Scott Metzger has revealed details for his debut solo album, Too Close To Reason, and shared the lead single, “Don’t Be A Stranger”. The instrumental LP from the Joe Russo’s Almost Dead guitarist/vocalist is out on March 4th via Royal Potato Family Records.
Born out of the isolation of pandemic-induced lockdowns, Too Close To Reason hears Metzger examining himself with solo acoustic compositions that explore ambient and pastoral soundscapes. The 12-track LP is a triumphantly independent statement from the guitarist, who performs nearly every note on the album aside from violin accompaniment by Katie Jacoby—his fiancée and touring member of The Who—on “Only Child”. Coming nearly 20-years into an already prolific career in live music, Too Close To Reason sees Metzger asserting for himself the spotlight that is long overdue.
On “Don’t Be A Stranger”, fans get a first glimpse of this seldom-seen side of the onstage ax slinger. The layered, country-tinged track throttles between rollicking rhythms and ambient stillness, showing Metzger’s artistic duality. Too Close To Reason hears Scott exploring his influences including Chet Atkins, Django Reinhardt, Jim Hall, and Richard Thompson, and showing how they came to form his unique musical identity.
Watch Scott Metzger perform the lead single from Too Close To Reason, “Don’t Be A Stranger”, at Brooklyn, NY’s Restoration Sound where he recorded the album. Along with the album announcement, Metzger has revealed four tour dates with more to follow. The shows in Cambridge, MA (3/30); New York, NY (3/31); Washington, D.C. (4/1); and Philadelphia, PA (4/2) go on sale on Friday on his website. Stay tuned for more tour announcements and click here to pre-order Too Close To Reason.
Scott Metzger – “Don’t Be A Stranger”