Reintroducing, Reagan Boggs.
Remember her? The Pound, Va., native recorded a batch of albums through 2007's "Right Now," toured the country ... and then she was gone in 2009.
Two years later, welcome Boggs back when she and The Coalmen appear at O'Mainnin's on alighted and lively State Street in Bristol, Tenn.
"The Coalmen will do their own set," Boggs said. "I'll do some by myself. Then we'll play together. It's two bands for the price of one."
Boggs quieted her music just before and for some time after the July 2009 birth of her son, Parker.
She hinted of a return with last year's single "Thank You (Miner's Song)." Compelling as a coal miner's story, the song pays homage to those who mine coal and suffer the consequences.
"That's my heritage," Boggs said. "Seeing firsthand what they do, it's been a long time coming. Then I wrote another song. And another song. Pretty soon, I had a whole album. It's fresh again, exciting again."
Boggs hopes to have the album done and in stores by spring. Then again, she hoped to have it out by now.
"There are 14 songs so far on the new record," Boggs said. "The working title is 'Long Ride for a Long Shot.' I expected it out before Rhythm & Roots but now it looks like March or April."
However, flock to and file inside O'Mainnin's for Boggs' show for something of a preview.
"I'll probably get them all in," Boggs said, as if she will most likely play the entire album live. "Plus, The Coalmen have a new album coming out soon, too. So there's a lot of new songs going to be done."
Longtime fans may notice a shift in Boggs' sound. Crafted as a country singer with more grit than typically heard among today's current country hit-makers, Boggs retains her grit but with change applied.
"It's definitely country based," she said, "The new stuff is taking a little bit of a turn. It's still country. It's not pop but it's not Americana. It is Reagan Boggs music."
And as with most of us, as she's gotten older and life's carried on, she's changed a bit. That's reflected in her music, hence the shouldn't-be-surprising shift in style.
"I've had a child," Boggs said. "I'm older. The past few years, even though I've not been playing music, a lot has gone on in my life."
Her new music, including a song about her son "My Little Man," reflect her past few years.
"The songs on my new record are pretty personal," Boggs said. "I'm not one of those people who picks a subject off the shelf and write about it. I like it to mean something."
So call Boggs' return one with substance attached. She's gathered tunes of strength, packed them with passion and sealed the bundle with her unmistakably indelible voice.
"I'm coming back in with a new lease on life," Boggs said. "Before I was so driven with making it in the music business. I am more laid back now."
Tom Netherland is a freelance writer. He may be reached at features@bristolnews.com.
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