Music review: J.S. Ondara – ’Tales of America’
I was fortunate to be in the crowd when J.S. Ondara opened for Lindsey Buckingham during an area appearance late last year. While I totally knew what to expect from Buckingham, I had never heard of Ondara and really wasn’t anticipating too much from his simplistic set.
With just an acoustic guitar and engaging voice, the Nairobi-born singer-songwriter wowed the packed house with a heartfelt performance of tracks from his soon-to-be-released album.
On “Tales of America,” Ondara delivers a debut release that captures his emotions and experiences while in pursuit of a musical dream in an exciting and complex land.
Inspired by the storytelling of Bob Dylan, the 26-year-old artist crafts 11 personal and moving tracks of America folk music that flow together seamlessly for one alluring life lesson.
“American Dream” opens the journey with Ondara reciting the hectic pace of American life as he declares, “There’s no catching a breath/There’s no rest till you’re dead.” Contrary to the song’s lyrics, Ondara’s delivery is slow and deliberate, as if he’s carefully soaking it in all in and making meticulous notes for future reference.
“Torch Song” follows and offers advice for a heart that is never on time when it comes to finding true love. Ondara speaks of patience being the key to moving forward when things look the bleakest.
For “Saying Goodbye,” Ondara pens an emotional tale about leaving behind his family, friends and culture to pursue the American dream. It is a true loss of innocence that finds Ondara walking away from the surroundings that shaped him in order to continue to grow and become a better person.
Other standout numbers include a lover’s betrayal on “Give Me a Moment,” unrealistic expectations revealed on “Television Girl” and the fragile confessional “Good Question.”
The haunting “God Bless America” brings things to an eloquent close as Ondara asks if America will let him in or if it is at capacity as he begins his next chapter in life with the promise of renewed hope and adventure.
Thankfully, Ondara has found a welcoming home that provides plenty of new experiences to share for a long time to come.
Ondara will visit Pittsburgh once again on May 20 with a performance at Club Cafe.
Clint Rhodes is the Herald-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.