Sam Llanas Announces Big New Album With “Little Song”
Rachel Cholst
Posted On May 15, 2018
Sam Llanas may be a name you haven’t heard in a while, but you certainly know his music. One of the founding members of the BoDeans, Llanas hasn’t slowed down since the band’s debut in 1986. If anything, he’s had a change of direction. After 25 years of a storied career with the band, including being a part of U2’s celebrated Joshua Tree tour, singing on Robbie Robertson’s “Somewhere Down the Crazy River,” being voted best new band by the readers of Rolling Stone Magazine, and sharing the stage with such luminaries as David Bowie, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty it was time for a change.
Llanas left the band in 2011 and has been steadily releasing solo his solo albums since. In 2018, Llanas will release Return of the Goya – Part 1. The title refers to his beloved guitar that was stolen in 1987. The title also suggests a return for Llanas; this album both calls back to the BoDeans’ tight harmonies and uptempo pop as his deepest roots. Most of the songs showcase his long love of classic country music (his earliest musical memory is hearing and being mesmerized by Hank Williams). These songs are a loving tribute to a style of music witnessing simple songs with strong melodies and harmonies telling stories that resonate in the heart.
The album’s debut singe, “Little Song,” shows Llanas at the top of his game. It’s a simple tune with devastating lyrics. “‘Little Song’ is fictional but definitely based in fact,” Llanas writes. “The song is set it Waukesha, Wisconsin, where I was born and raised (also the birthplace of Les Paul!) and details the story of a young man going to war in Afghanistan and struggling to return to a normal life upon returning home. The ‘Little Song’ is something that helps him cope both during and after the war. The Fox River, depicted in the song runs right through the middle of town; it’s the heartbeat of Waukesha.”
Return of the Goya — Part I will be out on June 15th.
EDIT: It has recently come to my attention that Sam Llanas has been accused of molestation by the stepdaughter of BoDeans’ co-found Kurt Neumann. I do not endorse Llanas’ record. However, I am leaving the article up to ensure this information is spread as widely as possible.
