(Editor's note: This CD review previews an Alli and I concert at Crescent Moon Coffee on Thursday at 6 p.m. An open mic will follow.)
review and photos by Dawn Thorfinnson
Andrew Standley hopped up to the mic with his guitar, Allison, slung over his shoulder. He wore his usual pair of cowboy boots and after a brief introduction and a smile like a kid on Christmas morning, he launched into an energetic and entertaining set.
Throughout the performance, the evening crowd at Crescent Moon Coffee seemed to be smiling a bit more, tapping their toes and nodding their heads in time with the strumming of his guitar. As I watched, I became hooked with what he calls Alli and I. I bought his album Way Out West and later, as I hit the highway for my semi-weekly trip to visit family in Hickman, I popped it in and listened.
(Album photo by Britni Grace.)
Within about six seconds, I found myself nodding along. It's the type of album that I'd play in the car with the windows rolled down and sing along with obnoxiously, even at stop lights, regardless of the looks I might get. These songs are just too darn fun to not play karaoke with.
As the album spun on and I continued my southbound drive on Highway 77, I found that it is a perfect match for my small road trip through the country, primarily thanks to the song, "Small Town Smiles," which references western Nebraska's rolling hills, and "highways stretched out for miles."
Standley is a born-and-raised Nebraskan, so it's no surprise the album has a strong hometown feel. It boasts a number of references to "this big red town" and the "Husker scene." As a fellow Midwesterner, it gave me something to relate to, but it might make potential fans from elsewhere feel a bit disconnected since it is so geographically specific.
Standley's voice matches up by steadily maintaining a pop-punk sound, but just as his trademark cowboy boots suggest, he hints at country roots by occasionally adding that vocal twang.
Although I would say it's most reminiscent of Dashboard Confessional during the mid 2000s (but not nearly as emo), it is different enough that you couldn't possibly mistake it for a knock-off band. I know plenty of people are put off by the reoccurring melodramatic themes of angst and broken hearts found in Dashboard's songs. It helps that the Alli and I album manages to touch on those subjects but varies enough that you never feel like it's being over done.
The second track on the album, "Follow Your Dreams," displays Standley's passion for performing the clearest. An excerpt from the chorus reads, "Take a risk and stick to your guns / Follow your dreams / I'm just a nobody from a nowhere town / And singing to the world would be a dream come true." He's a man with high hopes, but even if this level of success is all life has for him, he'd still call it a win and go out smiling.
Compliments should be given to Plan C Recording for a well mixed, mastered and produced record. Although the live performance I saw was just Standley and Allison, the album features Rich Confer on bass and trumpet, Corey Wallroff and Ray Michael with additional vocals. Standley also plays drums and piano. The final mixing, mastering, and producing was done by Matt Hova, Nick Tarlowski, Matty Sanders and Standley.
It has the clean, crisp and clear sound the studio has become known for over the past few years. Even the vocals are laid well enough that you can understand every properly enunciated word.
Way Out West follows proper sequencing by the book and every transition from one track to another seems appropriate.
The album starts strong with a poppy number filled with imagery-inducing lyrics, moves on to an inspiring and anthemic track, dips briefly into a couple of folk- and country-infused songs about love and loss, moves back to some pop-punk that you can't help but shake to, and finishes with a mellow and autobiographical piece the album was named after.
(Photo by Britni Grace.)
It opens forcefully enough to get your attention and has a close that doesn't leave you questioning if it is over or not, despite there being only seven tracks.
Overall, my only complaint is that it is just 24 minutes long. This fairly new artist has already sold roughly 300 copies since the November release. Alli and I is one of the many musical gems in this town and is a prime example of why Lincoln is called a music city.
Standley’s next performances are scheduled for Thursday, March 8, at Crescent Moon Coffee in Lincoln and April 1 at Cafe 110 in Omaha. Both shows start at 6 p.m. To purchase an album, you can contact Standley directly at andrewstandley@yahoo.com or search for Alli and I on iTunes. You can also listen to full tracks for free on the Alli and I Facebook page or at ReverbNation.
Dawn Thorfinnson is a Hear Nebraska contributor. She runs Lucky Stars Photography. Reach her at dawnt@hearnebraska.org.