Dave Hedeman and Justin Bowlin of the Gone Ghosts stopped by Live & Local this week, ahead of the release of their powerhouse new EP, “True ‘Til Death.”
“This year has been a very odd year,” says Hedeman of 2025. (Most of us can certainly relate.) For Hedeman, the last 11 months have seen a major job transition and the death of a close family member – but also the rapid growth of his music label, All Y’all Records, on top of the pride and excitement of recording new music.
Much of that new music was inspired by his own life and the people in it – including his daughter Eliza, now a student at UNC-G, with whom he duets on the song “Western Sky.”
“That song (is) sort of about a conversation between father and daughter – just telling (each other) that you’re in each other’s corner,” Hedeman says. “When I wrote it, she was younger and going through some things, and you just wanna let your kids know that you support them…
“And we did this show in Richmond a few weeks back, and Richmond Magazine wrote about it, and they said something like, ‘the Gone Ghosts are a lyrical (band), their lyrics are important’… I don’t think I started off writing like that, but I think over the years I’ve gotten better and better at it.”
“Western Sky” is only one of the highlights on “True ‘Til Death” – another showcase for the Gone Ghosts’ driving, classic Americana sound, with songs that feel instantly iconic. Lead single “Heard It All Before” was specifically inspired by Hedeman’s job transition but captures the universal frustration of feeling like every new change is another version of the same old thing.
“And then the (title track) is a song I wrote for my wife,” Hedeman adds. “I wanted to write a love song, but (not) a sappy love song, so I wrote this rock song about a Bonnie and Clyde kind of couple…
“We’ve been together for 30 years almost, and especially this year we’ve just gotten really tight…we just feel like we’ve reached this just total understanding. It’s been a hard time, (but) it’s been really good, you know, recognizing that you can be there for your person.”
Follow the Gone Ghosts on Instagram.
The EP is out Friday, November 7, and the Gone Ghosts are celebrating that evening with a show at Local 506, starting at 8 p.m. It’s not just a Gone Ghosts show: it’s also a spotlight for the local bands on the All Y’all label, with Jack the Radio and Charles Latham & the Borrowed Band opening.
Visit Local506.com for more information on Friday’s show.
“It’s exactly what we were trying to do with All Y’all Records,” Hedeman says of Friday’s show. “(Get) some heavy hitter local acts to come play in one night and they’re all fantastic. (And) it’s fun to hang out with your friends. Like, that’s what this is all about: the old Willie (Nelson) line, ‘the life I love is making music with my friends.’ We’re just really grateful that we just have this great community to play with.”
Visit AllYallRecords.com for more on the label.
Dave Hedeman and Justin Bowlin of the Gone Ghosts stopped by Live & Local this week to discuss the EP and Friday’s show at Local 506. They also played two songs live in the studio, “Western Sky” and “Murderland.” Listen:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
