“Sacred steel” master Robert Randolph and the Family Band have shared a new music video for “Have Mercy”, the second single off their forthcoming new LP, Brighter Days, due out on August 23rd.
The video was shot in Nashville this past April by Juan Ibanez. As Randolph explains about the clip,
I felt it was time I wrote an uplifting powerful song that embraced my roots of coming from the church that speaks to everyone going through some sort of pain, shame and some many going struggles of depression in life. So we wanted let each and everyone know that God is with all us and we can always look to the heavens for Grace and Mercy at all times. During the video we wanted to create an uplifting vibe with the choir that we used during the recording in Nashville. Shannon Sanders and his choir totally made the vibe work even better!! We hope everyone enjoys the video and also feels uplifted. We also hope it puts smiles on faces all around the world.
You can watch Robert Randolph and the Family Band’s new video for “Have Mercy” below:
Robert Randolph and the Family Band – “Have Mercy” [Official Video]
[Video: Robert Randolph and The Family Band]
The release of the new video follows the band’s appearance at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival last weekend, where they filled in at the last minute when John Prine was forced to cancel. Randolph also lent his steel guitar prowess to Dave Matthews Band‘s headlining set at the Acura Stage.
Robert Randolph grew up playing pedal steel-centric gospel music in the House of God church in Orange, New Jersey and began taking his joyous, gospel-infused music out to clubs backed by family members who shared not only backgrounds, but also blood—hence the band’s name.
The new album, Brighter Days, was produced by decorated producer Dave Cobb, known for his work with high-profile artists like Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, and Marcus King. Cobb has a proven knack for bringing out the nuanced character of the artists he records, so it’s no surprise that he helped bring out some of Robert’s deepest, most passionate vocals on the nine album tracks on which he sings lead.
“Dave Cobb is just a guy who likes to record good music and good songs,” says Randolph. “He wanted to do something that was fun, but it also gives you a gospel feeling. He knows the history of our band, coming from church and giving that fun church feeling to people.”
Cobb’s magic touch helped bring Randolph’s unique musical character to the surface on Brighter Days. As Robert explains, “Over the years I’ve learned how to write these songs that make you feel kind of spiritual and have the gospel roots, just like the great music of people like the Four Tops, Temptations and Ray Charles. It all comes from the same place. We don’t want to sound like them – or like anybody – but that’s the feeling we want to evoke.”
You can check out a full tracklisting for Brighter Days and a list of the band’s upcoming tour dates below. For more information, head to Randolph’s website.