To test the new signature Dylan harmonica we recently invited another purveyor of early American musical idioms to our office. Justin Townes Earle is a lifeline to the musical past. Earle’s harmonica playing, while similar to Dylan’s chordal approach, adds a sensitivity in place of the former’s expressionism. After spending an entire day at the studio laying down basic tracks for his next record, (which will follow up his successful 2008 release The Good Life), Earle seemed weary but willing, a true workingman’s musician.

Our studio set-up for this Session was our Digidesign Mbox2/Pro Tools rig. We used two Audix SCX1-C overhead microphones (which we recently reviewed as part of the Audix DP Elite 8 mic Pack, primarily used for drum-miking applications). For this instance the mics helped achieve a true live stereo recording (ideal for the 2-input Mbox configuration). We also had a pair of Sony’s MDR series headphones. Earle gave the Dylan harp a spin, as everyone else marveled at the special harmonica in its unique presentation case.

J.T.E. started things off with the aching country blues “Turn Out My Lights.” His finger-picking and harmonica accompaniment was measured and hypnotic, tugging closely to the song’s lyric. Sometimes before he performs this song live he tells the story of how he wrote it for a nurse at a methadone clinic in North Carolina. Justin Earle has, of course, since given up his wild ways; but not much irony is lost when he recounts the story of Charlie Poole, the singing and banjo-playing frontman for the popular 1920s string band The North Carolina Ramblers, who died on a bender halfway to Hollywood in 1931.

In the vein of 1920s American country blues, Earle decided to do another tune, one a bit quicker. He referred to it as a Doc Watson tune, “The Train That Carried My Girl From Town,” which was introduced to many listeners by Doc at The Newport Folk festival in 1963, (which, incidentally was Dylan’s first year at the festival). This tune actually has its origins with Frank Hutchison, a West Virginian and early adopter of country music and the blues.

Earle’s version has a bluegrass quickness, but retains something of the old-timey gait. Earle has such a unique way of projecting his head voice, letting the longer melody notes air out in the room, that the speed of his finger-picking often starts to syncopate against his ringing baritone. “The Train That Carried My Girl From Town” is a good time number and a few whoops and hollers attend the song’s final notes. Earle starts to pack up his guitar just as he’s asked to do one more tune. He stands up tall and thin in the room, obliges, and sits down to go back to work.