RECONSTRUCTION
Behind the music:
Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau’s new album, Reconstruction, is a love letter to the sounds of classic rock—and more—from one of Nashville’s most diverse and multi-talented artists.
New self-produced 11-song set of all-original material displays the singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist’s deep roots, canny sonic instincts and emotional breadth.
NASHVILLE, TN—Even if you haven’t heard of Richie Owens, be assured that virtually all of the Nashville artists you love have. Owens has a long history as a cornerstone in the music scene here, as a performer, songwriter, producer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist session ace and instrument designer. With the just-released Reconstruction—a reunion for his longtime band Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau—Richie is drawing on his musical past to write a new chapter in his already impressive history.
The 11 original songs on Reconstruction are a deep and abiding love letter to the sounds and epic qualities of classic rock—exceptional performances, great hooks, deep emotions and a palette of tones that stirs the soul. At times, these tunes echo the influences of the Beatles, Neil Young, David Bowie, Tom Petty and John Lennon’s solo recordings, but there are also veins in the storytelling and arrangements that mine the traditions of Owens’ family’s roots in East Tennessee and the virtues of classic country‚ and the wealth of his own experiences and a mover and shaker in Nashville’s nascent ’80s rock scene and beyond. Altogether, the humanity and honestly of these performances captures the soul of an artist in renaissance, inspired by his material and firing on all cylinders to deliver the finest work of his career.
Owens, who produced and recorded Reconstruction at his studio, also played most of the instruments on the lush, artfully orchestrated album. He’s re-joined by original Farm Bureau guitarist Bob Ocker and longtime musical partners John Reed, on bass, and Brian O’Hanlon, on drums. Ocker and O’Hanlon have played with Owens since the ’80s, when they were both in Owens’ alternative-rock band the Movement, and then were part of the original Farm Bureau, which Owens started in the early ’90s as a way to update his family-instilled musical roots in country and bluegrass, helping to spearhead the Americana music movement in the process.
Echoes of a lifetime of absorbing great music and embedding its characteristics in his DNA abound in Reconstruction’s tracks. “Heartache in the Lost and Found” straddles the colorful world of the Beatles with its big-boned melody and percolating keyboards, but Owens’ harmonica lines add a weight and depth not unlike that of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Nonetheless, the number’s canny take on the insecurities of modern love is all Owens’. “You Just Don’t Know About Me,” with its sinuous lead guitar and powerful, driving chords walks the line between love, sacrifice, good and evil, casting a spell of dark beauty. “Stay in My Memories” is torn from his own heart—written after seeing his father retreat into himself under the curse of Alzheimer’s disease. Its poignant, piano-and-vocal-driven arrangement underlines the pain and fear of loss, for both the victims of this cruel fate and their families. Ocker’s heartfelt slide guitar brings every emotion in the song to life. “Having Bob back in the band means there’s another musician playing leads and melodies, which lets me play the role of singer-songwriter—which I love—to the fullest,” says Owens. And “How She Got Away” is a flashback to the original psychedelic era, its tale of surprise and loss framed by deft and stinging guitar fills over the hallucinogenic swirl of farfisa.
That’s just a sampling. Owens is planning to release a video single for each of Reconstruction’s 11 songs, through his Parlor Film. To learn more about Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau’s Reconstruction, read his biography and personal track-by-track rundown in this EPK mailing, or visit richieowensandthefarmbureau.com for bios, dates, tours and more about Richie’s impressive and still-blossoming legacy.
—END—
Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau can be found on Facebook and Instagram. The band can be heard on iheart radio and Sirius radio’s “Outlaw Country,” among others.
THE SONGS:
Grin and Bear It
We go through life having to deal with so many things that don’t make sense—constantly dealing with bullshit. As kids, we can’t wait to grow up, and then we realize adulthood sucks. We long for our days reading comic books, listening to music, with no worries in the world. But you gotta pay bills and deal with assholes and politics and the rest of the crap. And yet we’re supposed to keep our mouths shut, and grin and bear it. To hell with that.
How She Got Away
I went for a vibe between Elvis Costello and Tom Petty. The lyrics tell a story about being in a not-so-serious relationship, and thinking of hooking up with someone else, only to realize that you’ve had the right one all the time. But by then it’s too late, she’s done split, and you blew the good thing you already had. Dummy!
Are You Down
The idea came to me as a play on words. I saw people feeling down and depressed who needed to be cheered up, and also wanted to ask if they’re down for doing something fun—to raise their spirits. Let’s get together and do something positive. Are you down with that?
Heartache in the Lost and Found
As I get older, I see a lot of my friends are still unwilling to commit to a serious relationship with somebody they can stay with the rest of their lives—even though they want to. It’s some kind of emotional or mental block. They blow every relationship by leaving a back door open … and their lack of commitment leaves them alone every time. They end up with heartache, in the Lost and Found.
You Just Don’t Know About Me
What sacrifices are worth making to try to save a relationship that’s poison?
What’s It Gonna Take
Are you being manipulated and recognizing it? Then this song’s for you.
Welcome to America
PBS ran a story about a farmer who had his farm on the border of Mexico, and people were crossing into the U.S. on his property. They were being dropped off by human traffickers, called coyotes, and were sometimes dying from lack of food and water. The victims included mothers and children. I felt I needed to speak.
Trying
I wrote this when Lisa, my wife and sweetheart, was diagnosed at near-stage-four cancer and I thought I was going to lose her. It’s about not giving up and staying strong no matter what.
Who Knows
It’s about one thing: What does your gut tell you? And whatever that is, believe it!
When the Wrong Survive
Sure, the music business is fucked up, but so if life. It’s becoming harder and harder to do the right thing when it’s easier to get rewarded by doing wrong.
Stay in My Memories
My dad had Alzheimer’s. Bob’s dad passed from it last year, and so did John’s mother. It’s a terrible disease. My dad passed before he lost all of his memories, but Bob’s and John’s parents lost their recollections. The horrific part about this illness is that as your memories leave you, it’s like losing the people you love … until you’re the only one left. And then love is gone.
ALBUM CREDITS
Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau
Album – Reconstruction
Label – Owepar Records
Produced & Mixed by – Richie Owens
Recorded at – The Old Time Pickin Parlor, Studio 19 and Sound Hole Recording
Engineers – Richie Owens, Kyle Hershman, Bob Ocker
Album Artwork and Farm Logo – Tim Shawl
Richie Owens and the Farm Bureau are:
Richie Owens – Lead/Harmony vocals, Harmonica, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Pedal Steel Guitar, Mandolin, Piano, Organ, Mellotron, and Programing.
Bob Ocker – Harmony vocals, Lead/Rhythm Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Lap Steel Guitar
John Reed – Harmony vocals, Bass Guitars
Brian O’Hanlon – Harmony vocals, Drums and Percussion
Additional players:
Paul Hollowell – Piano, Farfisa, String tracks, Mellotron, and Organ.
Jeff Hollandsworth – Piano on Welcome to America
Extra Background Vocals – Jason Fletcher, Rebecca Seaver, Rick Donley
All song publishing : Owepar Publishing
Copyright 2020 BMI