From the title of the track you might think that Chris James is singing about his location, but in actuality, it’s an autobiographical look at what happened when he took stock of his life, and considered what opportunities might arise if he packed up and moved “somewhere out in California”.
Chris started out performing locally in Portland, Maine, and soon knew that to get his name out there, he needed to move to a bigger city. He pushed out to San Francisco, with only his guitar, looking for work. Joining forces with The Showdowns, a Bay Area-based group comprising Matt Berg (drums), AJ Leighton (bass), John Paterson (keys), and Whitt Vicena (lead guitar), they formed a united front, which can be felt at all their shows.
Their debut album, ‘Lucky Breaks’, and James’ solo releases, have found a home on SiriusXM radio, as well as other stations through out California. They’ve also had placements in TV commercials.
‘Somewhere Out In California’, released on May 1, is the band’s second album, and is filled with as equally authentic songs as the title track. Chris James And The Showdowns have a packed schedule ahead of them, including full band and solo gigs.
The intimate video for ‘Somewhere Out In California’ is a showcase for the natural beauty of California: the views, the ocean, and the forests, and the song itself is the narration of a restless heart, reminiscing on all the possible “what ifs” of life. After making a decision we sometimes have afterthoughts, imagining how life would be if different decisions were made and if different things were said. The lyric, “Did you ever feel like we missed the bus” is the metaphorical concern of making the wrong choices in the past and missing prime opportunities or possible new adventures. It is essential to remind ourselves to take risks: if not, we will regret all the possibilities that could’ve been.
You can find out more about Chris James And The Showdowns on their official website. You can stream and download ‘Somewhere Out In California’ here.
