49 Winchester Change of Plans finds the Virginia alt-country band stretching into rock, soul and tender balladry without losing its Appalachian backbone.
The members of 49 Winchester enjoyed some saltwater fishing while recording recently in Savannah, Georgia, and they caught some inspiration while they were there, too.
You can hear it for yourself in the lilting, romantic “Oh Savannah” from the band’s new album, Change of Plans.
49 Winchester Change of Plans Opens With Range
The melodic love song arrives just past the midpoint of Change of Plans, the diverse and creative group’s sixth studio album. With its gentle instrumentation and lush vocal harmonies, “Oh Savannah” shows off the more delicate side of the rock-leaning country band from Virginia.
It’s a song the band put together in the studio with help and encouragement from in-demand producer Dave Cobb.
The album kicks off with a catchy, reflective tune called “The Window,” and on the heels of “Oh Savannah” comes a free-wheeling rocker called “Bringin’ Home The Bacon.”
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Other highlights include the revealing ballad “Slowly” and 49 Winchester’s soulful take on the Black Sabbath classic “Changes.”
As usual, the six-piece band that calls Appalachia home covers a lot of ground musically, although you can’t say they’re all over the map.
Change of Plans has a sense of cohesiveness that lead singer and main songwriter Isaac Gibson says comes from years of playing together and growing as musicians.
“Sonically, the record just really showcases how far we’ve come as a band,” Gibson said. “We’re just kind of able to tap into something deeper than we’ve been able to in the past.
"Our skills are a lot sharper. We’re better musicians than we’ve ever been, and we’re better in the studio than we’ve ever been.”
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49 Winchester Change of Plans Shows Studio Confidence
Gibson has progressed dramatically as an expressive vocalist and songwriter, too. Lyrically, the album offers a range of attitudes over the course of nearly 40 minutes, from looking back with more wisdom to having hope for the future, with plenty of anguish in between.
Thanks to the band’s versatility, the music matches the mood no matter which way it turns. On stage and in the studio, 49 Winchester has the dynamic sensibilities needed to rock it out or dial it down.
“We didn’t set out to make a country record necessarily or a soul record, but we kind of did all of that in one like we’ve always done,” Gibson said. “That’s not anything that’s a concerted effort; that’s just the way we approach things.
"I write the songs and I bring them to the guys, and I let them play their parts, whatever those parts might be. It’s very collaborative and creatively free.”
The Appalachian Roots Behind 49 Winchester
Gibson co-founded the band with fellow guitarist Bus Shelton and bassist Chase Chafin, all of whom grew up in the small town of Castlewood, Virginia.
They started out as a stripped-down trio and built it up over the years to include Noah Patrick on pedal steel, Tim Hall on various keyboard instruments and Justin Louthian on drums.
That expanded sound has helped put them before growing audiences around the United States and overseas. They’ll be busy most of this year touring to support the new album, both as headliners and as support acts for Eric Church and Tim McGraw.
In recent years, they have also performed as openers for Whiskey Myers across the country and toured in western Europe with Luke Combs.
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Bigger Stages For 49 Winchester
Change of Plans is their first recording on Lucille Records/MCA, with the album released in association with their previous label, New West Records.
While Gibson will always call their part of Virginia home, and the band is named for his family’s street address, he recently relocated to an area just outside Nashville for business purposes.
“I moved there mostly so I would be closer to town and to write with people and stuff like that, kind of in preparation for this new record,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ll stay here forever, necessarily. One day I’ll probably end up buying some land in central Appalachia and moving back there.”
Although they don’t enjoy being confined to a particular category, 49 Winchester describes itself as alt-country in its marketing materials, and that seems legit.
If you like modern country music that’s heartfelt and organic, not overproduced and not overly pop or predictable, it’s hard to imagine you won’t enjoy Change of Plans.
Where To Hear 49 Winchester Change of Plans
You can hear Change of Plans starting May 15 on streaming platforms. Fans can also order it on vinyl, CD or cassette through 49 Winchester’s official website, which also has tour dates, performance videos and an official visualizer for “Oh Savannah.”