“Big Orange Guitar” follows on Brickwall Jackson’s promise to “play what they feel and…mean every damn word.” Each song encapsulates a different feeling and experience that comes with being human, whether it be love and longing or anger and frustration.
The first song of this album is its title track. “Big Orange Guitar” is a playful “eff you” to those who think it is their right to position themselves as a better man than John Hudak sings. The lyrics and tone throughout is very tongue-in-cheek with lines like “You can suck on my big ole orange guitar” and “Now open wide for my big ole orange guitar.” The song asserts from the start that Brickwall Jackson will not compromise their voice and beliefs to appease the masses.
The second track, “Happy Ain’t Happy,” like “Big Orange Guitar” also invokes this sense of both confidence and frustration. The band writes about a subject who has this haughty holier than thou mentality yet remarks that this desire to get under their skin must be due to this person’s own internal unhappiness: “You ain’t happy till yer happy then you ain’t/You ain’t happy you ain’t happy CAUSE YOU AIN’T.”
The most exciting track off the album, “Get Off My Lawn,” is a collaboration with guitarist Russell Williford. Similar to “Big Orange Guitar” the song shares the themes of simply telling those who piss us off to “Git off’a my lawn.” The lyrics touch on life as a working class American in the south, and Hudak proudly speaks of his love for holding that identity. The song is unabashedly both American, confident and gives voice to those scared to embrace their Americanness.
Detouring from the theme of speaking one’s mind, “When We’re Gone” has Hudak reflecting on his youth, realizing how problems he once thought were so important now don’t elicit such a reaction. Instead, he recalls a relationship in his past where he desires forgiveness and perhaps even resolution on the matter.
“Ole Scratch” has what could be interpreted as one’s inner voice taunting the listener. The voice sings of how we may not have as much free will as we believe we do, and at the same time this voice is not responsible for our actions in the way our being is.
The final track, “May you Remain” addresses someone Hudak loves unconditionally and wholeheartedly. The lyrics begin with a promise: “Here’s to you/No Matter where you are/Love the life you’ve chosen/Cause I know that you’ll go far/There’s a place for you/No matter where you are.” Hudak prays for this person’s safety and fulfillment in life. The song is a beautiful profession of love, respect and leaves the listener feeling loved and validated as well.
What starts as an album proudly telling naysayers to screw off, ends on a more heartfelt and gentle note—as if the opener is Haduk’s way of filtering out the crowd that isn’t for Brickwall Jackson. “Big Orange Guitar” entices listeners to embrace our American roots and all our individual characteristics that make us, us. This album feels like both a pep talk, a hug and is a great listen for when times are tough.
By: Paris Levin
