A gas station is, almost by definition, uninspiring. It’s simply a transition point on a longer journey. But what happens when that’s where your journey begins and ends?
That’s what Del Barber seeks to find out on his new single “No Easy Easy Way Out.” The Juno-nominated roots singer delivers this character study with a gentle, sardonic lilt reminiscent of Robert Ellis. Barber’s narrator is just as frustrated with small-town life as he is in his stubborn refusal to do much about it. But he’s also a wry observer of his customers that makes him less unpleasant and more of a curmudgeon. The gentle roots rock carries the story to its inevitable conclusion, but the ride sure is fun.