Nashville-based singer-songwriter KC Johns crafts a heartfelt homage to her musical upbringing and support system on “Best Seat in the House.” Drawing on memories of her grandfather introducing her to the guitar and first inspiring her to sing, KC Johns layers twangy guitars and anthemic choruses with warm, reflective storytelling — making for a resonating alt-country sound. “Though he’s not in the crowd anymore, I know he’s still watching every show. Now he’s got the best seat in the house,” she says.
A retrospective, warming quality emanates from the get-go. KC Johns’ vocals compel with a lushly engaging charm, retracing memories of discovering music and trying to “strum along” at home as a budding artist. “Patsy Cline and Willie, Merle and Johnny Cash,” she sings amidst twangy, swaying guitars. An anthemic chorus takes hold thereafter, stirring in the “he had the best seat in the house” emotion — singing “those kind of memories never burn out, I’d give it all to be back there now.”
The loving portrayal of her grandfather having that best seat, and always being a system of support, is wholly impactful — capturing both the artist’s personal guiding light growing up, and also the power of family and support in general as one embarks on their artistic journey. A riveting guitar solo traverses into a sating final minute, where KC Johns’ vocals continue to consume: “Though his face ain’t in the crowd, I can still feel him here and now, and he has the best seat in the house.” The songwriting enthralls with its emotion and appreciation, set amidst a stirring rock and country fusing.
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We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
