Artist Watch: Julian Anderson & the Puget Sound Convergence Zone
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Artist: Julian Anderson & the Puget Sound Convergence Zone
Feature Title: Friday Drunk on Tuesday
Genres: Country, Alt Country, Indie Folk
Quick Description: A candid country EP that’s easy to love, Julian Anderson’s songs feature a brilliant band, nothing-to-hide lyrics, and an affable twang that invites listeners to pour themselves a drink… even on a Tuesday.
For Fans of: The Band, Bob Dylan, Dawes, Kevin Morby
When dealing with matters of a broken heart, some songwriters lean into soft-spoken and capital “V” Vulnerability to convey their emotions, pouring their pain into vivid descriptions and metaphors.
Julian Anderson is just plain honest. And it is incredibly refreshing.
Throughout Friday Drunk on Tuesday, you won’t find a lick of nonsense or a word wasted. Right out of the gate, the first lyrics to the EP opener “This Damn Heart” skip any preamble and go straight into a lover walking out the door. But the Seattle songwriter, producer, engineer isn’t crying in a corner as he seemingly shrugs it off and sings “A little ache won't shatter this damn heart.”
The immediacy of Anderson’s songwriting is striking. Sung over a tight, classic country band, the approachable vocals make it feel like you’re having a beer with the Seattle artist, belly up at the bar for a night out with the crew. And Anderson has found one hell of a crew with the Puget Sound Convergence Zone.
With brilliant and minimalist production that embraces the authenticity of the live band, lightning lead guitars give an edge to the songs with solos and fills that balance out the easy-going sound of the Wurlitzer, the warm baritone guitar, and a laid-back drum and bass rhythm section. On title track “Friday Drunk on Tuesday,” the band helps transform what could easily have been a somber ballad into a sad song that feels good with a playful brightness and harmonies that make you want to sing along.
And while each track on the EP contains their own unique characteristics, the ode to the introvert that is “Sitting Alone” stands out. Beginning with a drum machine, utilizing doubled lead vocals and a rocking Hammond organ, this song also showcases the skill of Julian Anderson as the producer of this record. These choices create a sound that captures the energy of an introvert pushing back on an ex who misreads his actions, showing a quiet strength that is never overly assertive yet comfortable in his skin:
“Just because I'm sitting alone doesn't mean that I'm lonely
Just because I'm not smiling doesn't mean that I'm blue
Just because I'm still here, thinking all about you
Doesn't mean I think anything of you”
Julian Anderson won’t make you cry with tales of lost love and broken hearts. But he writes with a refreshing honesty, frankness, and good-natured humor that makes it easy to smile and perhaps raise a glass to the memories before moving on. Or perhaps, you’ll put Friday Drunk on Tuesday on repeat and order another round.
But he doesn’t just make country music. If you’d like to learn more about Julian Anderson, click here for his work as a producer, engineer, mixer (including Fall Out Boy, Dave Matthews Band, Jade Bird, Brandi Carlile, Acceptance). He’s also a partner at Thud Studio in Seattle, Washington (with our own Daniel Holter btw). And here are a few of our favorite albums that Julian has composed with Forrest Reed and Aaron Wittrock for our Eyeballs & Eardrums and HypeKit labels :
