Song Premiere: The Mike + Ruthy Band, “Rock on Little Jane”

If there’s one piece of advice you wish you’d gotten from your parents…what is it? Does it involve falling in (or out of) love? Living life to its fullest? Never giving up? Mike Merenda and Ruthy Ungar, aka Mike + Ruthy, try to cover all those bases (and more, too) on their new single “Rock on Little Jane,” which was inspired by their daughter. (And no, their daughter’s name is NOT Jane. It’s Opal June. Her name, says Merenda, didn’t quite fit the rhythm of the song.)

Besides giving Ruthy Ungar the chance to explore the ups and downs of her most soulful vocal range, “Rock on Little Jane” is jam-packed with the hopes, both realistic and un, all parents have for their kids. It’s also a song that centers around the promises parents make to their kids – promises that have no guarantee of actually coming true, but promises that inspire and soothe and encourage and calm just the same. “I know it seems today that no one can see you,” Ruthy sings, but “there’s going to come a day when they’re going to want to be you.” Don’t we all hope that for the special young people in our lives?

This single from Mike + Ruthy’s new recording ‘Bright as You Can’ (out on June 2nd), “Rock on Little Jane” captures the theme of family that runs throughout the whole album. It also offers a sneak preview of the musical direction Mike + Ruthy are currently traveling – yes, there are fiddles and acoustic guitars and lyrics that take center stage. But there’s also a lot of electricity on the new record too. And the combination is simply sizzling.

‘Bright as You Can’ seems to be honoring the great musical traditions of the past while at the same time welcoming, with open arms, the future of what music can be. And “Rock on Little Jane” is perfectly indicative of what music should be – it’s an anthem. A fist-raising, you can do it, don’t ever stop trying anthem, one that inspires all kids, no matter how old we are, to sing along.

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‘Bright As You Can’ will be released June 2 on Humble Abode Music (Thirty Tigers) and you can pre-order it HERE.