MUSIC MUSIC
Arlo McKinley P H O T O : E M M A D E L E VA N T E
Arlo McKinley Ends His Bad Luck with Arlo McKinley Ends His Bad Luck with This Mess We’re In This Messstreak, We’re In singer/songwriter’s latest album is something special. After an unfortunate the Cincinnati BY B R an I A Nunfortunate BA K E R After
C C
BY B R I A N BA K E R
streak, the Cincinnati singer/songwriter’s latest album is something special.
incinnati-born musician Arlo McKinley has been guided by incinnati-born musician Arlo one rule, a subset of Murphy’s McKinley has been guided by Law that could be dubbed McKinley’s one rule, a subset of Murphy’s Codicil: If something good happens, Law that could be dubbed McKinley’s expect a swift kick in the teeth to follow. Codicil: If something good happens, McKinley’s 2022 album This Mess expect a swift kick in the teeth to follow. We’re In seems to turn the bad luck McKinley’s 2022 album This Mess around, but the musician had a hard We’re In seems to turn the bad luck run once he landed at the record label around, but the musician had a hard of his dreams. run once he landed at the record label After endless local, regional and of his dreams. national gigging in the wake of 2014’s After endless local, regional and national gigging in the wake of 2014’s
32
C I T Y B E AT. C O M
|
debut release Arlo McKinley & the Lonesome Sound, a series of fortunate events debut release Arlo McKinley & the Lonebegan to unfold. McKinley had just some Sound, a series of fortunate events recorded his sophomore album, 2020’s began to unfold. McKinley had just Die Midwestern, and was considering a recorded his sophomore album, 2020’s self release when he received a call from Die Midwestern, and was considering a Jody Whelan, the son of John Prine and self release when he received a call from Fiona Whelan Prine and the head of his Jody Whelan, the son of John Prine and father’s Oh Boy Records. Whelan had Fiona Whelan Prine and the head of his heard McKinley’s music and asked him father’s Oh Boy Records. Whelan had to play Nashville’s annual AmericanaFheard McKinley’s music and asked him est, which turned out to be a major to play Nashville’s annual AmericanaFturning point. est, which turned out to be a major turning point.
J U LY 2 7 - A U G U S T 9 , 2 0 2 2
“John Prine had a little pop-up bar for the weekend, and Jody invited me “John Prine had a little pop-up bar down for one of the nights,” McKinley for the weekend, and Jody invited me tells CityBeat during a phone interdown for one of the nights,” McKinley view. “I did the show and met Jody, tells CityBeat during a phone interbut I didn’t believe they were thinking view. “I did the show and met Jody, anything of it. I was thinking, ‘That was but I didn’t believe they were thinking a cool thing to do.’” anything of it. I was thinking, ‘That was “Some time went by, and there was a cool thing to do.’” talk that my music got passed along to “Some time went by, and there was John and there was interest in working talk that my music got passed along to together. I still didn’t let myself get too John and there was interest in working overboard excited [then],” McKinley together. I still didn’t let myself get too overboard excited [then],” McKinley
continues. McKinley needn’t have worried at continues. that point; he signed a contract with McKinley needn’t have worried at Oh Boy on his birthday in 2019 after that point; he signed a contract with meeting with the label’s brain trust at a Oh Boy on his birthday in 2019 after gig at the High Watt in Nashville. meeting with the label’s brain trust at a It was a classic McKinley moment. gig at the High Watt in Nashville. “Jody introduced me to his mom It was a classic McKinley moment. and I knew she was a part of Oh Boy, “Jody introduced me to his mom so I wanted to be attentive to our and I knew she was a part of Oh Boy, conversation. Finally Jody said, ‘Well, I so I wanted to be attentive to our would introduce you but I don’t think conversation. Finally Jody said, ‘Well, I he needs an introduction,’” McKinley would introduce you but I don’t think he needs an introduction,’” McKinley
