Heavy and yellow, the moon hung low over Slowdown on Saturday as Simon Joyner and the Ghosts celebrated the release of Grass, Branch and Bone, Joyner’s 13th proper full-length album. The event was a celebration of the art of song-craft, which Joyner is recognized as masterfully practicing.

L. Eugene Methe opened with his introspective lyricism and harmonically rich keyboard playing, tuning the audience for an evening of well-crafted balladry. Methe and Joyner have collaborated in the past and it is not hard to understand why. Methe was followed by Outlaw Con Bandana in a farewell performance for what is currently the duo of Brendan Hagberg and Pearl Lovejoy Boyd. Their always tasteful harmonies and thoughtful lyrics combined with fine banjo and guitar stylings reminded all of how much they will be missed.

Proving once again why Joyner is renowned as one of Omaha’s most eloquent and influential songsmiths, he and the five-piece Ghosts throughly conjured the muse time and again, song after song. The thrump of the upright bass, moan of pedal steel, long drawn fiddle, grind of low organ, creak and slash of electric guitar, crash and thrum of the drums—these intertwined with Joyner’s patient guitar and confident voice for memorable renditions of his recent work.

That Joyner’s art is the song—and that his songs are art—is no secret. He crafts songs like an old race horse that still can’t be defeated. He has an ability to experience the world profoundly and to bring that gravity into music and verse so consistently; a gift rarer than moon rock. The audience, as always was appreciative of Joyner’s new efforts, as his is an important voice.

The archer hits his mark.

You can buy Grass, Branch and Bone here and read Hear Nebraska’s feature about the album here.

Outlaw Con Bandana

L. Eugene Methe