John Sanger - Cirrhosis of the River, Daises, Lemonade and Sit N Spin

​John Sanger

Cirrhosis of the River, Daises, Lemonade and Sit N Spin
self-released; 2023

​By ​Dino DiMuro

Grand Rapids, Michigan, singer/songwriter John Sanger created a mantra to deal with our everyday trials and tribulations: “Life didn’t come with a playbook so don’t be hard on yourself.” He’s sold me just with that awesome quote, but of course there’s so much more; specifically his four new singles “Cirrhosis of the River,” “Daises,” “Lemonade” and “Sit N Spin.”

Sanger’s songs are said to reflect “Americana themes we idolized as children contrasted with the reality check of adulthood.” During difficult life moments, Sanger ponders his childhood affinity for the wonders of the Great Lakes “which soothed the occasional nights of lonely dreams and daily struggles.” Musically his influences encompass a wide range of talents including rockers The Kinks, Elvis Costello and The Band; bluesmen Robert Johnson and John Lee Hooker; and folk-country artists Woody Guthrie, John Prine and Johnny Cash. If you need a single label I’d definitely go with Americana.

Lyrically Sanger’s songs embody relationship experiences, changing paths and the celebration of life’s victories; also having the wherewithal to reflect on, laugh at and enjoy this ride we call life. I’ve spent some time in West Michigan and specifically Grand Rapids so I feel like I have a head start on where Sanger’s coming from! 

Of the four singles here, “Cirrhosis of the River” has the most amusing title (and the hardest to remember correctly!). After a cool opening riff played on both acoustic and electric guitars, Sanger evokes a bygone time fishing in the river with too much alcohol, a splintering ramshackle boat and cigarette ashes in his beer can. Atop a bluegrass bed of American Steel guitar, jews harp and winsome background cooing, Sanger sings with enthusiasm and authenticity and paints word pictures of fishing days as vividly as anything by Norman Rockwell. I’m guess the “cirrhosis” of the title could describe either the boat or the gastro-intestinal distress of its drunken crew. 

“Daises” starts with a stark, trap-like drum beat. Quickly proving he’s no one trick pony, Sanger blends gorgeous guitars, autoharp, piano and his own soulful lead vocals for a folky love song. This is the kind of song where it’s tough to pinpoint exactly where the chorus starts, as it seems to float organically within the verses, but I’ll pinpoint the moments where an uncredited female voice shares heartrending harmonies with Sanger. Structurally this song reminds me a lot of R.E.M.’s “Wendell Gee” (one of my very favorites). Toward the end Sanger takes a modest harmonica solo. I love the line “You’re my favorite broken record… so dancing, we’ll keep swaying to that old time radio.”

With “Lemonade” we’re back to uptempo bluegrass with a snappy one-two beat and a riff that’s distant cousins to “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.” On this track Sanger really lets his voice guide the track, effortlessly taking control and letting the backing instruments follow along. There’s more harmony chorus vocals with his female vocalist, then a bracing lap steel solo. This is another love song but more along the lines of “I don’t know how you put up with a jerk like me” and resigning to making “sweet lemonade” from lemons.

“Sit N Spin” describes a chance meeting at the local laundromat within a rock-country arrangement with sharp guitars, ace percussion and more of Sanger and company’s great vocals. This one feels more like a live band standing and playing but with an overlay of interesting Beatles-like production choices and Paul-like yodeling. It’s so good that three minutes doesn’t feel anywhere near long enough!

​These four songs are an incredible introduction to this artist and he’s out there waiting to be discovered. Check him out!

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