Dayton, Ohio’s Neo American Pioneers channel the golden age of rock and roll on their new LP Into the Deep, transforming a time when the Rolling Stones and Creedence Clearwater Revival ruled the airwaves into a modern indie-rock sound that lands somewhere between college rock and Top 40 radio. This week writer Davy Haynes digs deep into the roots of the band’s sound in their review of the album, while also taking time to correspond with the group about the LP. Below, you can read the review and interview, while also listening to Into the Deep.
Neo-American Pioneers Release Refreshingly Throwback LP “Into The Deep”
Since we’ve all been stuck inside with our stereos this year, there’s been a growing interest in music history. Recorded music is still a fairly new art medium comparatively, but already more music has been put to tape (or harddrive) than one person can listen to in their lifetime. Dayton, Ohio rockers Neo-American Pioneers have rediscovered the joys of 70s rock and roll. Their new record Into The Deep celebrates the resurgence of power pop in the modern independent music scene.
The band is an amalgam of influences from across the rock landscape. Vocalists Billy Swayne and Heather Redman play off the vocal interplay of artists like Fleetwood Mac, getting that thick, syrupy soft-rock sound. The rhythm section of drummer Trevor Bell and bassist Ian Goudie sounds lifted from the pop groove together in perfect unison on these songs, building a base for guitarist Daniel Spaugy and keyboardist Paul Monnin to paint layers of texture. This is a rock and roll band – and a damn good one at that. They released their first record Beginning To Unfold in 2018 was released to much acclaim in their hometown. With Into The Deep, the group has tapped into a broader artistic conversation.
The songs on Into The Deep reflect on the present just as much as the past. The band recalls, “ Tracks like ‘Into the Deep’ and ‘Round & Round’ tackle themes of isolation and anxiety, submitting to your shortcomings and ‘settling’, and the exhaustion of trying to connect in a society that continues to become more polarized.” Obsession and loneliness interplay in the lyrics from Swayne and Redman, as their voices harmonize to the band’s unrelenting brand of power pop. These songs are captivating simply for the marriage of modern themes with a throwback sound. It’s kind of strange to hear a band talking about the isolation, fear and disassociation of the past year.
But, the arrangements on the first half of this record are an odd counterpart to the somber, brooding lyrical subject matter. Like Rumours, the songs are upbeat and full of life. From the heartfelt octave solos on “Into the Deep” or the twangy leads on “My One & Only,” Spaugy adds a sparkle and shine around every corner. The rambunctious “Song About November” recalls the early days of Wilco. Second track “The Fever” almost sounds like a Tusk b-side, with its zany keyboard swells courtesy of Monnin. The second half of the record moves into darker territory, with the acoustic guitar coming out of its case. The record decrescendos so naturally until its an almost entirely different album by the final song, “Round & Round.”
This is a band that clearly set out to make this record with a goal in mind. So many artist fall prey to the front-loaded album; a record that manages to hold the listener’s attention for a short time before growing dull. But, you’ll be glued to your speakers for the entire Into The Deep experience. It’s a magnificent piece of American songwriting, and an amazing rock and roll revival record. The Neo-American Pioneers may be exactly as their name suggests – ushering all us sinners into a new era of rocking in the free world.
This week writer Davy Haynes discuss Neo American Pioneers Into the Deep LP with the group’s Billy Swayne…
DH: The influences on the new album are so varied across rock and roll history. How did you combine all of the paths you wanted to take musically into something so seamless?
BS: I’ve always viewed rock and roll as wide open. You’re not restricted to a certain sound, style, instrumentation, song structure, tempo, etc. I think that freedom allows each song to develop more organically. The feel and the heart of each song can determine how it ultimately sounds, versus some predetermined genre structure. ‘Like the Young Guys Do’ is a cocky, light-hearted romp and we pulled from bands like T. Rex and AC/DC for that song because that’s the vibe those bands have. On the opposite end, for our ballad, ‘Wanderin’ Eye’, we tapped into the lonesome, broken-hearted tones of country music. With six bandmates, from a wide range of musical backgrounds, the one rule we follow is ‘play to the song’. I think that’s why the record covers a wide range of styles seamlessly without feeling forced.
DH: I imagine that this record was made over the pandemic. What was the recording process like with isolation and limited movement?
BS: We finished tracking the last song the day the governor announced that Ohio would be shutting down. For this record we had been recording and mixing the songs as the band finished them. So a few of these tracks, like ‘Into the Deep’ and ‘The Fever’, had been recorded and mixed as early as Summer 2019. We lucked out in the sense that only two of the tracks were mixed remotely during the pandemic, especially since these were analog mixes. Had it been digital, our engineer, Patrick Himes, could have just sent us a mix and asked for whatever tweaks we wanted. With the analog mix I was ‘on call’ while Patrick was mixing. He would get a mix, send it via Drive, I’d have to download it, listen, and make suggestions. With analog I think you’re always looking for more of a vibe and a feel than a perfect mix because in essence the engineer is also preforming. It was more difficult in isolation because adjustments couldn’t be made on-the-fly. Fortunately, we had worked with Patrick before, and he understands the dynamic of the band. From the listener perspective ‘Into the Deep’ certainly sounds like a ‘pandemic album’. The songs and the themes of at least the last four tracks are steeped in feelings of isolation, anxiety, and detachment. During the production of the record, I went through a series of personal struggles that manifested in the writing and sound of the record. The timing of the pandemic created an eerie parallel. But that’s what makes great art, right?
DH: What is the scene like in Dayton, OH? There’s a lot of rock and roll from that town, yeah?
BS: Dayton, Ohio has more going on than I’m even aware of! The Pioneers kind of live in the rock and roll / indie rock / Americana scene so I’m more in touch with that. Virtually any weekend you can pop into the Yellow Cab Tavern or Blind Bob’s and catch some great original rock and roll music. Our label, Magnaphone Records, has a roster full of great acts too.
DH: You just released Into The Deep on July 17. How has the reaction been so far? Do you feel like the songs are being understood by your fans?
BS: It’s been just over a week, so I think folks are still digesting everything. The initial response from our singles ‘Like the Young Guys Do’ and ‘Fever’ was positive, with the most common feedback being they were both excellent summer jams. I’ve had a few people message me to say this is the best stuff they’ve heard from the Pioneers so far; that the songs are more dynamic and thoughtful, and the band is more cohesive and focused than ever. I heard one of our local DJs playing ‘Wanderin’ Eye’ on the radio the other day. It’s fun to see what people pick as their favorites. I’ve been traveling since the release, so I’m excited to get back out on the scene and hear more feedback from folks in person.
DH: What’s next for you? Are you playing any shows soon?
We’ve got a few outdoor shows lined up for this summer. We’ll be at the Levitt Pavilion on August 13th. It’s a free show and a big lawn party in downtown Dayton. On September 4th, we’ll be playing the Tippapalooza Music Festival in Tipp City, Ohio. Both shows are excellent opportunities to reconnect with folks and enjoy some good conversation, cold brews, and loud, live music. In the Fall/Winter, we’re planning on working on new tunes and shaping up for the next record.
