Indie Music Album Reviews

Painter Fingers - How Summer Flies

11/30/2022

Painter Fingers

How Summer Flies
self-released; 2022

By Joseph Krebaum

For Travis Charles Hagan, his experiences with his daughter, as well as teaching middle school, in Leander, TX, bleeds into his musical side project entitled Painter Fingers. Incorporating an indie folk and chamber folk sound reminiscent of Elliott Smith and Sufjan Stevens within his songwriting, Hagan describes himself as a “lifelong music maker,” and you can tell that he takes music very seriously. Hagan’s uncanny ability to craft meaningful lyrical messages sung over acoustic backing translates to six (seven if you count his cover of “Michael (Row the Boat Ashore)”) brand new tracks as part of his newest EP, How Summer Flies.

Without a doubt, Hagan is the main creative force behind Painter Fingers, but the EP would never have been possible without the help of some remote collaborations. While it was still recorded and mixed on Mixcraft 9 Pro Studio, four other people from around the world offered their talents: cellist Polina Faustova (Ukraine), trombonist Michael Fortunato (Italy), flutist Hanna Danets (also Ukraine) and fiddle player Rita Torrens (Turkey). These international collaborations are a perfect fit for How Summer Flies, since its content revolves around a push for societal change.

Said content begins with “World’s Best Army.” “I keep coming back / To what’s haunting me,” Hagan croons over a cleanly produced acoustic guitar. There are far too many potent lines here as well as across the EP that will really resonate with people, but generally speaking, this opener’s otherwise carefree tone is juxtaposed with serious lyrics addressing gun violence. There’s also a harmonica solo in it, too, for good measure. In contrast to the first track’s minimalism is “Waiting To Make Something Happen.” Featuring more of a full band approach definitely amplifies Hagan’s frustrations towards the state of the world.

“I Only Laugh” is an elegiac moment that once again discusses the issue of gun violence over plucked acoustics and cello notes. One particular line, “We can’t count the deaths / Of children / If we are not allowed / To blame the gun,” stood out to me as a crucial part of How Summer Flies’ narrative. It’s an interesting look into why we can’t just talk about effects and not their causes, which ultimately links back to mass shootings. If there’s one critique that I have for Painter Fingers, it’s that Hagan tends to repeat his points on political matters. Luckily, we get a break from talking about tragedy with “It Makes Her Happy,” shifting the focus to his daughter instead. The song may not offer a hook as strong as the first two cuts, but its introspection is genuinely sweet, and the trombones are welcome attachments, sonically. Additionally, Hagan states that “Umbrella Song,” is another song inspired by his daughter, Lucy.

Last of all is How Summer Flies’ fiddle-heavy title track. With this one being the sole number to crack the five-minute mark, I expected this to tie everything together with a neat little bow. Those expectations were certainly met, although Hagan’s juxtaposition of people’s warm perception of time with the cold reality that tomorrow, someone’s life could be snatched away “by some right-wing insurrectionist” is anything but neat. It’s very messy, which also explains its sudden expletives, and that messiness gives Painter Fingers’ latest EP even more strength. As Mr. Hagan says himself before the final part of the song, “I know you swear by these documents / Though they were written when / The government owned slaves / I only ask, what to you is more important? / Your right to own / A killing machine / Or your brother’s right to breathe?” That message is repeated several times throughout How Summer Flies, which makes it much more than just your standard indie folk EP. Highly recommended.