Even down here in Georgia, the in-crowd of the music scene doesn’t take in much of the scenery. Of course, that’s why most people migrate from the outskirts to the city—in cultural hubs like Atlanta or Athens, creatives can shut out the dull and quiet countryside and pretend they live somewhere else. And that’s valid, but the outsiders left in the backwoods have their own freak flags to fly. From the Southern Gothic tales of Flannery O’Connor, to wild art compounds like Eddie Martin’s Pasequan, there’s no lack of weirdos out there.

Gumshoe - The Governor's Brother

With the moonlit folk of Gumshoe, Andy Dixon brings the occult of the countryside to Athens’ hip indie scene. Back in 2014, his debut The Bad Road Down featured, among other things, a bitter murder ballad and an extended dream sequence with the ghost of Richard Nixon, alongside copious amounts of drinking. Four years on, rollicking follow-up The Governor’s Brother doesn’t quite rattle with the same Tom Waits-like ghouls, but there’s enough creaky floorboards, questionable characters, and restless spirits here to spook you away from the woods for a while.

While the Gumshoe outfit won’t really raise any goosebumps on your skin, they can at least raise a ruckus. John Norris lends bluesy oomph on the drums, so that a howling song like “Call Me Mr. Rubber Belly” can swagger in at almost Zeppelin-like decibels. Even the more ponderous anecdotes, like “Amarosa,” roll along amiably as Dixon contemplates the universe as best as he can: “There are more stars in the sky than hairs on the head… in fact all of humanity, living and dead, has never had so many hairs on their heads.” Meanwhile, a full horn ensemble billows through “I Am the Sun,” with a chugging steamboat vibe that evokes the breezier days of the Band.

No matter what oddball turn the Gumshoe gang takes, Dixon’s always ready with a sly wink and a clever nugget of wisdom. Unlike the more narrative-driven debut, The Governor’s Brother dwells often on winding threads of philosophy and natural phenomena, in the same light-hearted way that you talk about the weather with a stranger. Granted, “C.L.A.U.S” lingers a bit too much on the oft-lingered-on subject of a woman’s “bangin’ curvy body.” The line “I could picture you heading up a beautiful harem” is especially wince-worthy, even though the narrator immediately apologizes for it. Beyond that, though, The Governor’s Brother grants us a curious peek at a Southern hermit’s inner mind; the droopy blues of “Never Enough” even bemoans immortality, as the thousand-year-old protagonist laments about restless nights and weary bones.

For what it’s worth, then, there’s much more to ponder about the countryside than the best barbecue sauce. With The Governor’s Brother, Gumshoe steer us into the stranger and grander questions inspired by a life in the backwoods.

Gumshoe will perform on Wed., Dec. 12 at the Caledonia Lounge alongside the Holy Knives and Zale. Doors open at 9 p.m. 18+ to enter.

More Info
Bandcamp: gumshoetunes.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @gumshoetunes