There are some songs that just hit you in the right way the first time you hear them. I was recently introduced to Happy Curmudgeons who are a band from Royal Oak, MI. In 2017 they released a full length album that goes by the name Meant 2 Be. They have followed that up with a number of singles and in 2022 they released “All On You” and “Rustic Glory.”
There’s not much not to like about the song “All On You” which is about as inviting to ears as you can get. The band is going for an organic sound here and the warmth comes through. I thought the instrumentation was enticing. The technical ability is great as a fretless bass, acoustic guitar and percussive elements come together. That being said, the center of the song revolves around the vocals. Their vocals are just as inviting as the warm instrumentation. The singer sounds like he is singing words of wisdom. What a song!
“Rustic Glory” is more of a groove based tune with a prominent bass line that carries some funk with it. Similar to the previous song, it’s just as warm and inviting. It’s organic and natural. The band rocks out in their own acoustic type of way. I felt like this is the type of song that will help you get in a better mood. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly but there’s this playful and carefree feeling. Some of it’s the production, some of it’s the delivery but it comes together to create this effect. As the song progresses it feels like it lifts you higher and higher.
I was so impressed with these two songs I went on to listen to “I Know How You Feel” and “Jack Russell.” “I Know How You Feel” might be my personal favorite. It’s a fairly flawless folk song. The song sounds perfect from a production standpoint. I also loved the vocals because of the surplus of emotion coming from them. “Jack Russell” sounded like a bar you might play in an old time saloon. The band is having a fun time and the feeling is infectious.
Happy Curmudgeons is a great band. I learned that much while listening to these songs. Although I can’t say I’ve seen them live, their music sounds like it was made for that kind of experience. Check them out.
ABOUT THE BAND:
The Happy Curmudgeons are a group of studio musicians dedicated to finding the soul & spirit in musical notes. They believe in the power and connective pulse that music can bring as a universal language. Dave Hamilton founded the group in 2015 and they released their first album, Meant 2 Be, in 2017. The band has released the first single, 2nd Chances, from their forthcoming album that will be titled 2nd Chances due out in 2020. The Happy Curmudgeons bring many genres of music into their music: classic rock, folk, blues, older country and contemporary folk. They believe in music, lyrics and art and bringing them all together for the listener to enjoy.
