Greg Townson – “My Friend The Night”

Greg Townson‘s latest self-produced solo album, My Friend The Night, is a sweet blend of 60’s pop heart-warmers and heartbreakers. This is a nice album to listen to while cuddled up in a warm blanket, or twisting the night away with a warm friend. He gets to the point with most of the 12 songs clocking in right around three minutes, long enough to heat things up or pull in close for a slow dance.

Todd Bradley, co-producer (along with John DeAngelis), is his partner in crime in another band called The Hi-Risers. He also helps out on harmonizing vocals, bass and drums. Bradley shares writing credit with Allyson Bice on “Could Have Should Have Been”, showing off smooth, classic harmonies with Townson. Gussy Popp (vocals) and Anna Liebel (snare) also make an appearance on a couple of songs.

Greg’s alter ego, Gregorio El Grande plays a much meaner guitar with Los Straitjackets, although some of those surf sounds ring out a few times on this album, including Greg’s fun cover of “Linus and Lucy” (Guaraldi). Greg’s guitar skills are top-notch, whether he’s shredding his DiPinto at a Los Straitjackets show or caressing the chords, as evidenced on “North American Town”:

Greg Townson resides in Rochester, NY, where temperatures dropped below freezing there and all over the East Coast this winter. Grab a parka and a sweetheart, and hit one of his shows in New York before he jets off with Los Straitjackets to California in March. Check Greg’s show calendar here: http://gregtownson.com/ and Los Straitjackets dates here: http://www.straitjackets.com/shows

Support the independent artists who venture to your city and play small clubs and venues.  Support quality music.

Check out a few more reviews of Greg with Hi-Risers and LSJ here:

https://aplscruf.wordpress.com/2014/12/08/best-show-of-the-year-ii-los-straitjackets-and-deke-dickerson-at-the-tractor-11-21-14/

https://aplscruf.wordpress.com/2011/09/05/viva-los-straitjackets-the-rest-of-the-story/

https://aplscruf.wordpress.com/2012/04/12/meet-the-hi-risers/