Adam Gaffney Premieres His Classic Country Single, “Darlin’”

There are some tough topics and emotional moments on Adam Gaffney and the Balladeers’ new album Product of Another Sad Song, but “Darlin’” is not one of them. As he amps up towards the release of the record on May 8th, Gaffney and his band are getting things started with the reveal of “Darlin’.” It’s a joyful country love song featuring lots of fun moments and a full-band honky tonk two-step.

Gaffney was inspired to write the song by his girlfriend, Christy. After many years spent away from home in the Southeast, Gaffney returned to St. Louis. Changing courses back home, he needed to earn some money, so he got a job at a local bar. It was there that he met Christy, his now girlfriend. A rather traditional-sounding song, Adam Gaffney pays his respects to the history and customs of honky tonk with “Darlin’.” It swings in all the right ways, a feel-good song to fill the Southern bar dancefloor.

Commenting on the song, Gaffney states:

“‘Darlin’’ is classic country to me. Just a 1-4-5 to the bone. I wanted to keep it simple. I like those old country tunes. One time, a guy came up to me after a gig and said, ‘I really like that song. It sounds like the Dukes of Hazard theme song.’ I haven’t heard it any other way since, but I think it’s catchy. You can only do 1-4-5 so many different ways.

“This song is what we usually open our set with as a band. Harmonies and lyrics, then the band comes in. It’s pretty fun and usually catches people off guard. Similar to Bucky-O, as I like to call him. He’s one of my favs. I’ve got a top-three country artist roster, and it’s George Jones, Gary Stewart, and Buck Owens in that order. I’ve always loved how he starts some of his songs. It’s almost cartoonish and drags, then the band comes in. I love that shit, and it’s pretty classic to me.

“The inspiration for ‘Darlin’’ is my partner, Christy. I wrote this for my boo. She’d jokingly ask when I’m going to write her a song after we started getting more serious with our relationship. I was a bit superstitious about writing another love song because once that happens, it’s usually over. But this one came out, and it’s been a good crowd-pleaser and makes Christy happy. She wants another one now, so she keeps me busy.”

As we referenced above, it’s not all fun and rowdy on the new album. Quite the contrary, Product of Another Sad Song is primarily a sombre reflection on Gaffney losing his mother to cancer, heartache, and finding your way back from addiction to sobriety. Featuring 13 new songs and four poems, musically, it pays its respects to country troubadours of the past like George Jones, along with the rebellious spirit of classic singer-songwriters like Bob Dylan and Neil Young.

In totality, these songs are an assemblage of some of Gaffney’s favourite songs he has written. Some of them are older songs, while some of them, such as the ones inspired by his mother’s passing, are more recent creations. The loss of his mother prompted him to reflect a lot, not just on her, but also on past experiences. It caused him to unpack a lot of thoughts and feelings, which found their way into his songwriting.

Not just another album, Product of Another Sad Song feels like a turning point for Gaffney. He views it as a moment where he has found stability in his life and learned to be a better person. Love, loss, rejection, sobriety, all of these things forced him to grow up. Gaffney is now in a more sober and self-aware state of mind. It’s benefited him both as a person and as a musician, a man who has found his place and is comfortable in the place he has arrived at.

Product of Another Sad Song Track Listing:

01. Darlin’
02. Lay Me Down
03. Conversation Blues
04. Bears
05. Don’t You Cry
06. Product of Another Sad Song
07. Sheer Will Power #1
08. Pretending It’s You
09. Come On Back For Good
10. Cut Off Again
11. The Thunder
12. Sheer Will Power #2
13. Cryin’ For You
14. Pinch Me
15. Nomad
16. Before You Turn The Carpet Into Tile
17. When Tomorrow Comes Around

Adam Gaffney ‘Product of Another Sad Song’ album artwork, photo by Evan Endicott

Tour Dates:

03/01 – Festus, MO @ Taytros
03/06 – St. Louis, MO @ Hammerstones-
03/07 – St. Louis, MO @ Stellar Hog
03/12 – 03/18 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
03/28 – Staunton, IL @ Mississippi Culture
04/03 – St. Louis, MO @ CBGB
04/04 – Edwardsville, IL @ Samm’s Last Chance Saloon
04/17 – Long Island, NY @ South Shore Guitar Boutique
04/18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Pete’s Candy Store
04/20 – Long Island City, NY @ LIC Bar
04/25 – Sparta, IL @ White Rooster
04/26 – Lincoln, Nebraska @ Bierhaus
05/02 – Laramie, WY @ Ruffed Up Duck
05/03 – Golden, CO @ Goosetown Station
05/15 – Las Cruces, NM @ Dry Point Distillers
05/16 – Las Cruces, NM @ Elephant Ranch
05/17 – Truth or Consequences, NM @ Ingos Art Cafe
05/21 – Prescott, AZ @ Jersey Lily Saloon
05/22 – Flagstaff, AZ @ The Annex
05/24 – Bisbee, AZ @ Electric Brew
05/29 – Tucson, AZ @ Saint Charles Tavern w/ Hank Topless
05/30 – 05/31 – Bisbee, AZ @ Gene’s Place
06/05 – Tucson, AZ @ Music Box w/ Hank Topless
06/06 – El Paso, TX @ Nature House
06/07 – Truth or Consequences, NM @ Ingo’s Art Cafe
06/11 – Burgers-Hatch, NM @ Sparky’s
06/12 – Las Cruces, NM @ Pecan Grill
06/13 – Lubbock, TX @ Abuelos Mexican Restaurant
06/14 – Turkey, TX @ Hotel Turkey