image courtesy of Triumph Publicity

I’ve been listening to country fiddling phenom Rachel Stacy since before I started this blog.  An MP3 of her song “How’s It Gonna Feel” has been on my phone for more than a decade. (I’d share a link, but I can’t find it online anymore.) Recently, when I heard Rachel’s newest single “Empty Glass,” I immediately reached out to request to review it. So, yeah, I already dug this artist and this single before the song’s many spins in my review queue. With that as a backdrop, let’s get to the review.

Single Review of Rachel Stacy: “Empty Glass”

photo courtesy of Triumph Publicity

“Empty Glass” was penned by Dean Dillon and Gary Stewart in 1988. You can hear the original on Gary Stewart’s 1988 album Brand New. Rachel Stacy’s cover modernizes the song’s sound, removing some of the, with all due respect (because I enjoyed that era of country music), cheesy lounginess of the original by stepping up the tempo and singing it with a grittier edge. The strings class the song up, with the fiddle work playing the role of lead or rhythm guitar at times and completely carrying a bridge. Adding to the end-of-the-night, closing-the-bar-down flavor, Rachel’s voice has a grittiness, as if she has had a rough night and is, indeed, on her last cigarette, staring wearily into an empty whiskey glass. At the appropriate times, though, her vocals soar, occasionally with an anguished power – not exactly a wail, but somewhere in that neighborhood. All told, this arrangement of “Empty Glass” fully utilizes Rachel’s vocal and musical talents. You won’t soon forget her version of this classic song.

If updated, richly-textured, contemporary classic country were a radio staple these days, we’d be hearing this song all over the airwaves already. It’s nice to see the song is charting, apparently reaching some audience; indeed, it deserves to be even more widely heard. If you’re a country music fan who hasn’t yet discovered Rachel Stacy’s music, this song would make a great introduction, after which you’ll certainly want to sample more songs from Rachel’s catalog.

Looking Ahead

You can find Rachel’s various social media accounts and latest links via her linktree.

To be aware of Rachel’s upcoming live performances, periodically check the “Upcoming Shows” page of her website. The site currently lists several shows in and around Dallas from February 29th through March 17th.

The “Events” tab of Rachel’s Facebook page also lists a June 22nd performance at the In The Music Room Studio & Listening Room in Waxahachie, TX. This looks like the sort of small, intimate performance space that would be an ideal place to catch a talented artist.

Those looking for more new music from Rachel will be pleased to learn that her next single, “Three Words,” is scheduled for a March 29th release.