I was born and raised in San Diego and many of my earliest musical memories are intertwined with the local music scene. From The Rugburns to The Dragons, I feel connected to much of the music that bubbled up during my childhood. But perhaps my clearest memories of local music have to do with Gregory Page (aside from those with, you know, my dad).
I vividly remember my mom singing snippets of “Cyrus,” from Page’s excellent debut album “The Romantic Adventures of Harry” as we cruised around in her Saturn. Later in life, when I’d begun to play music myself, I adored Page’s new Parisian folk bent. There’s long been a genuine depth to his music, which presaged the rise of the indie-folk-coffee shop vibe people like Jason Mraz rode to stardom.
All these years later, Page’s gentle croons still strike a chord with me.
Gregory Page, “The Great Wild Beyond”: The opening track from Page’s debut album, “The Great Wild Beyond,” captures all of what makes Page such an excellent songwriter in just under four minutes. It’s a heart-on-your-sleeve track that manages to be vulnerable without crossing over into cheesy. Page’s gentle, plaintive croon is paired with a beautifully written acoustic guitar part. The whole thing feels both incredibly intimate and reflective of the wide open space of life the very best folk music invokes.
Like what you hear? Check out Gregory Page at All Things Music on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Do you have a “Song of the Week” suggestion? Shoot us an email and a sentence or two about why you’ve been bumping this song lately. Friendly reminder: all songs should be by local artists.