All photos taken at Magnolia Motor Lounge in Fort Worth by Alan Mercer
Authenticity and originality don’t always make for the most compatible bedfellows. Indeed, paying reverence to one’s roots sometimes moots the possibility of finding contemporary credence. Happily though, in the case of the Texas born and bred singer/songwriter Seth James, all those elements find equal footing.
That’s especially evident with the release of Good Life, Seth James’ new album, a rugged and unabashedly assertive blend of blues, country, roots, rock, and Americana. the twelve-song set runs a gamut of heartfelt emotion filtered through unfaltering conviction and homespun appeal.
Produced and mixed by Kevin McKendree (Little Richard, Etta James), and recorded at The Rock House in Franklin, Tennessee, ‘Good Life’ resonates with an honesty and integrity that could have only been spawned by someone who’s known the toils and triumphs spawned in America’s heartland.
Born in Fort Worth and raised in the ranch country of West Texas, Seth comes from a family who knew the rewards that come from drive, determination and hard work. His grandfather was a honky tonk piano player who performed as Tooter Boatman and the Chaparrals in any number of clubs, juke joints and roadhouses in the 40's and 50's. His other grandfather was a Texas Ranger. His father, Tom Moorhouse, founded the Moorhouse Ranch and imbued in his son the values spawned from western tradition.
Not surprisingly then, the romantic road stories shared by his forebears had an important influence of James’s decision to pursue his passion. Early on, he taught himself to play guitar, mostly by learning the songs of Lightning Hopkins, Freddy King and Creedence Clearwater Revival.
In 1996 Seth got his first Fender Stratocaster and quickly discovered the sheer power and expression that’s possible by playing an electric guitar. As a young man, he was drawn to the music that was coming out of Lubbock and Fort Worth. The early influences of Joe Ely, Delbert McClinton, Stephen Bruton, and Doyle Bramhall Sr. ultimately led him to many of the musicians that impacted him later on, such as Frankie Miller and Freddie King.
Over the course of his career, Seth has had the opportunity to share the stage with many of his heroes, among them, Percy Sledge, Little Feat, Delbert McClinton, Buddy Guy, Tab Benoit, ZZ Top, Little Feat, Lee Roy Parnell, Leon Russell, and Billy Joe Shaver. He’s released three solo albums, most notably 2009’s critically acclaimed effort That Kind of Man. In 2010, he joined forces with Cody Canada and formed The Departed, with whom he spent three years and recorded two albums. Ultimately, he opted to return to his roots and his primary passion, which was to fashion a sound infused with the blues.
Seth James’ voice is as powerful as his un-containable blues aura. I met with him at the Magnolia Motor Lounge in Fort Worth for a few photos and a conversation.
Alan Mercer: Your album ‘Good Life’ is so enjoyable. Did you know you were creating a unique and lasting album?
Seth James: Not until we had started it. It was the first time I went into the studio where I didn’t have all the songs done. I went into the studio intentionally to finish the songs with Kevin. I did know from day one when we started writing that it was going to be good. I could see where it was going.
AM: Do you think you found what you were looking for musically?
SJ: Yes, at 42 I have found it. It’s not something you can rush. It naturally culminated into what I do naturally. It just took a long time to get to that point.
AM: You have a couple earlier albums that aren’t available anymore.
SJ: Yes, those were guitar driven Blues records. The guitar is still a part of this music, but I am not trying to swing the guitar slinger flag. I did have a stint in Nashville where I felt like a square peg in a round hole.
AM: Will you make those records available digitally anytime?
SJ: Lots of people ask me about them and for that reason alone I might do it. I don’t like the records but that’s not important. They are too old for me.
AM: I love your album from 2009, ‘That Kind of Man.’
SJ: I love that record. I had a contract with Sony that was a long process. Luckily for me, they dropped me. They could have really hung me up for a long time. I went in and made that record in 2 days with the resources I had left. It has all A-list musicians on it.
AM: It has a great energy to it.
SJ: It sure does. I still play a lot of that music.
AM: The next album you recorded was with your wife and produced by Lloyd Maines. How did that happen?
SJ: After the ‘That Kind of Man’ record I joined the group, The Departed with Cody Canada. I spent three to four years in hard touring. My wife and I had always sung together but we never made a record together. Once I slowed down and had the time, we wanted to create like a photo album for our kids.
AM: How did you get Lloyd Maines to produce it?
SJ: He grew up kind of where I grew up. We’ve always kind of been pals. He and my wife had worked together so it was an easy call. When we sing songs about our feelings you know I’m going to get Lloyd.
AM: Are you going to follow up that album?
SJ: Someday, not so much as a career path, but I’d like to make one of those every few years because I write all kinds of songs and they don’t all fit for me. I can sing any of them with Jessica and they are right at home.
AM: I have to confess that although I love the album, ‘Adventus’ by The Departed, I did not realize that was you singing on my favorite song, ‘Prayer For The Lonely’ until recently.
SJ: Yeah, that’s my song that I brought to the band.
AM: Now when I listen to the album, I can tell what songs were written and sung by you.
SJ: I think those parts stick out where you can tell which one is a Cody song and which one is a Seth song.
AM: I have to say your new album, ‘Good Life’ sounds so inspired. It really lifts me up.
SJ: My life changed a lot at that time. I had kids and came off the road. A lot of life things happened that sobered me up, life wise. Life threw a couple of rocks at me and I threw them back. It was important for me to make a positive record. That’s where I was at and I think we did that on the record.
AM: Not enough artists make positive music.
SJ: No, it’s because it’s harder. Deep, dark and brooding is easy energy to have. All you have to do is stop trying. It was nice not to take myself too seriously.
AM: Now, are you going to follow up ‘Good Life’ soon?
SJ: I’ve already started.
AM: With the same producer and collaborators?
SJ: All the same everything.
AM: You work with a lot of really great musicians.
SJ: That’s part of it. If you’re the best guy in the room, you gotta change rooms.
AM: I’ve also read interviews with other musicians who think you’re pretty amazing too.
SJ: I got them all fooled. (Laughter) Kevin and I had worked together 20 years ago and then I got signed and they didn’t want us to work together.
AM: I know you play a lot with Delbert McClinton. Is he a career role model for you?
SJ: In a lot of ways. As far as influence wise, he’s probably the biggest.
AM: What have you learned from him?
SJ: Just being around him, opening for him a few years ago and I was just on a cruise with him, but I see the way he treats the people around him. That is the best lesson I learned. He knows how to run a band and what to look for in players. One thing about Delbert is he always shows up with everything. He doesn’t do one show as a trio and one as a four piece. He has the whole band all the time.
AM: Are you going to do a lot of touring this year?
SJ: I’ll tour anywhere that makes sense. I’m choosier than I used to be.
AM: You have a special spot in the Texas music scene.
SJ: There is a young Texas Country music scene. Also, people listen with their eyes. I can be confusing to people who want me to be Country. I’m not against any of that, but that’s not really where I lay. I am their parent’s music.
AM: We don’t necessarily need more Country players.
SJ: We need artists who are original and that takes time to do that. It’s not instant.
AM: You can go the rest of your life performing.
SJ: I’m not trying to sell a product. This is what I do, and I love it.
AM: You come from a music background, don’t you?
SJ: One side of my family is lawmen and cowboys and the other side are bootleggers and music. (Laughter)
AM: So, did you have music all around growing up?
SJ: No, I grew up as a rancher in West Texas. Music was a private thing for me. I got started late. I was in college before I started getting into music.
AM: Do you still do ranch work occasionally?
SJ: Oh yes, I still go back there and do chuck wagon and all that stuff. If I don’t do that, I forget who I am. That’s a regular thing for me.
