In September 2023, John Surge and the Haymakers released the breakout album Almost Time that received critical acclaim and reached No. 32 on the Americana Music Association radio chart.

Surge is well-known in the LA country music community for his band’s blistering live shows and his work producing concerts featuring local musicians. Almost Time brought more nationwide attention to this critically acclaimed songwriter.

A year later comes the release of Maybe You Don’t Know Me, a 5-song EP that continues Surge and company’s blending of high octane alt-country with gentler country-folk moments.

With the new recording, Surge re-connected with highly regarded Texas producer Tommy Detamore, known for records with Doug Sahm, Jim Lauderdale, Sunny Sweeney and Jesse Daniel. The songs included are ones that didn’t lend themselves to Almost Time but are staples of the band’s live set.

Not only did Surge go back to the well with Detamore, he enlisted most of the same players from the full-length, including his right hand Haymaker guitarist Randy Volin, plus Brennen Leigh on harmony vocals, Brad Fordham (Dave Alvin/Hayes Carll) on bass, Tom Lewis (Junior Brown/Raul Malo) on drums and Floyd Domino (Asleep at the Wheel, Merle Haggard) on keyboards.

The EP opens with “You Don’t Know Me,” a rockin’ honky tonk tale of miscommunication where the narrator wonders aloud what his lover is thinking and concludes “maybe you don’t know me very well.” The track features fierce interplay between Volin on Telecaster and Detamore himself on pedal steel.

“Marisol” is a tale of a woman who claims “my love is like a heart attack, the kind of love that’ll keep you coming back.” It has a rollicking feel that comes straight from the Texas Tornadoes playbook. “As we were recording, it had a natural Tex-Mex feel,” says Surge. “I kept asking Tommy ‘what would Doug Sahm do?’ Detamore often shared stories of producing Sahm’s final album, The Return of Wayne Douglas. Surge explained, “We followed that inspiration and it led to just the right approach.” They enlisted Michael Guerra, best know for his work with the Mavericks, to put on the finishing touch with a spirited accordion part.

“Barstool” is a tear-in-the-beer country song about how one night in a barroom can change your life forever. “Three kids, a house and a dog and a future looking bright/I can’t believe it all started late one night.” Detamore brought in noted San Antonio fiddler Jess Meador for interplay with his pedal steel and Domino’s honky tonk piano.

Surge unearthed “Gold,” a ‘70s disco era AM radio hit by folk legend John Stewart, rearranged the song and put a true Americana spin to this classic with fiddle, harmonica and pedal steel taking the lead. Leigh steps up and boldly takes the reins on the harmony vocals that were sung on the original by Steve Nicks.

The EP closer  takes its cue from ‘80s country like Hal Ketchum and Foster and Lloyd. “Stand My Ground” is a heartland song about a breakup that comes after a move to L.A. where the land of hope and dreams can often turn into a place of disappointment and dismay.

“Maybe You Don’t Know Me is five shots, some straight up and some on the rocks,” says Surge. “These five songs represents a real cross section of the music we make.”

Photo Credit: Deb Morrison