March To August - Highway 75 (2026)

This effort is a short-story concept that traces the journey of a fictional long-haul truck driver on an interstate trip along Highway 75, with episodes drawn from life. He travels from Florida to the Canadian border & over all those miles, the driver copes with addiction, losses, failures, & remorse until one day a hailstorm is the catalyst of change in his life. This is the stuff of a good movie. Derrick Mears (vocals/guitar/banjo/harmonica) & Jodi Mears (bass/lap steel/percussion/stomp box/vocals) are the string duo & key players on Highway 75 — a mix of roots-driven Americana, alt-country & bluegrass from the Ozark Mountains (Drops May 29/Independent/47:01). The music & vocals were recorded well. The propulsion is deep with rural country depth & charm. “Highways & Honkytonks” has a bit of traditional country & western that runs through it, but is wound tight in a homegrown fashion. It’s Country without mainstream thrust & commercial sugar. It’s more fresh-picked than factory-made. The banjo tune “Two Too Many” has clarity by Derrick, but his lead vocal is recorded too hot & up front. The song is nonetheless a pleasant driving tune. The ballad “Highway 75” is a highlight. The song is poignant & powerful. “Heartache, Headaches & Beer” approaches the tradition of George Jones since it’s dipped a little longer in the batter of C&W. Derrick Mears does a fine job & his voice here is sincere. Nothing is pompous, overblown, though there’s a generous amount of lyrical cliché, nothing’s campy or novelty.

The duo’s musical prowess is on “Red Top Mountain Hailstorm” — a wonderful romp. It’s an interlude & the banjo is exceptional. There’s a touch too much echo on Derrick’s vocal on the otherwise splendid tune “Breach the Distance.” This would be better with a warmer, earthier take since the lyrics ooze an organic feeling like the harmonica. As is, the vocal treatment doesn’t add to the required mildness. It needs a more intimate setting. On the LP’s “Whiskey Town,” Derrick’s vocal is captured well, but hot & not intimate. Listening closely to his lyric, it sounds like he’s singing alone or to someone next to him privately in a dark saloon. He tries to be sincere. The song’s a confession & confessions aren’t loud. Some lyrics should be delivered just above a whisper. “Quiet Years” with good acoustic guitar picking has that intimate intonation, while “Frequency” is pure & rhythmic. The video of “Whiskey Town” is better sung.
It’s a good collection with backwoods alchemy. Production needs to be tweaked in spots. Some songs are on a taunt fishing line & still need to be reeled in. I have confidence.