Greg Ashley, a year after getting evicted and leaving California, only to return a month later, is back to grace us with two wonderful records that are right in his wheelhouse: deeply personal, heartbreaking narratives and cover songs.

His new solo LP, Pictures of Saint Paul Street is available now via Trouble in Mind Records. With lyrics about subjects such as drunken nights, dirty streets, the current societal climate, and the high cost of being buried in Oakland, don’t expect a real pick-me-up from this album. What you can expect is to know Greg a little better after listening – he finds a lot of fault in his surroundings (and himself) but also manages to paint his pictures with a touch of affection.

Ashley also teamed up with his “Western Playboys” (Nick Allen, Arlo Perlstein, and Jimi Mark) to record an EP of classic country covers that has just been released on Third Man Records. Greg sounds a lot happier on this album – almost like he’s having fun, so you actually can expect to find a pick-me-up here. His style and his band fit this collection of songs so well.

Greg and The Western Playboys perform tomorrow night at Eli’s Mile High Club. He says it’s likely the only time he’ll perform these country covers live, so come on out!

Greg Ashley & The Western Playboys, The Chuckleberries, La Dee Da
Eli’s Mile High Club
July 28, 2017
8pm, $8