Juneau twanger proves there's always something to say about beer

Down the Hatch

[ With Dawnell Smith ]

Published: March 5th, 2008 10:18 PM
Last Modified: March 5th, 2008 11:38 PM

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Just the other day -- about a few hours ago, in fact -- I thought to myself, "I wonder what I should write about in the beer column due four hours back?"

Yup, the beer writing business can get mighty cutthroat, and a bad week might mean the difference between a bottle of Pride and a jug of St. Ides. You never lose your thirst for beer, but the material can seem mighty thin for 600 words every other week.

But as I started feeling mighty sorrowful for myself, it occurred to me: "Hey, what am I complaining about? Folks have been a-singing and a-hooting about beer for thousands of years without fretting over having nothing to say!"

I mean, when Jim Morrison sang "Roadhouse Blues," he didn't moan, "Well, I woke up this morning and I got myself a glass of wine" or "Well, I woke up this morning and got myself some gin and tonic."

No, no, no, because how could he ever get to "The future's uncertain and the end is always near" without "beer"? He couldn't, and that's the fine truth of things.

From time immemorial, people have gotten plenty of headaches without running out of things to pine for, lament, regret and love while soaking and weeping and yahooing in brew. Come to think of it, my woeful lack of something to say began to sound like a right mournful country tune.

Turns out, Alaska has its own bona fide country singer in Juneau, and the fellow sings about beer. I heard about him from a friend who caught one of his tunes on the Alaska Public Radio Network. The righteous song is called (conveniently for me) "Beer."

The song came to me at just the right time, and let me tell you, Sean Tracey out-twangs and out-writes most pandering songwriters and even outwits the "South Park" gang, who went online with their own sardonic, bitter tune called "Beer Song."

(For a laugh, check out "Lego Beer Song" on YouTube).

Tracey sings about beer with a slow country drawl and a story to tell.

"Well, I was only 8 years old the first time that we met/ a couple of years too soon to appreciate you yet; We met up again at 13/ We finally got it on, if you know what I mean."

A fisherman and harmonica player, guitarist and songwriter, Tracey spins country music on the radio, plays in a bunch of country and blues bands, and writes a music column for the Juneau Empire.

Just a few weeks ago, he wrote this about recording music: "Sometimes, it's hard for me to play like I mean it in a studio environment, and that's why God made beer. A couple of beers can go a long way in the studio, and I'm here to testify. The engineer will almost always have one with you, too, so bring some extras."

(Incidentally, that goes for beer writers as well, and probably sports reporters too. I don't know about the editorial folks, 'cause they don't let me in.)

Tracey put together a 14-track album, "Trouble," with the help of many friends and a $5,000 project grant from the Rasmuson Foundation, which he got partly because of the iconic tune "Everything Was Cool Until I Bought Her a Gun."

Nothing quite tops the lines in "Beer," though: "We were classic high school sweethearts and we're still together now/ You win back my heart every night but I can't remember how."

That's followed by this bit from the catchy chorus: "Free beer, you're my favorite kind, but I don't mind buying; I'd live on beer if I could/ 'Cause I've never had anything so damn good."

"Trouble" manages to mix country and bluegrass, blues and old-time silliness without losing its Johnny Cash cool.

Why listen to me when you can listen to "Beer" and other songs like "Thinkin' About Drinkin' " and "Trouble Too" for yourself?

First go to the APRN Web site for a podcast of the Feb. 23 interview with Tracey, and then check out his Web site and link to his MySpace page. "Trouble" is available for $15 with shipping.

Clearly the man loves beer and music and does right by both in that little love song called "Beer" -- "We like going strolling hand in hand/ and I try to keep a firm grip on your little round can" -- but think of this release as more of a concept CD.

Right before the last track, "Tune Up & Go Home," comes a lovely little sister tune, "Weed," but that's a topic for a different kind of column altogether.

• Find Daily News reporter Dawnell Smith at adn.com/contact/dsmith or call 257-4587.

•

Sean Tracey interview on Alaska Public Radio Network: www.aprn.org. Search for "Short end of the stick."

Sean Tracey's site: www. crabgrassmusic.com

"Lego Beer Song" on YouTube: www.youtube.com. Search for title.

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