LISTEN: Jicks Drummer Jake Morris Shares ‘Paradise Cove’

New album from Stephen Malkmus sideman, The Long Goodbye, out in October

September 24, 2024September 24, 2024 Ron Hart 0 Comments 2024, Jake Morris, Paradise Cove, Stephen Malkmus, Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks, Street Nights

Jake Morris is Street Nights (Image: Kevin Rexroad)

As the drummer for Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks these last 10 years, Jake Morris knows how to keep things groovin’.

But with the new album The Long Goodbye from his solo project Street Nights, Morris truly steps into his own with a cache of sun-kissed indie pop with a hankering for the AM airwaves.

Produced by Cameron Spies (Night Heron/Radiation City), The Long Goodbye began as a series of voice message vocal takes recorded both at home and in various public spaces.

“I had the good fortune of being able to finish the lyrics and fine tune the arrangements at my wife’s grandmothers’ home in Sint Maarten to get my mind and vibe right” tells Morris, “Before heading into the studio in February, much like David Crosby would’ve done.”

VIDEO: Street Nights “OMG”

With both mind and vibe well-harmonized, Morris and Spies set up in the decidedly less-tropical Trash Treasury Recording in Southeast Industrial Portland. The trick was to get Morris out of his comfort zone and attempt to make a fully realized LP, including pre-production.

“Pre-production was a word I had only associated with records made for the suits at Capitol” says Morris. “To have that process was a luxury I had never afforded myself. For the first time I believed I had songs that warranted ‘slick production’ and Cameron was up to the task.”

Street Nights The Long Goodbye, self-released 2024

Augmenting the large sound of The Long Goodbye is a formidable ensemble of Portland, OR-area musicians, including Joanna Bolme (The Jicks, Quasi) and Jay Winebrenner (31 Knots, Blesst Chest) sharing the bass duties; Rebecca Clay Cole (The Minders, Wild Flag, Pavement) on pianos, synths, organ and backing vocals with Kathy Foster (The Thermals, AllGirl Summer Fun Band); guitar leads from Darrell Bourque (The Joggers) and Daniel Wilson (Dommengang); Pedal Steel from Rick Pedrosa (Abronia, Federale); Co-lead and backing vocals by Darcy Bradley (DHD); and horns arranged and performed by Andy Rayborn, with special assistance by Tim Perry (Ages&Ages).

And ahead of the upcoming LP’s October 24th release date, Rock & Roll Globe is honored to premiere the latest single from The Long Goodbye, the disco-adjacent “Paradise Cove.” It’s a song that wouldn’t be out of place on a solo Michael McDonald album from the late ‘70s.

Street Nights “Paradise Cove,” self-released 2024

“Paradise Cove is often an imagined place that doesn’t live up to expectations,” Morris explains of the song. “There’s probably one or more in each state whether they’re landlocked or not. A place where the boat you’ll never buy drops anchor for the night until it begins taking on water in your reoccurring dreams. A wooden sign on a country road reads ‘Paradise Cove’ at the entrance to a long driveway right next to a post that reads ‘No Trespassing.’ This particular Paradise Cove could be if you turned being talked down to into a street party conga line. I’m rubber, you’re glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you, cha cha cha.(Everybody solos)”

Listen to “Paradise Cove” below, and pre-order The Long Goodbye on BandCamp here.