Song of the Day: JD McPherson - Let The Good Times Roll

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on The Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “Let The Good Times Roll” by JD McPherson from the 2015 album Let The Good Times Roll on Rounder Records.

JD McPherson - Let The Good Times Roll (MP3)

Inspired by the classic rock and roll and R&B records he found in his youth, JD McPherson recaptures that rambunctious spirit without retreading those tropes. Born in small town Oklahoma, McPherson discovered early rock and roll artists like Little Richard and Buddy Holly and instantly fell in love with them. A part-time musician for many years, McPherson eventually broke into a larger audience when Rounder Records saw the video for his track "North Side Gal" and reissued his 2010 album, Signs and Signifiers in 2012. (Serendipitously, McPherson lost his job as a teacher right as the record began taking off.) Since then, McPherson has toured steadily, linking up with supporters from all over the musical spectrum – he opened for Queens of the Stone Age at their Halloween homecoming gig last fall and will open for country superstar Eric Church this summer.

Let The Good Times Roll, McPherson's second LP, expands on the sonic template of his first record by augmenting his more personal songs and his band's raw energy with more dynamic and, as McPherson himself puts it, "mysterious" production. The album's title track bounces with the kind of pep that a track called "Let The Good Times Roll" should have, and far more nuance than its title suggests. Carried by visceral performances by his bandmates, McPherson's cold sweat-inducing vocals wail out a tale of pining for a lover, connecting with a mix of bite and anxiety not unlike the bear on the album's cover. It would be easy to pigeonhole McPherson as a revivalist, but in sound and aesthetic, "Let The Good Times Roll" evokes The Clash's seminal "Train In Vain" more than anything else: it's built with the right balance of musical heft and emotional punch to make heartbreak sound almost enjoyable.

JD and his band are scheduled to tour heavily through the year, but there aren't any West Coast dates announced at the moment, so keep an eye on his Facebook and website for any tour news. Below, watch JD and the band play "Fire Bug" live on KEXP at SXSW 2012.