Scotland’s prodigious talent Liz Jones explains the context of her latest single “You Can Cry” (radio Edit):
The song is a very simple message to a friend, ‘Come on over, lets share a bottle, and you can tell me about it.’ I have a friend who I believe is lonely, and gets low. Sometimes I’m rubbish at making it known that I’m a good shoulder to cry on. This song is a plea: ‘making it known.’ I am also discussing other people I know who’ve been through a lot of crap and have come out the other side standing, and the message is that they can tell you about it, empathize, and give you hope.
Additional final verse:
I have a card
That I could let you play
Show you my full hand
Give the game away
There's no clever move I use
To beat those blues away
I just accept my failures
Like rough pot holes
Along the way
Liz showcases softer, more gentle, tender and emotive phrasing to her trademark smoky vocals as she reaches out to a friend in need. It is this incredible range, intensity, and empathy which set Jones apart and accounts for her meteoric rise in profile over the past 12 months as both a solo artist and band leader. Last year saw the release of the highly acclaimed and successful Double Measures album. The sensational track “Johnny Knows The Road” from that LP was in the Top 5 of American Blues Scene’s 2024 UK singles.
“You Can Cry” is not just about Liz, however, as it takes the combined talents of Broken Windows to create soulful blues at its best. Lead guitarist John Bruce was co-founder of Scotland’s legendary Blues ‘N’ Trouble in the 1980s – a band with a Chicago blues-inspired sound which BB King called “the best white blues band in the world.” Bassist Rod Kennard also featured in that group, hence the synergy with Bruce at the heart of the music. Suzy Cargill brings percussion and mandolin to the mix; Gary Davidson the metronomic timing of the drums; and Jamie Hamilton hits the sweet spot of sensitive, atmospheric, and tasteful keys.
It is hard to believe that three years ago Liz recorded “Call Center Blues” when she was juggling several jobs, one of them excruciatingly monotonous, to fund her musical ambitions. Currently touring the Netherlands, she is now moving closer to the dream of calling the shots herself.
