Three-time GRAMMY® nominees Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could, renowned for their “instrumentally diverse, harmony-rich rock tracks” (Washington Post) and songs that “go right through the ears and into the heart” (SiriusXM), release their 12th studio album, That Friday Feeling.
Recorded in Brooklyn with producer/engineer Ken Rich (Ingrid Michaelson, Joe Jackson, Ani DiFranco), the album finds the band tapping into the contagious joy and exuberance of their resonant live shows. In That Friday Feeling, they’ve channeled that energy into a soundtrack for jumping back in and re-connecting with the world.
Along with a generous helping of rockin’ family anthems, the album holds inspiration from the time the world spent close to home; what’s gained from slowing down and taking time to appreciate family and the sweet world around us.
That Friday Feeling is the sound of a band of buddies ringing out like a golden bell, grateful and happy to be making music together again.
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“You’ll feel the zeal and vigor pumping through your car speakers or home audio system. Rymer and his unsinkably sunny crew give you 12 reasons to keep that Friday feeling going all week long.”
“Sonically and lyrically rich tracks that acknowledge coming out of hibernation and through challenging times to delight in a bright, beautiful world brimming with life and possibility. ”
“Rymer’s rockin’ signature melodies combined with lyrics that not only entertain, but emphasize the importance of living lives filled with joy, hope, and kindness.”
“Playful, perky, buoyant, and brilliant. That Friday Feeling is a joyful pick-me-up.
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ABOUT THE SONGS
THAT FRIDAY FEELING
“That Friday Feeling” was inspired by an Instagram post featuring Emmeline, a young fan from London who loves scootering around town with her mom. Spring had sprung, people were starting to venture outside, and Emmeline was zooming along, singing, and turning heads as she passed people by. A man turned to her mom, and with a big smile said, “She sure has that Friday Feeling!” I was struck by that phrase, and I heard this song right then in my head. I knew it was the title track and theme for the new album: finally, it was time to bust back out into the world and spread that joyful “Friday Feeling” all over town!
Musically, the song is a straight-ahead family-friendly rocker plucked from the Springsteen/Fleetwood Mac/Tom Petty songbook. Full of hope, harmonies, hooks and heart, with acoustic guitars, piano and voices “ringing out like a golden bell.”
CHEER YOU UP
This simple tune was written as a ‘feel better’ song for a friend, to pick them up and put a smile on their face. It’s my first time incorporating a knock-knock joke into a song. My amazing band gave this a “Goin’ Mobile” by the Who-meets-Marshall Crenshaw/John Mellencamp pop vibe.
BABIES OF SUMMER
“Babies of Summer” was written during lockdown as summer was blooming, and we were noticing the changing world around us more closely than usual—especially the new crop of cute, fuzzy, shiny babies! I live on a small lake, and there are so many new creatures being born around here –birds, bunnies, turtles, deer, frogs... A friend suggested adding a reggae dance hall arrangement to our tune, and this gave it the perfect celebratory vibe to welcome the babies of summer. I can just picture all of them snaking along in a big conga line dancing across my yard.
SUPERPOWERS
We all want superpowers, don’t we -- powers to change things, help people and save the world -- especially in times like now. I think we all have certain superhuman strengths inside us. This song is about how each one of us is unique in some way; how we’ve all got something we’re really good at, something we can share with the world to make it a better and brighter place.
The fuzz bass and propulsive groove in the recording make the song soar, kind of like your favorite superhero.
DON’T WORRY ABOUT THAT NOW
This one was inspired by a New York Times ‘day in the life’ profile of alt-country singer Margo Price. She has two kids and leads a busy life. After a whirlwind of a week, on Sunday evening, looking at her house like a tornado just rolled through, she told the kids ,“let’s not worry about this now. Let’s read one last book before bed & clean up tomorrow.” What good advice for us all: let’s take time to enjoy the experience, and not stress over the mess. We will clean up the pancake batter on the kitchen ceiling eventually – right now, what’s fun is that we made the pancakes pink!
FOLLOWING THE BUNNY TRACKS
This is one of two songs on the album inspired by a friend in Finland, who I met thru our livestream concerts during lockdown. She wrote to me about their long winters filled with snow. After a snowstorm, children will take a trip outdoors to find and follow bunny tracks in the fresh pure powder. This struck me as a beautiful image – searching for something elusive, anticipating the discovery of something special.
SEVEN HOURS OF SUN
This is the second song inspired by my fine Finnish friend. During their long winters, there’s a period when they have just seven hours of sun. I told her that sounded like a good song title! She recounted a lot of the fun things they cram into their short days, and I tried to fit them all into an American bluegrass tune her Finnish friends could relate to.
My friend loved the line about putting your headlamps on when it got dark. She assured me that yes, to get a few more hours of playtime in, everyone turns on their headlamps and carries on with their day.
YES WE CAN CAN
Struck by the amazing feel and positive message, I’ve wanted to cover this Allen Toussaint classic since I can remember; I’ve always felt it was a perfect yet unexpected song for kids and their families to enjoy together. This recording combines the cool vocal arrangement of the Pointer Sisters’ version with the swampy, New Orleans groove of the original tune. To make it a bit more exciting for little ears, we played the chorus double time. I can’t wait to see families up and dancing to this joyful song
OUTLINE
“Outline” is a gentle acoustic ballad about watching my son’s old self reappear in the picture after he’d gone through a hard time. It was like his outline was starting to fill in again, with all his unique colors: his sweet character, sly sense of humor and pure love of life.
ROADS
“Roads” was inspired by the book “The Reason I Jump: One Boy’s Voice from the Silence of Autism” by Naoki Higashida, a boy living with autism who’s shared stories about what it’s like for him to live in this world. In one story he says that he will just get up and go walking. He’s not going anywhere specific; he’s just walking. He says he could walk forever with no destination in mind; he just loves the simple act of moving. It was inspiring to be reminded that doing something you love -- without an end goal or destination in mind – can be enough.
GONNA SLEEP WELL TONIGHT
“Gonna Sleep Well Tonight” came to life after seeing a concert by my local musician friend, Gene Casey. He’s a fantastic rockabilly guitarist & really knows how to get the joint jumping. After a rousing Chuck Berry cover that had everyone up and dancing, I overhead a grandma say, “Wow, the kids are gonna sleep well tonight!” It was a blast featuring Gene and his one-of-a-kind twangy 6-string on this track.
THE LITTLE THINGS
This ‘70’s Eagles-style ballad, “The Little Things”, grew out of time in lockdown, when things slowed down and we could notice and find value in the little things that comprise our days: walking the dog, looking at the stars, getting up early to see the sunrise, saying hi to a neighbor. In the end, it might not be the big things that mean the most and bring the most pleasure; the little things carry a mighty big weight, and keep our hearts and souls anchored.
Album Credits
Brady Rymer: Guitars (Acoustic, Electric, Resonator, Nashville Tuning, Electric 12-String), Vocals, Harmonica • Claudia Mussen: Vocals • Liz Queler: Vocals, Mandolin • Seth Farber: Piano, Organ, Accordion, Electric Keyboards • Larry Eagle: Drums, Percussion • Jeremy Chatzky: Electric & Acoustic Bass • Gene Casey: Electric Guitar on “Yes We Can Can” & “Gonna Sleep Well Tonight” • Ken Rich: Percussion • Mike Robinson: Banjo, Electric Guitar on “7 Hours of Sun” • Marty Rifkin: Dobro on “Don’t Worry About That Now",” Pedal Steel Guitar on “The Little Things” • Bill Holloman: Horns and Horn Arrangements on “Babies of Summer” & “Gonna sleep Well Tonight” • Devin Walker: Tibetan Cymbals on “Following the Bunny Tracks” • David Gibb: Arrangement idea for “Babies of Summer.”
Recorded April 2021 – September 2021 at Grand Street Recording, Brooklyn, NY
Produced by Brady Rymer and Ken Rich • Executive Producer: Bridget Rymer • Additional Production: Larry Eagle, Seth Farber, Jeremy Chatzky • Engineer: Ken Rich • Assistant Engineers: Anna Fagin, Jake Lummus, Jason Sill • Mixing: Ken Rich at Grand Street Recording • Mastering: Fred Kavorkian, Kavorkian Mastering,Inc. • Cover Illustration: Nate Duval • Additional Cover Design: Chris Lyons • Nikki Rung: Social Media Expertise
All songs by Brady Rymer except: “Gonna Sleep Well Tonight” music by Brady Rymer & Seth Farber, lyrics by Brady Rymer; “Cheer You Up” music by Brady Rymer & Seth Farber, lyrics by Brady Rymer; “Don’t Worry About That Now” music by Brady Rymer & Seth Farber, lyrics by Brady Rymer; “Yes We Can Can” by Allen Toussaint.
© Bangin’ Out A Melody Music 2022 (p) 2022 Bumblin’ Bee Records
Licensed exclusively to 8 Pound Gorilla Records
THANK YOU!
Larry Eagle, Jeremy Chatzky, Seth Farber, Liz Queler, Claudia Mussen, Ken Rich, Anna Fagin, Marty Rifkin, Bill Holloman, Mike Robinson, Gene Casey, Chris Lyons, Nate Duval, Fred Kavorkian, Nikki Rung, Kenny Curtis, Luke Youngblom, Nick Yacovazzi & everyone at 8 Pound Gorilla Records, David Gibb, Devin Walker, Glen & Jackson Hoffman, Cheryl Esposito, June Beckstead, Jake Lummus, Jason Sill, Maija Leminen, Chaz Beyer, Tom Dexter, Theo Olivetto, Willem, Emmeline & Amanda Dube, Josh, Alinah & Aniston Fitchpatric, Hannah Prokop, Jayme Thornton, Dan Myers, mom & dad, Scott, Daisy, Gus & Bridget Rymer.
ABOUT BRADY AND THE BAND
Brady Rymer is a three-time GRAMMY® Award nominee and one of the top talents in the independent family music scene today. Originally with RCA Records 90’s era jam-band From Good Homes, Rymer began making rootsy, feel-good family music in 2000 with the birth of his son, Gus.
Together with his longtime band-mates in the Little Band That Could – who have worked alongside Springsteen, Odetta and Ronnie Spector, they have toured nationally for more than a decade performing at the Getty Museum, Lincoln Center, The White House and his neighbor’s house. NPR’s All Things Considered noted that the Little Band That Could “might just be the best sounding band in family music.”
He has released 12 studio albums - among them 2017’s GRAMMY®-nominated Press Play, 2015’s GRAMMY®-nominated Just Say Hi!, and 2008’s GRAMMY®-nominated Here Comes Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could. Rymer’s song “Jump Up (It’s A Good Day)” was included on the 2013 album Songs for a Healthier America, a compilation album produced for First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign. In 2016, he joined Jordin Sparks and Doug E. Fresh on “0 to 60,” a new theme song recorded for the President’s Council on Fitness. Brady’s 2011 Parents’ Choice Gold Award winning album Love Me for Who I Am, an appreciation of children of all abilities, was inspired by his collaborative work with kids with autism and different learning styles.
When he’s not chuggin’ along with The Little Band That Could, Brady plays bass guitar with the Laurie Berkner Band and performs and records with his recently reunited ‘grown up’ band From Good Homes. He lives on the North Fork of Long Island and serves on the Education Board of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
For the latest Brady Rymer news and tour schedule, visit www.bradyrymer.com.
Video Directed by Glen Hoffman • Band Photos by Jayme Thornton