West of Rome is a South Texas band launched by a group of lifelong friends in 2019 at the crossroads of pandemic lockdowns, deranged governments and a superheated climate. Not easily intimidated, musicians Blake Smithson, brothers Charlie and Jamie Roadman and singer Kevin Higginbotham dug deep looking for the sweet relief of the true grand commons: great songs that can lift us out of the rut.
So many heroes and even a few ghosts looking for relief in the South Texas heat. Vic Chesnutt playing his last show at Central Presbyterian church. Roky Erickson asking ‘Please Judge’ at the Paramount Theatre. Cat Power elevating ‘Metal Heart’ right through the soul of Red River in Austin. Gord Downey and the Hip at La Zona Rosa just months before developers tore it down. And, of course, the wellspring, Ram down at Taco Land in San Antonio. The Rome had witnessed the fall, but now can they act?
With nine new songs recorded over 2 years the answer was ‘Yes!’. The band’s first album Keep it Fly in the Negative Zone (due out January 31, 2025 – PRE-ORDER) features all new tracks and a grudgingly positive attitude. The rhythm section of Smithson and Jamie Roadman, veterans of San Antonio bands Coyote Dreams and The Mescaleros met Kevin and guitar wizard Charlie Roadman of Austin’s F4Fake and Athens v. Sparta, well, halfway between Austin and San Antonio – in Wimberly, TX to get it worked out. Seems fair to me.
Today Glide is offering an exclusive premiere of “Movement in Your Picture,” the album’s first single and a true standout. The song is a swaggering work of alt-country that balances poignant lyricism and big rock and roll energy. There is a feisty edge to the vocals and lyrics that dwell on the theme of forbidden love. We also get a healthy dose of guitar shredding to really up the energy of this stomping rocker, which is reminiscent of the Drive-by Truckers’ Mike Cooley tunes.
Listen to the track and read our chat with the band below…
What is the story behind this song? What inspired it? Why is it important to you and what about the song really speaks to you?
The song “Movement in Your Picture” arrived (mostly) formed in a dream. It was a dream of lost loves and a Dostoevsky novel left half-read. But wait, what do old authors have to do with it? Capturing the melody the next morning, I pulled the book from the shelf and found an envelope with a Polaroid and… other mementos. As the Polaroid fell, the song finished itself. The moral? Friends from the past can help carry you into the future – just don’t forget that today is pretty awesome as well.
What was the writing and recording process like for this song? What was it like to work on this particular song in the studio?
We tracked this song live with Britton Beisenherz at Ramble Creek Studio in Austin, TX. The band had a good vibe that day, and bass player Blake Smithson arrived with a new whiskey he’d commissioned and just bottled, so everyone was like, “There will be a great reward for studio work well done.” After the basic tracks were done, guitarist Charlie Roadman added layers of guitar melodies and refined the production. The band was very happy with the result.
Are there any lyric lines that you really love or that really are important to you? What do you feel makes them resonate?
“There was an image in my mind that had lost hope. It was wrong, and I told it no.” Nostalgia can be overwhelming, but it’s important to focus on the now. In short, the Gremlins cannot have this picture.
If listeners can take away one thing from having heard this song, what do you hope that is?
You can skip “Notes from the Underground” and live a normal, healthy, and happy life. Do keep in touch with old friends, though.
How does this song fit in among the others on the album? How is it similar or different?
The songs on West of Rome’s album, “Keep it Fly in the Negative Zone,” stress keeping one’s chin up in gnarly times. Old friends and old selves can help.
What is coming up next for West of Rome?
A record release show – at The Lonesome Rose in San Antonio, TX – on Feb 1st – and a short tour. Ask us about it!
