Lowlands

'There’s only two kinds of music: good music, and bad music' ~ Steve Earle, live in London, 1988.

The Last Call from Lowlands is a perfectly good slice of music that needs no further categorisation.

I was at that gig, Ed Abbiati wasn't. However, we attended a good few gigs together in the late 90s / early 00s. Those days, some grey, some sad, some of the happiest times we ever had, were the genesis of The Last Call, the debut album from Ed's band, Lowlands.

A personal journey through elation, despair, loneliness, love lost and found, and hope, one I shared in part and watched in part from a distance.

As road warriors and partners in crime, we shared a lot. Bound by a mutual love for Springsteen and Earle, Waits, Young, the Replacements, Cash and The Clash, Ed educated me about many classics that I'd unfairly ignored (Dylan, Ani Di Franco, Todd Snider, You Am I) and new Americana like Wilco, Son Volt, Whiskeytown and many others.

In return, I indoctrinated him with my twisted take on good music - Steve Wynn and the Dream Syndicate, Dan Stuart, Chuck Prophet and Green on Red, Husker Du, the Gin Blossoms, the Black Crowes.

This gloriously eclectic mix sustained and inspired us through good times and bad, and most show up in some shape or form on the album. ~ John Bardwell

Lowlands

The Last Call Lowlands £10.99