Album Notes

Over a decade ago, Hazel Dickens recorded "Hard Hitting Songs for Hard Hit People." This collection could well be considered the sequel. The three songwriters in The Mayhaws, Sharla June, David Leporati and Carrie Hamby, have gone to the dark side and come out with some of their hardest-hitting songs yet, while managing to shine the surfaces just enough that you can see a reflection of your better nature, and maybe even your doppleganger, behind you laughing his or her butt off.

Borrowing from some other fine songwriters from Tallahassee to Berlin, The Mayhaws serve up a heaping helping of longing, regret, humor and hope that will get you kicking out your chair and shaking it throughout the dog-days and beyond.

'"Lonely Places" is as bittersweet, delicious and addictive as rich, dark chocolate. It serves up blue-and-lonesome country twang (the title song, "Five Days on the Wagon"), smart-footed rambles through the brambles ("Bite the Bitter," "Prickly Pear"), a seafaring shantey ("Sailing No More") and gossamer, lovelorn ballads ("Little Brown Bird," "Don't Wanna Hear You Laugh). The harmonies are nigh-on angelic, the musicianship is top-notch (thanks for getting Hamby to strap on that squeezebox!), and it all makes for a pungent musical blossom that unfurls fresh petals with each listen.' — Kati Schardl, Tallahassee Democrat

'The songs on the album . . . rejoice in the wonderful mystery that is head-hung-low honky-tonk that makes one ask that eternal question: “Why do I love listening to songs that are so damn depressing? And are they depressing if they bring joy to my ears?”…go ahead and buy Lonely Places and you can thank me later. Just buy me a couple of beers at the next Mayhaws show.' — Old Five and Dimer, Bullying the Jukebox

'The Mayhaws have much, much more to offer than quirky cover songs; this may be as good a collection of songwriters as there is in one group in Tallahassee. These are seriously talented musicians having a lot of fun with traditional American music.' — WFSU OutLoud