Photo: Stephen McCarthy and Carla Olson by Markus Cuff
Stephen McCarthy (Long Ryders, Jayhawks, Dream Syndicate) and Carla Olson (Textones, solo artist, producer) have today (November 7) rolled out the fast-paced and fun video “We Gotta Split This Town.” It’s the second single from their first-ever duet album, Night Comes Falling, out Friday November 11th.
Described as “a true Americana power duo” the two singers, songwriters and guitarists boast lengthy careers that have intersected a few times. Night Comes Falling brings them together again in exciting ways on this 11-song album of stirring and rocking Americana music. It is being released via Carla’s production company Have Harmony, Will Travel.
“We Gotta Split This Town” is a fun and energetic roots rock song that tells a rebellious, Bonnie-and-Clyde story. McCarthy and Olson tap into the myths and legends of 20th Century American outlaws overtop an upbeat, guitar-driven track, doing their best to stay “one step ahead of the law.” The guitar tones and vocal harmonies are equally strong and the level of song craft is high. The accompanying music video fits the lyrics and vibe like handcuffs and helps turn the song into a stylized crime caper that fans of great rock and roll will want to get in on. Don’t miss your chance to join this crew!
Watch “We Gotta Split This Town”
Listen to the single HERE
Pre-order the album HERE
The McCarthy-penned “We Gotta Split This Town” is an urgent and infectious country-rocking duet about “a wayward couple,” he says, and the expertly edited video blends footage of Stephen (shot by Kevin Downs) and Carla (by Ana Gazzola). It was directed by Tim Roth, who, explains Carla “utilized his magical green screen technique to put Stephen and I in the same space at the same time.”
About the new song, Stephen says, “I had an idea about a ne’er-do-well swindler whose luck was running out. A confidence man on the run with his gal who was trying to set him straight. She was in too deep to make a clean break. The story is a conversation between the two co-conspirators.”
“We Gotta Split This Town” follows the album’s first single, “Night Comes Falling,” a moving song that emerged after a conversation Stephen had with Carla who was having dreams about her former singing partner, Gene Clark of the Byrds. It was on 1987’s classic So Rebellious A Lover, Carla’s album with Gene, that Stephen and Carla first recorded together when Stephen contributed lap steel to “The Drifter” and dobro on “Deportee.”
The album’s musician credits are Stephen McCarthy (guitars, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, mellotron), Carla Olson (guitars), Paul Marshall (bass) and drummers Mitch Marine and Benjamin Lecourt. The album’s other players are Skip Edwards (keyboards, plus the string arrangement for “Long Way Back To Seventeen”), Jeff Lewis (flugelhorn on “Broken Lullaby”) and Jesse Owens Wells (fiddle on “I Remember The Railroad”).
Night Comes Falling Track Listing
We Gotta Split This Town
Night Comes Falling
Broken Lullaby
The Bell Hotel Is Burning
Brink Of The Blues
One That Got Away
Don’t Talk To Strangers
Long Way Back To Seventeen
Just To Get To You
Timber
I Remember The Railroad (Gene Clark)
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