Rory McCellan is a journalist and podcaster who writes for Irish Record Review, Cottage Life, and Horse and Hound. He got his start editing the Bam Bam Club newsletter back in 1987 The following excerpts are from a conversation that he had with Jimmy Honeyman about his latest recordings.
Rory: Tell me a little bit about how the “At Twilight 4:18” E.P. came about?
Jimmy: I had made a decision to continue writing in January. I don’t think I have that much time left with good ears, sound body I felt that I need to recommit and but a little more effort into my “craft”, especially finishing things. The first song I worked on was “Tuesday Morning Yard sale” It had been a title in my notebook for awhile and I sat down at the piano one night and persisted until I finished it.
Rory: Who on earth would have a Tuesday Morning Yard sale?
Jimmy: When I was a case manager in community mental health, I used to drive thru Shively on my way to work and you would always see a motley and sad collection of items for sale in someone’s Yard any day of the week. These people didn’t take ad’s in the Courier to advertise!!! Obviously, not the best day to have a yard sale and probably influenced by poverty or addiction.
Rory: So It’s based on a true story?
Jimmy: Yes, mainly a girl I knew who lived in that part of town and was a co-worker. Her family were real monsters. She was semi-good looking and managed to get a college degree but couldn’t overcome the trans-generational chaos. She was drawn to clients who grew up like she did and turned out to be hiding her own addiction. It was interesting how her co-workers were jealous of her looks and it was adult mean girl shit. My friend Jonesy and I felt sorry for her and got played a bit. She was always hard up for a cigarette, lunch or gas money. I realize that’s what people didn’t like at work but I donned my refrigerator white armor. It all came crashing down when she got busted with a client and ended up in jail. A sad song for sure.
Rory: Jesus- Help the Helpers!!!
Jimmy: You’ve got that right. It should be a law that anyone in that field go to Better Help for 2 years before they get set loose near societies problems.
Rory: I like the arrangement- kinda different for you
Jimmy: I don’t what I don’t know on piano. The version that you hear on the e.p. I thought was just a demo but Mike Feedback liked it and added the organ.
Rory: Where on earth has he been? I thought he renounced society.
Jimmy: Oh, he did. I hadn’t seen him in about 6 years? He knocked on my door one morning about 6 a.m. in the midst of shelter in place. He rode his ten speed from Arizona. It was a real zombie apocalypse moment of truth. “Do I let him in?” He was symptom free so I went ahead and agreed. There are times I’ve seen him the past 20 years where he wasn’t particularly focused on music and more negative. I found him a treat this time around. We watched “Tales from the Tour Bus” both seasons and it inspired us. Feedback is comfortable with almost all music. Our main common ground is James Brown and the Beatles but we were digging some country too.