Local Spins spotlights the GR rock/Americana band releasing its debut full-length recording, and debuts tracks from a half-dozen other Michigan artists. Story, podcast.
Tackling Time: The new album from J.H. Patton & The Good Companions (Courtesy Photo)
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J.H. Patton has “always kind of struggled with this idea of running out of time” and “reminding yourself that you’ve got more time than you think.”
Hence, the Grand Rapids rock/Americana band J.H. Patton & The Good Companions’ new studio album is titled, “Nothin’ But Time,” exploring that notion from “a variety of angles.”
“As we really delved into them (songs), I kind of found that time became a focus of the tunes,” the singer and guitarist said from the attic of his home where the trio gathers for rehearsals. “For myself personally, it’s a thing that’s on my mind a whole lot. … That kind of anxiousness about times shows up in different ways throughout the album with a variety of different characters.”
The band – Patton, bassist Kurtis Young and drummer Peter Shutt – will celebrate release of the album on Oct. 2 at The Stray in Grand Rapids, after laying down the tracks earlier this year at Goon Lagoon with studio owner Tommy Schichtel. Silverstiles will open the show.
‘Nothin But Time’: Recorded at Goon Lagoon
“Tommy was great to work with,” Patton said. “This is the first time we’ve done a project this big in an actual studio. So this was a new experience for us. And just having access to all of the different toys that he’s got around the studio, it led to some really cool ideas and some different sounds on the record.”
The full-length recording follows release of two 2024 EPs, all “pulling in elements of ’60s and ’70s rock groups, instrumental music, classic American and folk and singer-songwriter styles.”
Patton – who grew up in Mount Pleasant, graduated from Central Michigan University and cites The White Stripes, The Who, Glen Hansard and The Band as influences – also leans on his classical training, which stems from studying and playing the trumpet.
“I think it influences my songwriting a lot,” he offered. “I always think of my songs with different movements in them, kind of like a classical piece. I love writing instrumental music. We’ve got a nice instrumental tune on this new album as well.”
AN ‘ORGANIC’ FEELING ON STAGE, WITH SEVERAL UPCOMING SHOWS ON TAP
Coming from a jazz and blues background, Young said he’s learned to appreciate the Americana-infused rock music that Patton creates. He called it a “brackish” writing style that injects a variety of elements into his songs.
For Patton, pairing up on stage with Young and Shutt, who are from Holt, has led to plenty of varied live performances.
“I like how organic it feels when we’re on stage,” he said. “We like to go into instrumental sections here and there that aren’t necessarily on the studio versions of the tracks, but I like our live performances because every single one is completely different. No two shows are the same, which I like a whole lot. And I think audiences have appreciated it.”
More Releases to Come in 2027: Patton and band (Courtesy Photo)
In addition to their album-release show, the band plays Pux Taphouse in Grand Rapids on Saturday (Sept. 19), Jacob’s Farm in Traverse City on Sept. 25, and Mulligan’s Pub in Grand Rapids on Oct. 16.
For this week’s edition of the Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase, the band highlighted two new tracks from the upcoming album: “The Tucson Kid” and “County Rd. 409.”
The radio show also features music from other Michigan artists: Kennedy Perez, Ampersand, Jake LeMond, Johnny Renick, Full Cord & Billy Strings, Caitlin Cusack, Lafayette Gunter Jr., On the Lash and Normal Mode. Listen to the full show podcast below, along with a video of a live performance of Patton’s “Marie” recorded at Dogtown Studio.
The Michigan Music Showcase airs at 11 a.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Sundays on WYCE (88.1 FM) and online at wyce.org, and on Interlochen Public Radio at 7 p.m. Saturdays. Check out previous show podcasts online here.
PODCAST: Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase (9/18/26)
VIDEO: J.H. Patton & The Good Companions, “Marie” (Live at Dogtown)
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