Jeremy Aggers' new EP: Everything Behind You

By Sarah Hall

shall@salisburypost.com

Jeremy Aggers’ trips to his hometown of Salisbury have become increasingly rare. He recently got to spend Thanksgiving with his family for the first time in seven years.

But Aggers says Salisbury is still one of his favorite places, and he likes to tell people about the place he grew up, especially recommending Haps downtown and the nature preserve behind his alma mater, Catawba College.

He majored in theatre at Catawba, but lately his acting has been eclipsed by his success as a singer and songwriter, although the downturn in the economy has made it challenging to earn a living with any artistic pursuit.

So Aggers works at a legendary political stronghold, Manuel’s Tavern, in the city he now calls home — Atlanta. On nights off, he’s doing the “weekend warrior” thing, performing mostly in A-town and environs, with occasional two-week tours in between.

Hopefully one of those tours will be bringing him through Salisbury in the spring.

In between work and performance, Aggers found time to put together his second studio EP for Brash Records, “Everything Behind You,” continuing the evocative storytelling and solid musicianship he became known for with his 2009 debut EP “What it Comes Down To.” This latest effort has John Driskell Hopkins (of the Zac Brown Band) producing and mixing, with additional production, creative influence and instrumentals from Ben Holst.

All of the songs were written by Aggers and include a varied cast of characters. Asked if the songs are autobiographical, he replies, “Well, a person writes about what he knows, and I know myself better than anybody. But nobody wants to hear about you all of the time. I mostly try to sing about things other people can connect to.”

Aggers’ style combines folk, country and rock into an agreeable blend. He has been compared to Tom Waits by several reviewers , but Aggers sings with more finesse. Of the comparison, Aggers says, “I get that sometimes, and he’s definitely one of my big influences.”

Asked to name other singers he finds particularly inspirational, he chooses David Bazan of Pedro the Lion, and older work by Jeff Tweedy.

Independent, Atlanta-based label Brash records is noted mostly for their alt-Christian and contemporary Christian acts.

“I’m their more secular guy,” explains Aggers.

But that’s not to say his work doesn’t have a thread of spirituality running through it, adding another dimension to his lyrics. The opening track, “Foolish Man” with its references to building a house upon sand suggests this well-known biblical story to illustrate the uncertainty of life and relationships. The song also employs varying rhythmic emphasis and delayed cadences to paint a picture of a shifting foundation.

Syncopated hand claps that start late in the first track continue into the second, providing an off-kilter counterpoint that somehow works, and provides another layer to the delightful, banjo-infused “Year of the Ratt.” The bluegrass- tinged ballad has nothing in common musically with metal, but that didn’t stop bassist Gabriel Monticello (whom Aggers described as “a metal head”) from adding an extra “t” to the title on a set list, changing the word forever from a rodent to an 80s glam-metal band.

The title track, “Everything Behind You” is flowing and poetic, with appealingly unexpected chords and turns of phrase. By contrast, the next song is more straightforward musically with a country-inspired brightness that belies its darker lyrical themes.

The song “Turned Wine” showcases Aggers’ talent as guitarist, but once again, the gentle music contrasts the story the words tell, as short, sung phrases about a relationship gone sour weave in and out of the perpetual instrumental line.

The EP concludes with the driving, electric “If it’s All the Same to You.” Aggers describes it as “just jangly rock n’ roll” but he does give a shout-out to guitarist “Ben Holst” for some particularly “cool lead work” on this song.

Aggers also calls it “a milestone song about turning 30, without sounding like I care too much.”

But as Aggers continues to grow musically, the best may be yet to come.