Arden, North Carolina (December 4, 2020) — Even before he formed the Night Drivers 25 years ago, Chris Jones established himself as a compelling singer of country songs that tell of heartbreak. And while his early catalog is dotted with covers of artists like Merle Haggard and Tom T. Hall, in recent years he’s kept it closer to home, with a steady stream of fresh, well-crafted originals that honor the tradition while offering thoughtfully contemporary updates.
For their third single since he and long-time Night Driver Mark Stoffel (mandolin, vocals) were joined by award-winning bassist and singer Marshall Wilborn andGrace Van’t Hof (banjo, ukelele, accordion, vocals), Jones serves up a perfect example of his winning way with a lonesome tale in “Quiet Click.”
“This is in some ways a classic country heartbreak ballad,” says Jones. “But it’s about a relationship ending not with a big fight, but with a soft closing of the door, making it that much harder to deal with. This one showcases the trio singing of the new lineup of the Night Drivers, with harmony vocals from Mark Stoffel and Grace Van’t Hof.”
Embellished with steel guitar by master musician David Johnson, the song finds its narrator contemplating the paradox Jones describes — an irreversible break-up made all the more devastating for its near silence, culminating in the chorus’s stoic, haunting lines: “It wasn’t like a wrecking ball breaking down the house…Her goodbye didn’t come with a slamming door, instead it came with just a quiet click.”
Punctuated with a simple, memorable signature lick and featuring a typically tasteful solo from Stoffel, “Quiet Click” is a quiet yet powerful slice of country bluegrass to reaffirm that Chris Jones & the Night Drivers remains one of the most musically elegant artists around.
Listen to “Quiet Click” HERE.
About Chris Jones & The Night Drivers
Whether it’s in the studio or on stage, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers are making some of the most distinctively elegant yet driving music to be heard anywhere today, and they’re delivering it with a unique blend of dry wit, emotional authenticity and broad humor that’s won the loyalty of a growing number of fans across the country, from MerleFest in North Carolina to California’s Huck Finn Jubilee, and around the world.
Steve Martin referred to the Night Drivers as “. . . some of the best players in bluegrass! Chris Jones’ voice is there with the great masters.” Americana artist Jim Lauderdale said of Chris, “He continues to have one of the most distinctive and best voices in music, period.”
The band — which is Mark Stoffel on mandolin, Grace van’t Hof on banjo and ukelele and Marshall Wilborn on bass — is led by Chris’ soulful lead-singing, songwriting, and solid rhythm and lead guitar. Chris boasts extensive performance credits as a sideman with artists like Lynn Morris, Vassar Clements, Special Consensus, Dave Evans, Earl Scruggs, and the acclaimed Irish band The Chieftains.
Altogether, members of Chris Jones & The Night Drivers have won more than a dozen IBMA awards and have recorded more than ten #1 songs. The Night Drivers also bring name recognition in related fields, as bluegrass fans are well-familiar with Jones for his award-winning work as a SiriusXM DJ, on both Bluegrass Junction and Willie’s Roadhouse.