OWEN STEWART – DONE AND DUSTED

 “If you ever wanted to be there when rock icons like Fogerty, Plant, Allman, Seger, Waters, or Cocker first displayed what real rock vocals should sound like, allow me to introduce singer/drummer/multi-instrumentalist Owen Stewart. I’m really trying to avoid exaggeration here, but there’s no other way to say it… Owen’s the real deal. Nobody else is singing like this.

 Owen draws from the long history of ‘60s and ‘70s funk, soul, and rock with a tinge of psychedelia to build an explosive debut solo album with Done and Dusted. It’s finally here and you’re not ready yet. 

 Groovy, gravelly, soulful, and enormous. He draws you in right away with horns and swirling keys, blows you away with sturdy production (jam it loud), and knocks you over with timeless, fiery singing that renews your faith in recorded music. Only thirty-seconds-in and you’re already deeply thankful for this Philly gem of a songsmith. Just wait for the other tunes. Spoiler alert: they rule.

 Born into rock at a young age, Owen’s dad Tommy Stewart was the drummer/lead singer for the late ‘70s band Cats, an Elektra Records group that opened for Van Halen on their whole (legendary) ‘81 US tour, and for others big ones like Blue Oyster Cult. It’s clear Owen’s proud to carry the rock torch, since such storied pursuits are basically cooked right into his bloodstream. 

 But let’s back up a second. Because the truth is, you can’t even talk about rock in Philly without mentioning at least one of Owen Stewart’s bands: Electric Candlelight, Ruby the Hatchet, Kensington Clearwater Revival... the list goes on.

He's long been a singer in bands, sure—a crucial singer, if you ask his bandmates or audience. But after some encouragement—from them, and from Dan Auerbach (Black Keys, Keep It Hid, etc., etc.), who reached out to Owen after seeing an Electric Candlelight video in 2019—Owen leaned inward, brought his buds together, and busted out a few of his own tunes about aging, alien encounters, jailbreaks, sailors returning from home from the sea, and confronting the naysayers.

 Done and Dusted is a freewheeling ride through some seriously soulful grooves. Unexpected and nourishing. Loose and tight. This album is dangerous, selfless, and essential. Your dad’s gonna love it, your sister’s gonna say “holy shit,” your nephew’s gonna steal it from the record shop, and your mom is gonna be proud. Now ‘scuse me as I go flip it over again, time for another round.”

 - Sean Corbett, Editor, Sometimes Magazine