Sunny War

Armageddon in a Summer Dress

New West

It wasn’t’ that long ago when Sunny War was living on the streets, busking and indulging in substances to the point where she almost didn’t survive. Yes, she is the proverbial ‘rags to riches’ story, now one of Americana’s and indie’s most celebrated voices. Her 2023 “Anarchist Gospel” was a major breakthrough that she now follows with “Armageddon in a Summer Dress.” While there’s some, yours truly included, that still prefer her stripped down acoustic act, she’s more than earned the right to deliver an album rife with guests – Valerie June, John Doe of X, Steve Ignorant of Crass, Tre Burt, Jack Lawrence of the Raconteurs, John James Tourville of the Delondes, and even more. Yes, Sunny War now straps on an electric guitar and has a full band, primed to perform in large venues and festivals such as Big Ears in March.  The oft densely produced album comes courtesy of the esteemed Andrija Tokic who also engineered and mixed. To these ears, War’s rather fragile vocals are often set too far back in the mix, with the emphasis on the soundscape rather than letting her provocative lyrics be more softly framed.

War found inspiration for this album while living in her late father’s 100-year-old house in Chattanooga, TN. She initially thought the house was haunted. Eerie sounds and visions led her to write the song “Ghosts.” Here’s the chorus – “Just how/To hang on to the ones we let go/They’re around/Hold ‘em tight , keep ‘em warm, hold ‘em close/They’ll be down in the ground when you need them the most/And now somehow you believe in ghosts.” She says, “I spent the winter seeing things and hearing things…I was there by myself. I could hear people walking around and talking, but when I jumped out of bed with machete, nobody was there.” She later discovered that hallucinations were caused by gas leaks, shifting her understanding of those experiences but not her artistic focus. As such, the album explores themes of memory, loss, and the ghosts of past selves.

War plays banjo and guitar with these contributors: Her core band is as follows: Megan Coleman (Drums, Percussion), Jack Lawrence (Bass), Jo Schornikow (Keyboards, Vibraphone, Xylophone), John James Tourville (Pedal Steel, Guitars, Additional Percussion), Andrija Tokic (Additional Percussion) with background vocalists Kyshona Armstrong, Maureen Murphy, and Nickie Conley. Guests are Steve Ignorant: Vocals on “Walking Contradiction;”Valerie June: Vocals on “Cry Baby;” Tré Burt: Vocals, Guitar on “Scornful Heart;”and John Doe: Vocals on “Gone Again.”

Guests such as Crass and Doe share and are major influences for War’s punk sensibilities. Neither appear on the opener “One Way Train” though, a track as punkish as any reflective of War’s distaste for today’s society, a modern update of sorts on Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” with its series of rhyming couplets  – “When there’s no one left to use/And no police or state/And the fascists and classists/All evaporate/Won’t you meet me on the outskirts/of my left brain/Close your eyes and take a ride/On a one way train.” She amplifies this same rebellious spirit with Crass on “Walking Contradiction,” a scathing indictment of a capitalist driven America (which in some ways is prophetic as it’s only getting worse) – “…We sell labor, we sell hours, sell our power, sell our souls/all the pigs and big wigs foaming at the mouth/Look down at us laughing like we’ll never figure out…” It’s with Doe in “Gone Again” wherein we find the titular lyrics – “Just a mound of stress/You’re Armageddon/In a summer dress/Suppress it all/Until your stomach hurts/Honest and lonely it/Would only be worse.”

“Bad Times” is snappy, more melodic, imbued with swirling keyboards and guitars. “Rise” and “No One Calls Me Baby” are some of the more optimistic, shiny bright poppish tunes we’ve ever heard from War. Her duet with June on “Cry Baby” has a huge, orchestral backdrop when she may have been better served with a more minimal setting.  The swaying“Scornful Heart” with Burt on guitar and vocals gets much closer to framing the tune more suitably. “Lay Your Body Down” is positively haunting, seemingly tracing to her letdown from a partner in her living on the streets days. War’s seen plenty of negativity in her young life, railing against such in the flowing, upbeat closer, “Debbie Downer.”

Sunny War will never sell out. She’s conquered so much to get where she is now. These are among the best songs she’s written and while some of the musical adornment works, for the most part, she needs less. Just let her sing and speak her mind.

– Jim Hynes

BUY NOW

Buy Us a Cup of Coffee!

Join the movement in supporting Making a Scene, the premier independent resource for both emerging musicians and the dedicated fans who champion them.

We showcase this vibrant community that celebrates the raw talent and creative spirit driving the music industry forward. From insightful articles and in-depth interviews to exclusive content and insider tips, Making a Scene empowers artists to thrive and fans to discover their next favorite sound.

Together, let’s amplify the voices of independent musicians and forge unforgettable connections through the power of music

You can donate directly through Paypal!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter