Musicians & Production
Single produced by John Devlin Engineered by Vic Bronzini-Fulton at Earth Music Studios Belfast
RnR Magazine John Devlin and The Revolvers – L.A. State of Mind/Half A World Away
“An infectious combination of rootsy rock n roll, country, 60’s pop and new wave flavoured sounds… brings to mind early Elvis Costello and a hint of Van Morrison”
Colin Harper, Music Journalist: John Devlin “The best sixties rock birthed in the 21st Century”
John Devlin, Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar, Don Stick – Lead Guitar, Ross Montgomery – Bass, Michael McKavanagh – Keyboards, Davy Bates – Drums
About L.A State of Mind Single
After the release of his debut solo album ‘Next in Line’ in 2023 John quickly set about recording new material with his band John Devlin and The Revolvers.
The fruits of this are his latest double A-side single ‘L.A. State of Mind / Half A World Away‘.
“As I mentioned recently on stage when introducing L.A. State of Mind there are two problems with this song – I can’t drive, and I’ve never been to America! I love Americana and a particular moment in rock history between the late sixties and early seventies of great American bands like The Doors, CCR, The Band and Fleetwood Mac. I guess this single is a homage to all that great music.”
“It’s a lot more romantic writing about Los Angeles than Lurgan anyway methinks. Lurgan Spade of Mind for all my Irish friends out there ha-ha…”
“L.A. State of Mind is really fantasy Americana pop rock with a dose of country about our hero driving across California to Los Angeles in search of a long-lost love that is not to be. It’s just a bit of fun really. I added a Motown middle section to spice things up with our attempt at west coast Beach Boys harmonies. Plenty of name dropping going on, don’t miss the New York punchline at the end!”
“Half A World Away continues the Americana theme. It’s a dreamy Wild West sounding track – once again yearning for the one that got away. There’s a touch of Ennio Morricone about this one.”
“We tried to get that Spaghetti Western flavoured sound to this track with Rhodes keys, reverb saturated guitars and tight second part harmonies. God knows where the songs come from. You just have to go with the flow when they do…”
About John Devlin
John is an Irish singer/songwriter who cut his teeth many moons ago in Belfast with his band North Parade and later with John Devlin & The Revolvers in London in 2000’s. He draws heavily on his roots in Americana, Irish folk rock, British power pop.
His band include Davy Bates on drums, coming from a rock background in band Storm Zone, Frank Piggott on bass who really comes as a package with Davy, Peter McCarroll on keys and Stevie McKnight on lead guitar who provides soul and power.
John Devlin was born in Limerick in the Republic of Ireland, but his family come from Belfast, N. Ireland, where he is now based. Asked about how his Irishness plays in his music John says:
“I grew up listening to all the great British and American music (Beatles, Lennon, Madness, Kate Bush, Paul Simon, Lou Reed, CCR, Prince) but when I write songs subconsciously the Irish thing seems to come out as well, particularly in tracks like I’m Not The One, Keep Her Satisfied, Blackout, Homunculus & Wilde and Wood Lane Station.”
“I guess it was growing up listening to my da singing Irish ballads at parties such as ‘She Moved Through the Fair’, ‘My Lagan Love’ and ‘Carrickfergus’. It’s the pentatonic scale used in Irish songs that does it for me.”
“I’m not sure if any of my songs use the pentatonic but it’s dreamlike and gorgeous. I’ve played all around Ireland, both North and South, on my own and with my band John Devlin & The Revolvers at venues such as The Spirit Store in Dundalk, Monroes in Galway, in Temple Bar in Dublin, Derry and The American Bar in Belfast.”
“Music has played a huge part in bringing both parts of this island together, I hope my music can play a small part in that.”
Discography
L.A. State of Mind/Half A World Away – Available Now
Next In Line – Sept 2023
I’m Not the One – Dec 2020
Rock ‘n’ Roll E.P – May 2020
Down On the River E.P. – Mar 2020