Maybe it's Time?
This week we talk about Josh Gillespie's new album. And of course, our Big Get and On the Bottom Shelf. We'll see you tonight at 8pm Eastern for Monticello Live.
Maybe it's Time?
“The bush is always burning. Even when we’re on our screens.”
That’s the first line from the first single on Josh Gillespie’s new album, “Maybe it’s Time.” Intentionally or not, that line grabbed me and made me think — which if you know Josh at all is entirely appropriate. It’s also why he wrote the album in the first place.
I know a little something about journeys. The last four years of my life included a career highlight, multiple betrayals by close friends, watching our nation devolve into chaos, personal depression and thoughts of suicide, growth, re-evaluation and course changes, new friendships and new outlooks. If I had the talent to set that to music it would probably sound a lot like Josh’s album.
It turns out that Josh isn’t just a musician (he plays everything on the album except drums, lead guitar and cello), he’s something of a poet. The second song “Wake Up Dead Man” includes the lines:
A unity call in the dried up land
Each pile of bones is now a man
Justice rolls like a desert stream
All the oppressed are now redeemed
“Souvenirs of War” is the third track and the guitar/string harmony instantly out me into a thoughtful mood. The song itself is reminiscent of 90’s alt rock like Soul Asylum or Incubus two personal favorites.) But it includes these prescient lines:
They said that you were for me
The lot was cast against Will you profit the world
But end up losing your soul
Your soul
Here comes the lie
You will always be true
To the precious, the few
Your souvenirs of war
Like guitar instrumentals? There are two of them here. A song about gaslighting? Yep. As you might expect from a recovering political flack there’s a song called “Slave to the Party”
I’m feelin’ the flow
The power, the groove
What am I serving?
What do I approve?
I’m told forget
All that I know
My god...it’s the party
Let’s put on a show
No one considered
what’s right or what’s wrong
All that will matter
Is that I belong
How did I end up here?
Cuz I’m
Slave to the Party
I want the noise
Give in to fear
I’ve got no choice
Slave to the Party
I need all the lies
Lost in the darkness
Can’t see no light
Thoughtful? Check. Excellent musicianship? Check. Professional production? Check. Josh’s new album checks the boxes and is an excellent listen. I can’t wait for you to hear the rest of it.
Tune in to Monticello Live tonight to get a live preview and to chat with Josh. Join us live on Periscope, YouTube or Facebook at 8pm Eastern.
Last Friday evening Jessica and I got together for a year-in-review episode of Monticello Live, talking about our outlook for 2021 and the greatest show in the history of streaming television.
The Gig Get
Josh Gillespie
This week is a bit of a challenge because we’re talking about my longest continuous friendship and the person who is probably as responsible for where I currently am as a person as anyone in my life.
Some 17 years ago, give or take, I got involved with what Josh himself later termed a “non traditional political campaign.” After years of working with Democrats and a several year detour with the Libertarian Party, I helped convince a friend to run for Congress as a Republican instead of as a Libertarian. Partly for selfish reasons as I was already working with Republicans and partly because I thought this was an excellent chance for my friend to actually win an election. Turns out I had no idea what I was in for. Neither did my friend.
During an early campaign event I ran into a guy wearing (as I recall) khakis and a blue oxford shirt. I later came to recognize the standard uniform of Young Republicans but I was still relatively new to all of this at the time. The guy was earnest, very smart, and had a demeanor that I just felt comfortable with. He gave off a vibe of being someone trustworthy. It turns out my first impression was correct.
Not sure where I would be in life without Josh. Just having someone you can talk through things with at a deep level makes the hard times easier and the good times better. I’m delighted to introduce him to you and proud of what he is doing with his music.
Hoosier from birth? Tell us about your upbringing and family.
Hoosier by birth, but a Purdue Boilermaker by the grace of God. If I tell anyone from Indiana that I grew up in a small farming/bedroom community called Fishers, they'd stare blankly at me as Fishers is now the 5th largest city in Indiana. But I grew down the street from two farms and farmland made up most of the area. I was raised in a typical suburban home. My dad was a pastor, but had a full time job on top of that. I have a brother and sister who are 10 and 8 years older than me. I was the surprise. I was your typical 80's and 90's kid. Nothing too crazy. I claim GenX because of my sibling influence (and because technically I can), but I honestly loved the 90's, especially the early to mid 90's. Those were my formative years.
Why politics? Did you parents not tell you that they loved you?
I had always had a predilection towards politics. I ran for class president in the 5th grace twice! Each quarter had a new class president. I won the first time and lost by one vote the second time. There's a whole scandal behind that too since I was prevented from voting. Why? I had called a student in my class stupid...and it was the sub's daughter. Oops! I also found out I was related to a former President, Warren G. Harding (now no longer considered the worst POTUS in American history!). That just exploded everything for me and I wanted to know more and be as involved as I could be.
I know you are a very proud Purdue graduate. Why is your mascot a cocktail?
I mean, why not? And it's not some fussy done up cocktail either. Oh no! This drink gets and keeps the consumer involved. It's beer and whiskey! And this was before the fad of bourbon barrel beer...which I admittedly enjoy.
Speaking of Purdue, just how amazing is Mitch Daniels as University President?
For the last 8 years I have been able to say that Mitch Daniels is MY PRESIDENT...of my alma mater. I was thrilled...beyond giddy really...when Mitch Daniels became president of Purdue. The guy has raised the bar for Purdue on so many levels, he hasn't raised tuition in 8 years (what other college/university can say that) and he's been at the forefront of some major secondary education initiatives. All in all, it's good to be a Boilermaker.
Publisher’s note: I once coined the phrase “The Most Presidential Man in America” which was used as a tagline for Governor Daniels’s book:
When did you start playing guitar? How important was music in your family growing up?
I was a band geek first chair trumpet player in high school, however I started playing guitar after high school. I bought one without knowing how to play, let it sit for 6 months because it hurt my fingers when I practiced and finally decided that, because my investment was so great, I was going to take lessons. That lasted for about 6 months. I've taken lessons on and off over the years, but I'm mostly self taught. Outside of my faith and my family, music is probably the most important thing to me. My grandfather was a traveling evangelist in the 40's and 50's and the whole family would lead worship at the churches they'd attend. My dad played piano and organ and my uncle was on the violin while my grandparents sang. Fast forward and that musical legacy endures. My brother plays drums on my upcoming album (plus he has his own drum selling business) and my cousin, who has been a record producer for over. 35 years, recorded, produced and engineered it.
What role does faith play in your life?
My faith is incredibly important to me and has led to my political shifts in recent years. And no, I'm not talking about Christian Nationalism (**shudders**). There's a line from a song called "A King and a Kingdom" by Derek Webb that says "So my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country or a man No, my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood It's to a King and a kingdom". That song came out in 2005 and laid the groundwork for how my faith would evolve into something that was more biblically based and Christ-centered. It challenged me to look outside the typical "Christian Conservative" lens and it was tough. Trust me, it's been a long process and I am far far from perfect. I've struggled and wrestled with my faith and my politics since they've been so intertwined, broken apart and put back together. I initially tried to incorporate that journey into my album, but that could be a song/album for another day.
Are you still a Republican?
No, I do not claim the label of Republican anymore. Truth be told, that coffin began to close long before the election of Donald Trump, but he was the final nail for sure. I don't claim any party - though I'm sure some are convinced I'm a Democrat. They would be wrong.
Besides me, your podcast “Political Nomad” has had some pretty interesting guests. What has that project been like and what are your future plans?
I loved doing The Political Nomad! I hadn't heard of many podcasts that tried to explore political journeys shifting from party to another. It's usually red meat podcasts aimed at one party or the other. But I could sense there were more people like us who no longer aligned with a party and wanted to talk about how we got here (where the US is politically) in the first place. With politics becoming so starkly divided we need more voices that appealed to the journey to those who might be disaffected. That podcast had a big influence on my album and vice versa. It's currently on hiatus as I start to promote the new album, but I hope to relaunch it again later in the year. Maybe it will spawn a new album. Who knows?
I know there were several but what was the impetus to finally make this album? What are you most proud of?
The fact that I finally had enough tracks to pursue something like that. I went into the studio, initially, with about 20 tracks. For me, music comes first so I wanted to get these down and see where they would/could go. I think what I'm most proud of is that I did it. It had always been a dream of mine...a bucket list item. But not only did it happen, I have some incredible musicians on this record (Tim Beeler on lead guitar and Joni Fuller with some amazing strings work) and my cousin made my songs sound better than I could have ever hoped for. I also learned how to play bass for it.
Tell us about your own family.
I have five kids (four girls and one boy) and my wife is an Ivy League graduate who has started her own consulting business. We're an intense bunch, but we love each other and know how to laugh and have fun.
Who were your musical influences and who do you listen to now?
My brother raised me on the Holy Triumvirate known as RUSH, but was really influenced by R.E.M. Caedmon's Call also played an integral role in guitar development with Derek Webb, then of Caedmon's before going solo, impacting me lyrically. Now, I love listening to Phoebe Bridgers, Spoon (best live band I have seen in the last 20 years), Foo Fighters and I've been listening to a lot of Beck.
Did you make music before the age of streaming and if so, how has that affected how you make music?
I did. I was in a band in college. We recorded some test tracks and even have a live performance on CD, though I'm the only one with that copy. We never put anything out though. It's my hope to record some of those songs some day. If only for me and members of the band so they can hear how it could have sounded. I loved those old songs. Streaming has affected this project with the rollout. In the old days, you'd release an album, some singles from the album after it was out and tour. Now, you release an album piecemeal with singles until your next project is done. It's just how music is consumed these days.
Your favorite whiskey?
I don't drink very often, but when I'm drinking whisky I have a Elijah Craig Small Batch, but I also enjoy a Beer Barrel Bourbon (not to be confused with the bourbon barrel beer from before) by New Holland Artisan Spirits from Holland Michigan. I also enjoy Gentleman Jack.
On The Bottom Shelf
Bushmills Red Bush
I’m a fan of Irish Whiskey and we’ve talked about it here before. Bushmills is perhaps the most eponymous Irish Distiller and claims to be the world’s oldest distillery. Red Bush is one of several varieties and easily my favorite due to its special combination of complexity and smoothness.
It’s a blend of Irish single malt and fine Irish grain whiskey that is triple distilled before being aged in American bourbon barrels for four years. For comparison, Original Bushmills is aged in a combination of bourbon barrels and sherry casks.
The nose is very familiar to bourbon fans. Lots of vanilla, with some toasty grains (one friend of mine called it popcorn and I wouldn’t disagree. I picked up a little butterscotch as well. On first sip you get those same notes, along with some flavors that are common to Irish whiskey such as cream, and I don't know… let’s call it buttered toast. The finish is very smooth as is very typical of Irish whiskies with very minimal burn.
Red Bush is easily in my top three or four Irish whiskies and a very good buy as well. I’d love to hear what you think about it.
If you reached this page via the web and would like to receive an edition in your email inbox then please subscribe below:
The Best Things I Saw This Week
The End of 2020
That’s all, folks!
Thanks for reading. If something interested you then please share Monticello with your friends.
Monticello was created by and published by Jacob Perry. Our editor and contributor is Jessica Redding. On social media: