Formed in late 2012 by lead singer Shane DuShane, DuShane is the perfect cohesion of southern rock and country, with Shane’s New York City roots giving the band its “Urban Country” Americana sound. Their debut single, ‘Alabama Rain’, was released earlier this year, and has received warm reviews, with the band finding popularity with fans of a wide range of musical tastes.
The track opens with an anthemic intro, creating an instant familiarity with the song, and giving comfort to the listener as they brace for the story. They don’t have to wait long, with the line, “Johnny turned 20’s from the poor side of town” kicking off the first verse, and immediately we are talking a walk in the shoes of the main character. We know tragedy isn’t far off as the verse continues setting up the story with,
One day he got married and found a way
He had a new baby boy and landed a job
Without any skills had to work twice as hard
Working the steel mills 14 hours a day
The mill shuts down, there’s a new baby on the way, Johnny hits an all-time low with only one option, to enlist in the military. Thankfully that’s where the hard times end, by the end of the video – directed and produced by DuShane himself – we see Johnny returning home a hero, reunited with his family, and the fulfilment of his promise that they would never know that “Alabama Rain”.
‘Alabama Rain’ is a song which gives hope to all the Johnnys, a character all too familiar across the USA today, with the outsourcing of jobs and shrinking middle class. With its fresh sound and relatability, the track is bound to grab the interest of both country and Americana music fans, as well as anyone else who loves a happy-ever-after story.
Find ‘Alabama Rain’ on iTunes and Spotify. Check out DuShane Band online on their official website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
