Shadowdogs' 'Halfway to Someday'

Close your eyes and be whisked away to a land where the Shadowdogs live and play their mellow music. You’ve heard of comfort food? Their new CD “Halfway to Someday” is comfort music.

“It’s a Long Way Down” by Bruce FitzSimmons is a golden memory- evoking piece that strums its way into memories of lazy summer days where you and your friends sat on the green lawn listening to the Eagles.

The Shadowdogs’ Eagles-like sound is now classified as “Americana.” Since it is hard to keep up with these “pigeonhole” terms for music I will describe what I hear — a melodic mix of voices and instruments that blend together in tunes that just make you want to sway. However, I do have to admit that the songs conjure up images of lazy summer days in Central California — like the pungent scent of baled alfalfa in the Salinas Valley. The music is mellow rock with a splash of country or mellow country with a splash of rock — take your pick.

It’s not hard to see why this Fallbrook band is so enduring. The camaraderie amongst the group is played out in the rainbow of musical textures that emerge. A former writer for the Eagles, Jack Tempchin, (“Peaceful Easy Feeling”) is a contributor to the CD and his influence is evident.

The Shadowdogs capture the essence that made the Eagles so popular and temper it with their own sound. “Long Way Down” by Bruce FitzSimmons is good swaying music that will “mellow out” anyone.

Franklin Jenkins sings, “The open road is calling out for me down those white lines… I’m gonna gas up and be gone…” “Open Road” is an upbeat song that makes you want to grab your keys and head for somewhere… it doesn’t matter where, as long as music is your companion and the road is open — which around here probably means heading for the Anza Borrego Desert.