Andy Hall, the dobro player best known for his work with Grammy-winning progressive bluegrass outfit The Infamous Stringdusters, has shared a new single, “Muscle Car”, featuring special guest Billy Strings. The track is due to appear on Hall’s forthcoming solo album, Squareneck Soul, due out via Americana Vibes on June 23rd, 2023.
The uptempo instrumental arrives alongside an animated music video stylized as a vintage video game starring a pixelated Andy Hall. The nostalgic visuals follow Hall on his quest from Colorado to California for a show. Andy and Billy’s intertwining melodies power the song through a series of distinct segments as video game Hall and his trusty muscle car, a red Ford Mustang, cruise the Colorado mountains, pick up a magic dobro from a wizard in the desert, battle a Twisted Metal-style battle car at the Grand Canyon, fly through space a la Back to the Future‘s DeLorean, blow up UFOs, re-enter the atmosphere above the California Aqueduct, lead a police chase in the city, and execute a Grand Theft Auto-worthy river jump, before finally harnessing the power of the glowing instrument and playing the gig for a cheering crowd of low-fi fans.
Related: Tenacious D Defends “Video Games” As Works Of Art With 1st Original Song In 5 Years [Video]
Adjust the bunny ears on your Hall-O-Vision and watch the new video for “Muscle Car” by Andy Hall featuring Billy Strings below or stream the track on the platform of your choice here.
Andy Hall ft. Billy Strings – “Muscle Car” (Official Video)
Squareneck Soul, due out on June 23rd, features ten new compositions intended to serve as templates for improvisation and collaboration. With an ensemble featuring Stringdusters bandmate Travis Book on upright bass, rising star Sierra Hull on mandolin, and Sam Bush Band’s Wes Corbett on banjo, Andy Hall treated Squareneck Soul as an opportunity to highlight the evolution of the dobro sound in modern bluegrass and call attention to the visually and audibly memorable instrument.
“I love being an ambassador for this weird, strange instrument,” says Hall, “When people hear the sound of the instrument and see it, they light up. I don’t think people are exposed to it much and I just love seeing reactions to it.”
The release of Squareneck Soul follows Andy Hall’s 2020 solo album, 12 Bluegrass Classics for Resophonic Guitar, a collection of classic bluegrass songs and influences that inspired his musical journey, and his 2021 ambient album, A Universe Within, created out of curiosity and catharsis during the pandemic. The new album marks Hall’s first full-band release under his own name since his 2008 LP, Sound of Slide Guitar, which took home Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year honors at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards.
Andy Hall will spend much of 2023 on the road with The Infamous Stringdusters, including a string of summer festival appearances at DelFest, Strange Creek Campout, Mountain Music Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Blue Ox Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, and more. Click below for a complete list of upcoming tour dates. For ticketing details and more information, head here.
The post Andy Hall Recruits Billy Strings, Embarks On Vintage Video Game Quest With “Muscle Car” [Watch] appeared first on L4LM.
