After heading ‘Down the Road,’ singer finds self in Youngstown

Palka will be at Cedars Lounge on Saturday.

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

VINDICATOR ENTERTAINMENT WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Singer-songwriter Matt Palka is putting the finishing touches on his first full-length album with a backing band.

“Down the Road” was recorded earlier this month at Ampreon Recorder in Youngstown.

Palka is a native of Haskins, a small town in the northwest corner of Ohio, but he’s adopted Youngstown as his home. That is, when he’s not off roaming the country in his trademark red VW bus.

After a performance at Youngstown State University last fall, the gypsylike musician was all set to head cross-country to spread his music.

“I thought I’d be spending these winter days with my bus at a beachfront parking spot somewhere in San Diego or Los Angeles,” he said.

But engine trouble kept him from leaving town for a month.

“The starter on the bus went, which prolonged my stay. While I waited on the part, I edited some more videos that document my tour and also helped edit [local filmmaker] Chris Rutushin’s film, ‘Fine Tune.’ I also played The Oakland Stage, the Ward Bakery holiday arts show and the Moxie Collective’s private party. And my continually changing backing band The Caravan was born on the Cedars stage.”

When the snow and cold weather arrived, Palka decided to spend the holidays with his family on the other side of the state.

It was during this time that he realized what fate was telling him.

“I asked myself, ‘Why am I still hanging around the Midwest, hanging a sleeping bag behind the front seats of my VW bus to insulate the cab, and fending off the single digits with a portable propane heater on the floor?’ Then it became overwhelmingly apparent. I was supposed to cut a record.”

Palka rounded up musicians from Youngstown and his old band, the Bilhlman Brothers of Michigan.

“The record is packed with musicians from the bands Koebel, The Zou, Jones 4 Revival, The Dead Beat Poets, and local piano wonder Chris Leonardi,” said Palka. “They’ve grounded the album with a roots, Americana, folk-pop feel. It’s Van Morrison meets Dave Matthews Band complete with keys, brass and harmonica.”

The album will be available in the spring online at VWBusTour.com.

Youngstown even inspired one song on the record. “‘Just Plain Whiskey’ was written while reflecting on that lost month in Youngstown,” said Palka. “You can almost hear the crackling ice drenched in whiskey on this jazzy midnight groove.”

Palka and The Caravan will give a preview of the new album, including “Just Plain Whiskey,” when the band performs at Cedars Lounge in Youngstown on Saturday.