George Fetner’s a bit of a chameleon. His guises have included stormy Britfolk songwriter (see: 2017’s Some Things We’ll Change), avant-garde composer (see: 2015’s Beneath the Ice) and proggy jam-rock bandleader (see: his bygone trio Pinna). But Fetner seems most natural fronting The Strays, a rangy and loose-limbed rock ‘n’ roll ensemble that’s built for a good time. The swirling Hammond swells of “Get On Up,” the greasy Tom Petty-isms of “Drinking Bourbon on a Sunday Night,” the bubbly pep of “Parachutes” — these are the calling cards of a songwriter built to bridge crowds. Hey, Fetner was born on a spaceship called rock ‘n’ roll, after all. Why not join him for a ride? — Patrick Wall, Free Times
On Friday, July 3, 2020, dynamic rock outfit George Fetner and the Strays will release their first full-length album Longer Like This.
Columbia, SC - Following GFATS’ 2018 self-titled EP - “a rollicking, raucous (and brassy!) joyride” (SC Music Guide) - Longer Like This maintains the bright-eyed quest for balancing meaningful songwriting with the varied influences of a seasoned nine-piece ensemble. Tracked to tape during the summer and fall of 2019, it was mixed and produced by Zac Thomas (Kylesia, Florida Man, She Returns From War) at Columbia’s own Jam Room Recording Studio. Stefan Heger mastered the album for vinyl and digital release at Fisheye Music Mastering (D’Angelo, Bhakti Without Borders, Martin Solveig).
This debut album is lush: a room full of percussion arranged by Jeff Vaughn (USC School of Music) interlaces with Matt Fenech’s (Space Coke) emphatic drumming. Fluid Hammond and Wurlitzer from Moses Andrews (The Restoration), saccharine backing vocals by Desirée Richardson (Say Femme, Kid Trails) and Katie Leitner (Say Femme, Trustus Theatre), and floating synths prominently orchestrate the album. Lauren Watkins Vaughn (SC Philharmonic) surprises with a waxing flute solo, while Craig Butterfield (Boomtown Trio, USC music faculty) punches prog-influenced bass and Moog Taurus lines that dance with the bolstering brass of Catherine Allgrim, Will Melvin, and Davis Bowers. Anthony Charles’ and Fetner’s distinct guitar solos unwind amidst scenic musical exhibitions.
The songs sway between wistful and coy, hopeful and cautious. The themes of Longer Like This focus on action propelled by instinct, or spontaneous revelation in a new light; moments of brightness contract to more introspective musical detours. Conceived for vinyl as a complete statement, Longer Like This shifts from side A to side B, recalling the Strays’ most influential albums. Yet, each track was produced as a distinct, individualized statement and able to stand tall as a single, a trait listeners have come to know and love about George Fetner and the Strays. In October, fans successfully funded a Kickstarter project for vinyl production, allowing the band to fully realize its large, analog sound offstage. Longer Like This, then, is the band’s own pledge to its audience: an alternative way to experience a sprawling group of lively music makers at home when they can’t make it to the stage. Longer Like This is how a live band thrives in the studio.
