A few weeks back, I stood standing a few people back from the barrier at the ABC in Glasgow. It was a Saturday night which meant that the venue implemented a very strict and earlier curfew in order to clear the space for their club night that followed. This earlier curfew was a blessing as it greatly reduced the waiting time between doors opening and the time that a certain Mr Kip Moore would be taking the stage. Yet when the evening's support act took the stage, I forgot all about Kip.The support act was Scotsman, Billy Jeffrey Jnr. and I'm not alone in saying that he was a major highlight of the night. He's also a name that some country fans will become familiar with forshould become familiar with, for he is simply an (as yet) uncovered gem.
Jeffrey will also be supporting Grammy Award winner Jason Isbell this coming August in Edinburgh. He's also a name that music fans in general
Eternal Blue is a stellar album, especially when you take into mind that it's also a debut album. It's a satisfying mix of genres - folk, country, soul, rock and strong Celtic influences to name but a few.
The album is one of tremendous depth and flows seamlessly. It's a beautiful collection of well crafted tracks but a two tracks stand head and shoulders above the rest (which is saying something as the standard of most tracks is very high). One is 'Ball and Chain', a particularly poignant track as Jeffrey sings about how the hardships and stumbling blocks of life are inescapable yet they also make you feel alive. 'Richly Blessed' is about love, how love can conquer obstacles and how the simple things in relationships can make you feel incredibly thankful for what you have. Both songs are exactly the sort of meaningful music that there never seems to be enough of these days.
My only grievance? At nine tracks, it's a little on the short side. But definitely worth the investment of both your time and money.
Billy is playing King Tuts (supporting Paul Newsome) May 27th and The Liquid Rooms (Supporting Jason Isbell) August 21st. Eternal Blue is available via digital platforms.
