The Black Tones Dig Deep Into the Blues on New Single “Blue Matrimony”

Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready helped with arrangements on the track.
First Listen

The Black Tones Dig Deep Into the Blues on New Single “Blue Matrimony”

Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready helped with arrangements on the track.

Words: Mike LeSuer

Photo: Danny Denial

February 01, 2023

Rock and roll obviously has a long and complicated history with murder ballads, but little—if any—of that narrative violence in the early recordings of Nick Cave and Elvis Costello reaches the jarring level of immediate loss recounted in the new single from The Black Tones. “Blue Matrimony” sees vocalist Eva Walker processing the true story of an 89-year-old man shooting and killing his wife—an unfortunate bit of contemporary local lore that hit home for her when she first heard the news.

“Even more unfortunate is that the protagonist in this story was someone very near and dear to my heart,” she shares. “I’ve known him since I was a child, he was one of my grandparents’ dearest friends, he attended their funerals. I didn’t know how to react to the news when I initially heard it, so I wrote this song after I hung up the phone.”

The song’s narrative is emphasized by its stripped back instrumental, which focuses on Walker’s busily strumming acoustic guitar, with a backing bassline and bluesy electric guitar filling out some of the empty space. The band worked with Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready on the eerie ballad, with McCready praising Walker’s distinct playing style. “Eva and The Black Tones dig deep into the blues on ‘Blue Matrimony.’ I was honored to be asked to help with the arrangement. Eva has a really cool style with the guitar—she’s very honest and soulful.”

Hear the single below.