Renowned singer-songwriter Jason Boland announced his eccentric sci-fi concept album The Light Saw Me, released December 3 via Thirty Tigers. Produced by GRAMMY award-winner, Shooter Jennings, it blends country influences from across the cosmos. Crunchy guitars, psychedelic pedal steel and roaring fiddles soundtrack his vivid sci-fi storytelling. Boland recounts the tale of a cowboy living in Texas in the late 1890s who is abducted by aliens and thrust into the future by a century, returning in the 1990s with no perception that any time has passed, searching for his wife who is no longer of this world.
Boland debuted title track and video for “The Light Saw Me,” which he premiered via FLOOD MAGAZINE who praised the new record and whilst referencing the movie Cowboys & Aliens, stated, “While the title track from Jason Boland’s newly unveiled LP with The Stragglers may share the general premise of this over-the-top sci-fi blockbuster, in a way he kind of flips the idea on its head.”
A pacy rock country exploration with a lithe guitar lick and Boland’s vocal croon introducing us to the album’s central character, the cowboy and his first life changing extraterrestrial encounter.
Discussing the track, Boland stated, “The Light Saw Me as a song and album which aims to highlight our lack of ultimate control over our narratives. So much of what happens in our lives seems to choose us in spite of our grand plans.”
Producer Shooter Jennings added, “Jason is one of my dearest friends and, in my opinion, one of the smartest and coolest dudes I know. He was the first person to ask me to produce their record and many years ago we had a great time making “Dark and Dirty Mile”. So it was natural for me to be more than excited to be asked to produce The Light Saw Me. This album isn’t just another album from Jason & The Stragglers. It’s a magnum opus of the highest creative order, which in turn I take as a very serious honor to be able to be a part of its inception.”
He added, “Jason and the band were a delight and Jason’s vision from the album served as our lodestar as we carried it from cradle to its proper spot on the mountain high. It’s one of the coolest sounding records I’ve heard in years, so I’m really excited to see what the future holds for The Light Saw Me.”
Drawing inspiration from podcasts including Desert Oracle Radio, the album boldly attempts to simultaneously address existential questions, from the meaning of life to more personal reflections on love and loss. Beneath Bolands sensational sci-fi narrative lies an allegory. He explains, “the deeper meaning of the material is “meaning” itself. When faced with the stoic realities of our collective fate, love is the source of the power that can keep us going.”
Boland also announced the first leg of his U.S. tour with dates including Tulsa’s beloved Cain’s Ballroom, New Braunfels’ Gruene Hall, Nashville’s famed The Basement East and Pioneertown’s historic Pappy & Harriett’s Pioneertown Palace. Boland also announced his official debut at the legendary Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on December 7. More information can be found here: https://thestragglers.com/
Bolland is primarily known for his contributions to the Red Dirt country scene, and with over 500,000 records sold independently and 10 albums to his name, Boland has mostly been considered a DIY career musician with a loyal cult fanbase. Now with his new breakthrough intergalactic country album and Boland’s finest work to date, we are presented with a record which could speak across both the celestial and genre divide. Personally, he hopes it will help others feel less alone. Boland stated, “Many suffer silently with the terrifying nature of it all while believing themselves to be the only ones forgotten.”
The Light Saw Me will be released on December 3 via Thirty Tigers. To know more about Jason Boland, go to his website here.
The Light Saw Me’ Tracklist
- Terrifying Nature
- The Light Saw Me
- A Tornado & The Fool
- Here For You
- Transmission Out
- Transition In
- Future
- Straight Home
- Restless Spirits
- A Place To Stay
- Faux Reel
Tour dates:
Nov 13 – Tomball, TX – District 249 Bar & Grill #
Nov 19 – Fort Worth, TX – Tulips FTW #
Nov 20 – Joplin, MO – ETG Sports & Events Center #
Nov 26 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom # $
Nov 27 – New Braunfels, TX – Gruene Hall #
Dec 3 – Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre *
Dec 4 – Little Rock, AR – The Rev Room *
Dec 6 – Huntsville, AL – SideTracks Music Hall *
Dec 7 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry
Dec 8 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East *
Dec 9 – Chicago, IL – Joe’s $
Dec 10 – Lexington, KY – The Burl $
Dec 11 – Warrendale, PA – Jergels $
Dec 14 – Philadelphia, PA – City Winery Philadelphia $
Dec 16 – Washington, D.C. – City Winery Washington D.C. $
Dec 17 – Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre $
# Mike and the Moonpies
* Leah Blevins
$ Grady Spencer and the Work
2022
Feb 4 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace
MORE INFO ON JASON BOLAND
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