By Pati deVries
Andrew Leahey and the Homestead are proud to announce the upcoming release of American Static, Vol. 1, the first offering from a two-volume project spanning 18 original songs. Vol. 1 will be released via Mule Kick Records on October 22, 2021, with Vol. 2 arriving in early 2022.
Hailed by Rolling Stone for their "celebratory mix of sharp storytelling and fist-pumping rock & roll swagger," Andrew Leahey & the Homestead are a timeless band for the modern age, rolling a decade-spanning wealth of influences — the heartland hooks of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, the sweeping guitars of George Harrison, the power-pop of Cheap Trick, the piano craft of Harry Nilsson — into a contemporary sound.
It's a sound that transcends genres and generations. A longtime staple of the Americana and rock & roll communities in Nashville, Leahey has also earned a home on pop/rock radio with singles like "Start the Dance" and "Airwaves" (both taken from his international breakthrough, 2019's Airwaves) and regularly performs with outlaw country artist Elizabeth Cook as the songwriter's lead guitarist.
An expansive double album released in two volumes, American Static veers between larger-than-life rock anthems, Beatles-inspired piano ballads, and 1980s-influenced pop revivalism, with production by Jon Estes (Steelism, John Paul White) and a guest appearance by Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit). Many of Vol. 1's songs came to life during Leahey's year-long "Live & Online" livestream residency, which found the Homestead playing 52 weekly shows throughout the Covid-19 era. Those shows became a Thursday night staple for thousands of fans, landing Leahey a spot in the Top 40 of Pollstar's Livestream chart.
Leahey breaks new ground with American Static, fuelled by inspired vocal performances, he previously spent two years singing with the Juilliard Choral Union in New York City, the record doubles as a showcase for the electric guitar, featuring fretwork not only from Leahey — an in-demand guitarist who has backed up artists like Butch Walker, Will Hoge, and Elizabeth Cook (in whose band he regularly performs) — but also from guests like Sadler Vaden (Jason Isbell) and Ariel Posen (John Mayer, the Bros Landreth).
Collaboration has been a consistent thread throughout Leahey's time in Nashville. In one of America's busiest music scenes, he's become a cornerstone — a musician who fronts his own band, regularly plays guitar for other acts, and hosts a series of all-star charity shows featuring artists of all stripes. Those collaborative gigs (dubbed "Homestead Holidays") have become a staple of Nashville's music community, raising money for social rights organizations and animal welfare agencies along the way.
Website: andrewleaheymusic.com
Twitter: twitter.com/AndrewLeahey