Ball & Chain ~ ~ Someone’s Left A Light On

Ball & Chain consists of the husband and wife team of Jon Piro and Lucinda McDermott and is one of my favorite underknown bands. I can’t say they are unknown as they have a decent following among Americana fans in Virginia, but outside of the Commonwealth, they are not as well known. That’s a shame as their skillful lyrics and tight harmonies are a real joy to listen to.

Their latest album, number three if you’re counting, is titled Someone’s Left A Light On, which references the Statue Of Liberty and even incorporates the poem on the plaque into the lyrics. It’s a poignant song and a shot in the arm for these troubled times.

The album is a labor of love with Piro and McDermott handling most everything by themselves with only a little help from Jed Gleason on drums; the Sound of Music Choir, Dante Piro, and Willa Piro on backing vocals. Aside from the excerpt from The New Colossus, there was also some lyrical help from Sarah Storey and Mike Piro.

The disc starts off with All I Wanna Say. A nice medium tempo number with McDermott growling her way through the song giving it plenty of sass and attitude. It’s a good start and has a nice rocking touch.

They follow up with Between A Rock & A Hard Place and its promise that someone is there to lead you back to the world when you’re caught in an untenable situation. How often have we all been in that circumstance, and we need to find our way out?

Next up is Catching A Cloud, a psychedelic pop infused number that is reminiscent of the 1960’s. There’s a little surrealism in the lyrics that just makes the song that much more catchy. They slow things down a little with Day Is Over. This is a little more pop influenced but a nice number that goes will with the previous song.

The title track, Someone’s Left A Light On, follows to remind us that no matter how tough things get, there is a bright light shining to light our way forward. There is room in this nation for all people to get together and create a civilization from our separate backgrounds. A great song…

There’s a little more pop with Fall Out & Into Love. It’s a sweet danceable number that puts a smile on your face and a little tap in your feet. The harmonies are tight and the result is an enjoyable song. They follow up with one of my favorite songs on the album, Just Lonely, which reminds me of some of my favorite tunes from Broadway. McDermott’s expressive voice does a lot with this one.

There’s a bit of grit and bite in the next song, Look Back Yesterday. It’s a good follow up to the previous number and the lyrics are reminiscent of some of the best of the sixties. Listen out for McDermott’s harmonica that sounds very much like some of Dylan’s offerings.

Roam is a sweet circular song as one partner sees something that he thinks his lover would like, but he leaves it, only to receive the same thing from his lover.  It’s a nice little O. Henry twist that leaves a smile lingering on your face for a few minutes.

The next song, Shy, comes out of the gate rocking with guitars and harmonica leading the way. Its gritty and raucous and different than most of the other songs on the album. This shows that Ball & Chain can kick some ass when it wants to.  

Things slow down for Weekend Love, a song where a woman is looking forward to a trip to visit her “weekend love” even though her friends don’t think it will last. It’s an interesting take on things and McDermott does a great job interpreting the lyrics.

There’s some more 1960’s vibe with Wrong Way Street. It’s got a nice bounce sort of like The Lovin’ Spoonful and Piro does a great job with the lead vocals. I haven’t given him his due on the album, but his guitar and vocals have done a fine job with their mix of styles.

The title of the next song, Yesterday’s World, is evocative as it makes us think of things the way they used to be, or used to be in our minds. Whoever is playing the keyboards is doing a good job and once again it seems to be like a Broadway number – and that is not a bad think at all. It’s a lovely song and one I’ll be playing soon. The pace stays deliberate with You Belong With Me From The Vaults. The lyrics are strong and the harmonies are tight.

The Sound has a horn section leading off the song and there’s some nice fat bass run and the song deals with the music that shapes our lives. It’s an interesting take on those songs that are forever a part of our DNA, although I wonder how many of today’s listeners would know what a transistor radio was.

Piro reflects on his memories in I Remember (11/01/17), but quickly realizes that those beautiful memories have been forever changed by so much of what has happened in modern life. He wonders what kind of memories we have left our children and our children’s children. How quickly we go from innocence to experience and how that changes our perceptions.

One thing that is universal is Lookin’ For Love. It’s the search that defines much of our adulthood and it can drive us crazy if we can’t find it. Next up is Call Me and it makes a good bookend with Lookin’ For Love.

The disc concludes with In My Heart. It’s a plaintive number that aptly sums up the emotions that the album has stirred up. The keys and guitar create a deep pocket for Piro’s vocals. It’s a good way to take this out.

Ball & Chain is one of those groups who is adept at many different styles. I label them as “Americana” because that’s the closest genre that takes in their gritty country rock with their smooth vocals as well as the other things they throw in for fun.

If you don’t have any of their previous releases, they are available through the usual streaming services and I bet you can find them as well as this latest disc at their website. Someone’s Left A Light On is a great place to start building your collection of their work.

**For those in the Richmond, VA area** There will be a CD release party on November 18^th at the Sound Of Music Studios at 1115 Brook Road from 7-9 p.m. Admission is free and yours truly will be introducing the band. Please come and bring your friends and family!