp Murders’ or ‘Criminal Minds.’ It sets an ominous tone, which in an odd way, ends up being all the more inviting…’Perry’…stayed true to the feel of Southern Gothic as a genre with the sorrowful subject matter. ‘Redhead’…was full of festive language, guitar riffs and, surprisingly, a saxophone solo.”
“His sound is reminiscent of his childhood in Louisiana-rough and edgy with a hint of Southern twang”
“From the swamps of southern Louisiana comes the return of apocalyptic folk rocker Rod Melancon. His new album, Southern Gothic reflects the same ‘Gothic Dixie Fried Trash Rock’ from his previous works…except the weight of fighting against the apostate seemed to have only gotten heavier. Its outsider music for the dying transistor radios hidden in the basements at the ends of the world…The opening track, ‘With The Devil,’ is marked by gritty realism, shocking violence, and diachronic narrative. It evokes morbid imagery as much as being a vehicle for moving heady thoughts. It’s more like a punk rock Leadbelly than Americana. Just when the tone of the album is set you wouldn’t expect a song that leaps out at you and could’ve of easily been heard on The Rolling Stones’ epic album, Exile on Main Street with the track, ‘Promises.’ There’s frantic boogie woogie piano and frenzied horns in the song, ‘Red Head’…an alchemy of all roots music, doom metal with glam-punk poetry. It sounds like voodoo, feels like redemption and puts off heat like a burning oil rig.”
“On his new album, which drops on June 16, he picks up where he left off and continues to deliver impressive material that should cement his place in the Americana community…his music memorable…Melancon is a force to be reckoned with, and should provide his label with another Grammy-nominated artist…Best tracks include ‘Perry,’ ‘Dwayne and Me,’ ‘Promises,’ ‘Praying for Light,’ and ‘Different Man…’ This one is a no-brainer – do whatever it takes to get this album as soon as it is released. It belongs in the music library of every red-blooded American.”
 Above: album cover art for Southern Gothic
For more information on ROD MELANCON, visit:
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For press inquiries, contact:
MSO PR
818.380.0400
Mitch Schneider // mschneider@msopr.com
Mike Gowen // mgowen@msopr.com
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