Hand Me Down Name
Charlotte Avenue, 2025
8/10
This first release from the Nashville artist Trace Dixon brings a soulful quality to traditional country ideas, where the 5 songs welcome some impressive musicians.
“This One’s For Alan” opens with Dave Flint’s warm guitar and Shawn Fitcher’s thumping drums that suit Nixon’s heartfelt voice, and the title track follows with Tony Paoletta’s emotive steel guitar alongside the intimate singing and Deanie Richardson’s spirited fiddle.
The middle track belongs to the lively rocker “Secondhand Hold On Me”, where grit and melody make this the EPs best, while “Ready For The Takin’” enlists Dave Francis’ cozy bass amid the romantic storytelling. “Love Lost Has Been” exits, and is a dense and rugged finish that invites singing-along to the raw country which benefits from Chris Nole’s piano.
An excellent starting point for Nixon, I would him to be a very familiar name in country music circles within a year, thanks to his classic twang, honky tonk influences and southern rock flavor.
Travels well with: Daryl Mosley- Long Days & Short Stories; Alex Miller- Country