Connor Christian & Southern Gothic’s 90 Proof Lullabies is an eclectic mix of roots-rock and alt-country. It is a good balance of fun, fast-paced songs and slow, beautiful ballads, but the lyrics in each song make you think a little about life’s ups and downs.

The Atlanta-based band is Connor Christian on lead vocal, guitar, keys, and harmonica; Joe Abramson on bass and vocals; Shawn Thacker on drums and vocals; and Neil Edelstein on keys, guitar, and vocals.

Christian’s vocals is reminiscent of the Black Crowe’s Chris Robinson, but with a country twang. Two totally different genres of music mixed together in complete harmonization. His voice is fun and energetic, and he has a great range. This would be a great album on a summer road trip.

Christian left home at 14 and forged a path of personal and musical discovery that took him to Indonesia, South Korea, France, Belgium, Singapore, and beyond. While visiting these places, Connor refined his deeply felt outlook on American life and found strength in the perspective he could deliver through song.

“I try to be realistic …” he said. “But, we live in a time where it is crucial to pay attention to what’s going on around us … if I can get people to stop and think about it for a minute, well that’s a pretty good start.”

Connor names his influences as Ryan Adams, G. Love, Counting Crows, The Band, and even Elton John.

90 Proof Lullabies was produced by Jeff Tomei (Matchbox 20, Jerrry Cantrell), mixed by Shawn Grove (Collective Soul, Sevendust) and features Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke, Mark Van Allen of Blueground Undergrass, and Bobby Emmett of the Shooter Jennings Band.

The song “Waiting for Princess” gives a nice twist on the usual “waiting for my prince charming” story. It’s refreshing to see that some guys are waiting for their princess, too. Of course, we all know that life and love don’t always have the fairy tale we’d like, and Christian reminds us of that through his lyrics.

I’ve been waiting for you to come down from your tower
Waiting for a princess to come

There was one thing I really should’ve known
You didn’t need me, you thought you were better off alone

Could it be when you opened your eyes you couldn’t see the light?

“GroundHog” is a song about wanting spring to come, and it has such an appropriate title. Throughout the song, the lyrics speak about being homesick, hard times on the road, and a relationship gone wrong.
Homesick and too tired to sleep
Another bar on the coast of Virginia
And I asked myself, “Did I really wish for this?”
Maybe spring will come tomorrow
Me, I’m going back to bed

Sometimes hope just makes you lonely
And yesterday feels like home
You wear it like a badge of honor
But you’re tired of being alone

“Chipping Away” is a fun song about hopes, dreams, and never giving up. The chants from the backup vocals and the violin have the flair of an old Irish song. You might want to jump up and start doing a jig.

Just when it’s supposed to get easy
The road takes a fork to the right

The chipping away makes me weary
We tried to do it their way
We’re filled with venom and whiskey and self-righteousness
We won’t stop till we reach for the day

You can catch Connor Christian & Southern Gothic on tour this summer on the east coast. But even if you can’t make it to any of the dates, you should definitely pick up 90 Proof Lullabies to get familiar with this up-and-coming band.

Jenna Miller is an intern for the New River Voice and operations manager at WVRU FM 89.9 in Radford.