"High Pine Steeples" is Los Angeles Americana artist JAMES COMBS' love song to redwood trees, recorded in collaboration Bryan and Sarah Vanderpool, also known as the great Midwestern-by-way-of-Los-Angeles-by-way-of-Cambridge band THE WELL PENNIES.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:
youtu.be/Ag5YryTmzwA
James: "When I first moved to California I found myself profoundly attracted to the magnificent giant redwood groves near where I was living in Petaluma. Going to Muir Woods was like going to church. To stand under these serene colossal trees and watch the sunlight stream through the canopy high above was about as close to a cosmic epiphany as I have experienced outside of playing music. I have been in love with those trees ever since and try to find a way to be in their presence every chance I get. So 'High Pine Steeples' is my ode to those special beings - they really are my favorite people, as the song says."
James and the Well Pennies have a ten year history of friendship and mutual admiration, dating back to the band's days living in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of LA, before they decamped to a less frantic pace of life in the thriving midwestern cultural hub that is Des Moines, IA.
In October 2022, Bryan invited James to Des Moines to participate in a music conference and also spend a blustery couple of days recording in the Well Pennies' beautiful Golden Bear studio.
With the autumn wind blowing outside, James began by laying down a vocal and guitar performance live with producer Bryan at the helm. Then the Well Pennies alchemy commenced with Bryan adding bowed stand up bass and slide guitar and Sarah dropping in perfectly constructed piano phrases on her beautiful upright. James asked the two if they would be willing to add their gorgeous, distinctive vocals to the song and they enthusiastically agreed, giving High Pine Steeples a lovely three part harmony throughout. The song grew into a full-fledged collaboration with all three artists contributing mightily to the final recording. More collaborative songs arose from the session as well, destined for future release.
The High Pine Steeples video was shot during the recording sessions, at the Dorland Mountain Arts Colony in December, during James’ trip to Muir Woods last summer, and at his performance under the redwood trees at the Idyllwild Songwriters Festival in September, 2022.
released May 5, 2023
James Combs - guitar, vocal
Bryan Vanderpool - bass, slide guitar, vocal
Sarah Vanderpool - piano, vocal