Madison rock/Americana artists the Getaway Drivers recently lost one of their musical copilots, cellist Steve Pingry, to cancer. Their new EP, Black Dog Days, serves as both a bittersweet tribute to their fallen friend and an affirmation of some of life's smallest but most joyful moments.
A sprightly mandolin lends the title track a bouncy sense of hope as the band vocalizes some of the heavier emotions bearing down on their minds. The disc shuffles down a country road with "A Slow Win," exploring melodies that would work equally well in a dusty small-town diner or on a road-trip mixtape of Lucinda Williams tunes.
The slow-burning "Gold Like Cherries" sparkles with wistful what-ifs and Sheila Shigley's crystal-clear vocals, which hint at those of Gillian Welch when she harmonizes with lead vocalist Bob Manor. "Candy Car" wraps up the disc with gorgeous ribbons of lullaby and the warm glow of a cello solo.
