Jon Pardi is cooking up more California country gold on his forthcoming record Honkytonk Hollywood. Slated for an April 11th release, Jon Pardi’s next studio record will be gifted to fans with 17 songs, and according to Pardi, it’s one of his favorite albums he’s ever made.
Jon teamed up with the legendary producer Jay Joyce for this record, and he says Joyce pushed him out of his comfort zone. But it wasn’t Jon’s management that encouraged him to work with Joyce; it was Tom Petty.
Pardi told Whiskey Riff:
“I made this whole change of going with Jay Joyce, reaching out first to ask if it was even doable and if he wanted to do it, from Tom Petty…
In between these records, they put the ‘Wildflowers’ documentary out of him working with Rick Rubin, and Tom was like, ‘You know man, I like to switch up producers every three records’ or whatever he said, and it was just kinda like Tom Petty from heaven shouting down, ‘Do it.’
He said it pushes him to grow as an artist and a songwriter and a musician, and it’s just like, ‘Man, that’s Tom Petty telling you that. You should try that. You’ve got nothing to lose, it’s Jay Joyce.’”
The album is not only unique because Petty encouraged him to try something new, with the result being something he’s in love with. But it’s also special to Jon because he was able to use his touring band in the studio with him. Pardi says the ability of their band to play together on this record is something that ultimately makes them all better musicians and makes a stellar final product:
“Jay likes to use the touring band guys because it’s like a camaraderie, and I love all my band, we love each other… it made us a better band, and we would joke about little things that Jay would tell us…It was just a good thing for all of us, and now when we’re on stage, we feel like we graduated a year of class and we’re ready for the next round.”
Pardi has already shared the lead single from the record, “Friday Night Heartbreak,” and the title single, “Honkytonk Hollywood,” which fans love. Recently, he shared a snippet of another song on his social media that I hope we get before April 11th.
The track titled “Gamblin’ Man” plays on falling for a man who loves gambling and how the hand won’t play her way in the relationship, just like his hand often fails him at the casino.
On a tour bus jam session, Pardi strums his acoustic while delivering the Las Vegas-inspired lyrics:
“Then I lost 400 more
Stepped outside, lit up a little indica
Left you lying there alone in room 404
We’ve been here before…
Rollin’ with me likes rollin’ dice
You’ll pay the price
Girl, don’t go all in on a gamblin’ man
Your Queen of Hearts
It just don’t stand a chance
I wouldn’t bet your love or luck on my hand
Girl, don’t go all in on a gamblin’ man”.
When members of Pardi’s band come in on the harmonies during the chorus, it tickles my ears just right, and I crave more of this track. This is one I am highly looking forward to off Honkytonk Hollywood.
Jon, give us the full version of this “Gamblin’ Man” ASAP.
Honkytonk Hollywood Tracklist:
1. Boots Off
2. Friday Night Heartbreaker
3. She Gets To Drinking
4. Gamblin’ Man
5. Hey California
6. Rush
7. She Drives Away
8. He Went To Work
9. Last Call Thing
10. Honkytonk Hollywood
11. Love The Lights Out
12. Nice Place To Visit
13. Hard Knocks
14. Don’t You Wanna Know
15. Bar Room Blue
16. Who I Don’t Wanna Be
17. Kinda Wanna Keep It That Way