‘The Psychedelic Cowboy Song’ by The Sensational Country Blues Wonders! | New Album, ‘The Adventures of a Psychedelic Cowboy’
Exclusive video premiere of ‘The Psychedelic Cowboy Song’ by The Sensational Country Blues Wonders!, taken from the upcoming album, ‘The Adventures of a Psychedelic Cowboy’, out September 2, 2022.
It’s a mind-bending tune about the joys of exploring the cosmos without limitations. Musically, it has a swirling chamber-pop-meets-psychedelia feel to it, enabling the listener to feel like they are floating in space.
Gary Van Miert’s philosophy of saying yes whenever asked to do something outside of his comfort zone has taken him to some very interesting places. Performing under the moniker, The Sensational Country Blues Wonders!, Van Miert is a singer, songwriter, musician and entertainer who specializes in Americana. “I have my own unique interpretation of American roots music—classic country from the fifties and sixties, down-home spiritual songs from the golden age of gospel, and time-honored blues numbers that go back to the greats hailing from Mississippi and Chicago”.
Combining these elements to create a “one of a kind” musical experience, his sound has recently evolved to incorporate elements of psychedelic music from the sixties into the mix. The Adventures of a Psychedelic Cowboy is an album of deeply introspective, trippy, whimsical, and spiritual songs. This collection is influenced by psychedelic art and music of the sixties, such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, 13th Floor Elevators, Peter Max and Salvador Dali. Other influences include traditional country music, Lewis Carroll, and British music hall filtered through The Kinks and The Beatles. “During Covid isolation, I spent time reflecting on my life, trying to make sense of existence, and exploring my sense of awe for the universe”, he explains. “This song cycle is the product of that inward journey”.
As the founder and leader of The Sensational Country Blues Wonders!, Gary Van Miert has been a longtime staple of the Jersey City Arts community. He tirelessly gives his talents and time to all manner of benefit concerts and church services, and has also taken the time to lead and develop an educational program that focuses on American Roots music at the Jersey City public library. For most of his life, performing music had been a hobby. “It was thrilling to go out gigging in my fifties and become a local celebrity/luminary”, he confesses. Playing hundreds of gigs in the New York and New Jersey area, his band has shared bills with national acts Marshall Crenshaw, The Smithereens, and Evan Dando.
Van Miert and The Sensational Country Blues Wonders! released their debut original record, ‘The World Will Break Your Heart’ in 2020 to much national and international acclaim.
The songs on ‘The Adventures of a Psychedelic Cowboy’ were written during Covid isolation and are more inward-looking, nostalgic, and personal. “In between Covid variants, I was active. I had performed a number of local outdoor shows in the spring, summer, and fall months with local musicians who were available. When Covid reared its ugly head again, I retreated and began the process of writing and recording all the songs on the album. This album is my ‘Revolver’ and ‘Exile on Main St’ all rolled into one! It’s got the experimental psychedelia the Beatles started incorporating into their music at that time mixed with the gospel, country, and other Americana elements the Rolling Stones utilized on Exile’.
A ten-song cycle of all original material, ‘The Adventures of a Psychedelic Cowboy’ combines all of Van Miert’s influences; gospel, country, Americana, and rock n’ roll and layers it with experimental psychedelic elements.
Considering himself a conceptual artist with music as his medium, Van Miert continues to incorporate new and different influences into his work. “I’ve always traced music back to the source. What I do is not watered down, because I go back to the originators. Although I proudly wear my influences on my sleeve, I’ve taken the time to find my own unique voice. We’ve all been influenced by other performers, but even if you are doing other people’s songs, you need to make them your own. I’ve always stayed true to my vision of what I think my music should sound like”.
The Sensational Country Blues Wonders! Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / SoundCloud / YouTube
I watched your talent being ‘birthed’ into the cosmos in JC and love how your voice developing such depth of expression through your loving steadfastness of this style of music genre and pure joy of the performance impact on the audience.