Artist: Average Joey
Song: “No Thing”
Album: Impermanence
Label: Dollhouse Lightning
Genre: Folk, Americana, Alt Country
A true road warrior, Average Joey is a traveling bard; regaling this audiences with musical performances, spoken word poetry, and acapella singalongs. His lyrics are peppered with blunt humor (see song titles like “Stupid Fucking Idiot Loser” and “Anarchists Who Don’t Do Anything) and political commentary, but the songwriting quality is always high. Just listen to “No Thing” off his latest album Impermanence.
A haunting banjo melody backs Joey’s spacious vocals, transporting you to a chilly Appalachian vista. As he sings about “Internal hurt, eternal thirst, we must love to earn ourselves” and open wounds, his poet’s heart shines through and makes it clear he’s not simply about giving listeners a chuckle. And as the song continues, a punk spirit is evoked, with Joey’s vocal cords reaching shred levels, with the banjo playing taking on a new furious resonance.
It’s a stand-out track, and one you should check out in our Check This 2024 Playlist.
The Indy Review 