Kiefer Sutherland announces new single ‘Open Road’, taken from current album ‘Reckless & Me’. ‘Open Road’ showcases Sutherland’s raw, whisky-soaked vocal, raspy and full of sincerity while he sings about his passion for the road. He co-wrote the song with Jude Coleback in 1987 when they were on a road trip.
Kiefer Sutherland followed his critically acclaimed 2016debut album ‘Down In A Hole’ by releasing the follow-up ‘Reckless & Me’ in April via BMG.‘Reckless & Me’ is the second chapter in a musical journey that has seen Sutherland play hundreds of shows & charted in the Official UK charts earlier this year at #9. He returns to the UK next month for festival appearances and then a UK tour in October including a date at London’s O2 Shepherds Bush Empire.
‘Reckless & Me’ emerged organically from Sutherland’s touring in support of his debut. The ten songs were written primarily by Sutherland with select contributions from his producer and long-term friendJude Cole. They recorded the majority of the album in two sets of sessions, each spanning three or four days, atCapitol Studios in Los Angeles. Sutherland was inspired by the location’s rich history, and especially by posing next to a photo ofPaul McCartney looking back at a photo of Frank Sinatra. Their supporting musicians shared a strong pedigree, notably guitarist Waddy Wachtel (Stevie Nicks), drummer Brian MacLeod (Sheryl Crow) and the legendary pianist Jim Cox.
While country music is the beating heart of ‘Reckless & Me’, its songs span wider Americana, encompassing folk, rock, blues and a whole lot more. They’re all connected by Sutherland’s love of sharing stories, whether by recounting snapshot of his own life or relating the experiences of others.
“As an actor I know that making a connection with an audience always comes by virtue of the story or the character,”he explains.“This is very different. They’re personal stories from my life. As lucky as I am, there are things you can’t avoid: friends of yours are going to die, you’re going to be let down, your heart will be broken. Hopefully they help both me and the audience to realise that none of us are alone in trying to get these things in life. And there’s something comforting about that. At least to me.”
One of the album’s immediate highlights is ‘This Is How It’s Done’, a high octane honky tonk that demonstrates that Sutherland’s take on country is steeped in tradition. He was waiting in a bar when he had a flashback to his youth which inspired the song, hastily scribbling the lyrics onto napkins and recording the melody onto his phone.
“It’s about the first night I walked into a bar,”he recalls, ”and it was the first time I’d seen two adult men beat the shit out of each other. And that happened like three minutes after I walked in the door. It scared me a bit, and I’m still trying to figure out why I kept going back!”
And ‘Reckless & Me’ comes to close with Sutherland’s heartfelt ode to his daughter,Sarah. Looking back upon photos of her as a baby, he started written what eventually became ‘Song For A Daughter’. In that emotional moment, he promised to finish it.“Long after I’m gone, the song will still be there and she’ll know how much I love her,”he says.“I cried when I wrote it thinking about how much she’s meant to my life, and how different it would’ve been without her.”
‘Reckless & Me’ is released on CD, vinyl and digital formats.
Fans can purchase the album here; https://BMG.lnk.to/
UK TOUR DATES
Monday 22nd July – Bristol, River Town Festival
Tuesday 23rd July – Brighton, Concorde 2
Thursday 25th July – Bury St Edmunds, Apex
Saturday 3rd August – Bournemouth, O2 Academy
Tuesday 6th August – Aberdeen, Lemon Tree
Wednesday 7th August – Edinburgh, Liquid Rooms
Thursday 8th August – York, Barbican
Tuesday 15th October – Cardiff, Tramshed
Wednesday 16th October – Glasgow, Old Fruit Market
Monday 19th October – Hull, Asylum
Sunday 20th October – Manchester, O2 Ritz
Monday 21st October – Birmingham, O2 Institute
Tuesday 22nd October- London, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
