Heading for Home

Liner Notes by John Jackson

In retrospect, it didn't make any sense. There were too many other things to do. In the midst of deadlines, family obligations, cars and homes in dire need of repair and work-related commitments, four old friends dropped everything and converged on Carolina Beach, North Carolina from July 2 to July 6 2004. The goal was to record as many songs as possible, and resupply an old idea with fresh oxygen; an idea born in the fertile fields of Northern Indiana in 1991 and that grew for only three years before the pressures of life reduced a comforting blaze to smoldering embers. The idea was that a band could exist which was fueled by a passion for the sound of acoustic instruments; by the heavy smell of the Midwestern autumn evening that poured through the open windows of a ‘79 Chevy Monte Carlo gliding down an otherwise empty two lane state road that dutifully divided acres of mature corn and soybeans into townships, lines and sections; by a love for Woody Guthrie; a shared sense of humor, and a strong curiosity about whether we’d be any good.

We called the idea The Midnight Stations. “Midnight” because it is the time of dreaming. “Stations” because it evokes travel, progress, anticipation, hope for tomorrow, a full tank, starting out, coming home and new sounds all in one. Twelve years down the road, all of the desire remained. The Stations now were able to marry desire with greater ability, mature perspective and more significant resources. This is the result of our effort, and we hope you enjoy it. The Stations do not claim them to be the best songs in the world, but they are ours and we know of no others like them.

Thanks for listening.

The Midnight Stations

Stations History (Grogg)