The band, and its front woman play folk-rock, Americana and soul, with four-part harmonies. Their debut record featuring 11 songs penned by the band members, arranged and produced by Bluhm's husband and the band’s musical director, Tim Bluhm, and recorded at the Bluhm’s Mission Bells studio in San Francisco.
The lead single “Little Too Late” kicks off the proceedings with a fun and funky punch of soulful rock and an anthemic quality to the lyrics that quickly made the song a fan favorite at live shows in the months prior to the album’s release. Also released in advance of the album, “Ravenous” marks a departure for the band as Nicki flirts with her dark side, urged on by haunting echoes of classic Fleetwood Mac. Tim and Nicki’s great love of country music and Americana storytelling takes center stage in the sparkling “Till I’m Blue”, an enchanting ode to lasting love, as well as in “Deep Water”, Nicki’s endearing telling of life lessons learned. Bluhm family friend Steve Poltz, best known for his collaborations with the singer Jewel, contributed the coaxing soul waltz “Check Your Head”.
There is an evergreen quality to the band’s music that resonates with music lovers across ages and time zones, fans who are touched by the band’s natural, bright-eyed charm and timeless expression of life and love. “We make music that generations of friends and families can share,” Nicki offers with a quiet confidence. “For me, there is a tenderness, a humanness. It’s about getting down to the basic level of bringing joy. We’re a fun, honest group of people who love traveling and seeing the country. I’m with my husband and my best friends, we’re so lucky to be doing this, and we’re so grateful for those coming out to visit with us.”
With such an earnest appreciation for every moment of the grueling work and endless hours required for touring “uncharted waters,” as she puts it, one can imagine Nicki almost pinching herself to prove that this really is her life -- and rightfully so. She never saw any of this coming.
Tim and Nicki’s paths first crossed at a house party, when someone passed a guitar to Nicki. Though she’d never before sung in front of a crowd, she took a chance and belted out an impromptu blues number, immediately catching Tim’s ear. It was a spark-plug moment that evolved into the two playing music together, followed by Tim mentoring Nicki as she developed into a career singer/songwriter. As love blossomed and marriage ensued, the couple created and released Nicki’s debut solo album, Toby’s Song (2008).
The formation of Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers happened in similar organic fashion, when Nicki recruited her childhood friend, Deren Ney, to play lead guitar in her new band. Dave Mulligan accepted an invitation from Nicki to join the Gramblers on guitar and vocals while out hiking with the Bluhms one day. Bass player Steve Adams and drummer Mike Curry each got the call from the Bluhms and agreed to double-time it with their existing musical commitments. When not working with his own band, the Mother Hips, Tim takes his place on guitar, keyboard and vocals. Nicki’s second album, Driftwood (2011), earned numerous positive reviews and put Nicki and the Gramblers in front of a wider swath of show goers across the western U.S.
It was during this time that the band’s “Van Sessions” video for Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go For That” went viral and introduced Nicki and band to the world of their endearing, stripped down versions of classic songs as well as to an existing catalog of original tracks from Nicki’s two previous solo albums. They went back on the road and quickly developed into a tight knit, six-piece headlining act, logging over 200 dates in 2012. In 2013, Nicki and the Gramblers’ touring schedule has included auspicious sets at Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival, Hangout Music Festival and Mountain Jam, as well as being featured on network television by veteran journalist Anthony Mason for “CBS This Morning”.
Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers released a digital single featuring two new tracks, “Little Too Late” and “Ravenous,” in January 2013 and will be releasing their next album on August 27th, 2013 on Little Sur. The new album will be the debut under Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers and include the current single and live favorite "Little Too Late."
Heartache
Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or do you want to take it?
I'm sorry, if I played your guitar too hard
But you didn't have to rip all the strings off my heart
I didn't know that you were coming in
Cause you were coming in low
Never bring your own talent to a rock show
Does it have to be, a tragedy, always?
Heartache, do you want to make it?
Or would you rather take it?
I didn't think that you meant
What you said when you said it to me
I'd have to spend another weekend there of heartbreak
Does it have to be, a tragedy?
Does it have to be, a tragedy, always?
I always thought that my broken heart would fix yours
Looks pretty clear when I look in the mirror
I've only broken mine more
Do you wanna make it? (Do you wanna make it?)
Or do you wanna take it? (Or do you wanna take it?)
Do you wanna make it? (Do you wanna make it?)
Or would you rather take it? (Or would you rather take it?)
I didn't know that you you were coming in so low
I didn't think that you meant what you said to me
Does it have to be a heartache? A heartache
Does it have to be a heartache? A heartache
Does it have to be, a tragedy?
Does it have to be, a tragedy?
Does it have to be, a tragedy, always?
The song "Heartache" by Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers is about the emotions and pain that come with heartbreak. The lyrics talk about the feelings of being hurt and brokenhearted, and the singer asks if the heartache is something that can be made or if it has to be taken. This suggests that the pain is not inevitable and can be avoided if one is careful enough.
The songwriter also mentions how they played someone's guitar too hard and how that person responded by ripping all the strings off their heart. This metaphorical use of the word “strings” suggests the singer was overly honest or passionate with this person and that their heart was left shattered as a result. They then reflect on their broken heart and how they had always thought that their broken heart would be the fix for the person's broken heart whom they were singing to but realized that they had only broken their own heart more.
Overall, the song "Heartache" is about the pain of heartbreak, the consequences of being too honest, and the questioning of whether heartache is something that can be made or if it has to be taken.
Line by Line Meaning
Heartache, do you want to make it?
Asks if heartache is intentional
Or do you want to take it?
Questioning whether heartache is inflicted purposefully
I'm sorry, if I played your guitar too hard
Apologizing for causing pain
But you didn't have to rip all the strings off my heart
Accusing the other party of causing emotional harm beyond what was deserved
I didn't know that you were coming in
Unaware of the other party's intentions or emotions
Cause you were coming in low
The other party wasn't forthcoming or honest
Never bring your own talent to a rock show
Advice to not show off or outshine others in group settings
Does it have to be, a tragedy, always?
Questioning the inevitability of heartache and negative experiences
I didn't think that you meant
Misinterpreted the other party's communication or actions
What you said when you said it to me
Felt misled or lied to
I'd have to spend another weekend there of heartbreak
Dreading the emotional pain and devastation that comes with being around the other party
I always thought that my broken heart would fix yours
Hoping that one's own pain would make the other party empathize and change
Looks pretty clear when I look in the mirror
Self-awareness that the situation is not healthy or sustainable
I've only broken mine more
Realization that one's actions and choices have caused self-inflicted pain
Do you wanna make it?
Asks the other party to take responsibility and work towards a healthy resolution
Or do you wanna take it?
Challenges the other party to not inflict further pain
Does it have to be a heartache? A heartache
Expressing exhaustion and discouragement with the constant pain and negativity
Does it have to be, a tragedy?
Questioning whether heartache and negative experiences are necessary or unavoidable
Does it have to be, a tragedy, always?
Reiterating the theme of the song - questioning the inevitability of negative experiences
Contributed by Andrew V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.