Debut album from The Heatherlys, “Neon Neverland”
One half of The Heatherlys is none other than Eric Heatherly. Country music connoisseurs will be familiar with this name, as the ex-Shania Twain guitarist has been enriching the Nashville community with his very own sound since the early 2000s. A sound concoction in which ingredients from rockabilly, country rock and melodious folk-pop can be identified. His first album “Swimming in Champagne”, co-produced by Keith Stegall (Alan Jackson), already stormed into the country charts. And singles such as the Statler Brothers adaptation “Flowers on the Wall” also reached top positions in the charts.
Eric Heatherly could have taken this concept further. But the man born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1970 is a seeker. He is also a hopeless romantic with a pronounced penchant for vintage style: hot rod cars, black and white Florsheim shoes, Elvis-style cotillos and quiffs. This long-timeless rock ‘n’ roll style is also likely to have caught the eye of his wife Lindsey on their first chance meeting. Just like Eric, the blonde Southern artist is fascinated by the sound and style of the 50s and 60s. So what could be more natural than to merge their two solo careers into The Heatherlys?
“Neon Neverland” 13 tracks in perfect harmony
As “Neon Neverland” now proves, it was a good decision. Because the two are not only on the same wavelength when it comes to fashion. They also pull together musically and harmonize perfectly on the 13 tracks of their debut album. What’s more: Eric and Lindsey throw each other the harmonic balls, they complement and push each other and bring out the best in each other as a singing couple.
The opener and title track is already a musical highlight: a romantic country-rock song reminiscent of sunny highways. In “Vintage Hearts”, which is characterized by 90s country sounds, they make it clear just how dedicated they are to the style of days gone by – perhaps something like their personal anthem. Occasionally, The Heatherlys push the envelope on “Neon Neverland”. For example in the robust blues “Daily Driver” and in – the title says it all – “Honky Tonk Rock ‘n’ Roller”. Another highlight is the track “Extinction”, reminiscent of the Mavericks, for which they invited a good old friend into the studio: Slide virtuoso Lee Roy Parnell. The song proves that the “Clapton of country” has lost none of his artistry to this day.