Jason Dea West, 'Lone Wolf' // GemsOnVHS™

So when I was asked to go on this little jaunt from Kentucky to Nashville, along their old tramping lines, I knew I had to bring along the camera to document it. It'd been some many years since Jason and Ben had the opportunity to ride together, seeing as they now live on opposite ends of the country, with their own busy lives, so this was a most special occasion. We met up at Ben's property, where he treated us to some of his famous deer heart jerky and all the country fixin's for dinner. We all jammed songs new and old late into the night, talked philosophy and ancient aliens (Aurelia, Jason's partner, knows just how to get Ben ranting!) then headed to bed for an early morning. When the sun rose, we headed to the yard, where we did what you mostly do when riding trains. Waited around under a miserable bridge getting eaten by mosquitoes and talking shit.

Things were said that can never be repeated, friendships were tested, new ones were formed, old stories were dug up and reminisced upon. It was like the glory days revisited, only sober... way more sober. Once that southbound choo-choo finally descended upon us, we were off. Got some god-awful sleep screaming down the tracks on the steel behemoth, and awoke to a beautiful morning across the countryside, reminded of why we go.

It all happened to fast, I'm sure one of my greatest regrets will be not properly getting them to play a Barefoot Surrender song for me, though I did get them to indulge me while the cameras were off. Sorry folks.

Check out more of Jason's world of music here,

This video was made possible by our executive producers, Irvin Maddox, Amy Ennis, Mark Riley, Jonathon Hammond, Kenny Schmidt, Josh Collins, Edward Siple, Brady Jones, VJ Arizpe, and Richard Harmon.

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GemsOnVHS is a long running series of intimate, off-stage performances by songwriters we love.

[kennethkent]

Damn the line " when I am not working hard, I am bound to misbehave" hits home...

[internetuser]

"You guys might not know this, but I consider myself a bit of a loner. I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack. But when Gems on VHS brought Benjamin Tod home, I knew he was one of my own. And my wolf pack- it grew by one, so where there two- there were two of us in the wolf pack." - actual quote from Jason Dea West

[Strangerealities]

Another musician to add to my list of country folk goodness

[bugler]

I teach an adaptive music class for students with special/behavioral needs. Keeping their attention presents a unique challenge and there was a particular student who was convinced that rap music was the only music worth listening to. I played this for the class and they all dug the heck out it and that kid is now way into folk and bluegrass.

[clintsellers]

It's about time Jason Dea West made it onto the Gems Channel.

[koonachota]

"Is that the... sole of your boot?" now joins the list of memorable Gems intros along with hits such as "there was a dead possum here but uhh... it sank..." and "so you're a semi-historian" "well---- barely..."

[olchevy]

Ben shaking his fist at Trashville was the best part of the video.

[Weekend_Washouts]

This is my very favorite tune from the Magnolia sessions. Thank you for never disappointing gems

[eliwebster]

If Hank could hear this he would be very proud.

[daniellemasters]

"Is that the sole of your boot?" "Yeah I gotta get some apoxy." Can't tell how many times I've been asked that. Has to be one of the best starts to a video. Oh and I seen Ben in there too

[adamw]

“And why does everybody I know die?” 10/10 Gems!

[nikkidegasperi]

Fantastic song & video. Thank you from one Lone Wolf to another.

[nicolemccord]

I have a 4 year old who is singing this because I have listened to it so much.Love Gems and am so Happy to find new tunes through their channel. Definitely love Intuitive Compass now too.

[MoonBeamsAndDreams]

Can't stop listening since I found this man.

[evanhenry]

Such a great harmony, between your haunting vocals, poignant lyrics, beautiful strumming, and a perfectly muted kick. This is one of the most soulful songs I've ever heard, thank you.

[Ci-D]

This guy is really talented. I enjoyed this artist very much and can't wait to hear more. Thank you everyone and especially Gems on VHS for consistently putting out gold.

[l_r_a_start_fox]

Damn Ben had his work cut out for him as a musician being friends with this guy, lol.

[MattStrom]

Thank you Gems as always for capturing the feel and sounds that touch my soul.

[bluecrow]

One D Tod .pgh pa..they found you on 10 08 22 ..you were gone before that 🎈I miss you already my along wolf brother

[kiyagilman]

I have been listening to this song for the past few years since I found it on Spotify, and just found this video. It hits home . The random shots of the trains takes me back to when i rode . I stopped back in 2012. . Hanging out in the grainer porch outside of the fox hole in the V And watching towns pass by . Not knowing what state I was in or caring . Taking in the scenes .
My first ride was a Canadian grainer out of Portland Maine, me and my friend laughed about how we had our own little duplex going on . I played Tetris on my game boy til we left the rigby yard and rode into the Scarborough marsh. Then we lit up a blunt and watched one of maines largest marshes pass us by in a way cars or boats will never see.
This song reminds me of every ride I’ve hopped that’s lit only by fireflies through the blue ridge mountains or the slow roll of trestles over cities and valleys and rivers
Well done ❤