There is something about New Orleans that seems to attract people who are constantly searching — musicians, wanderers, storytellers, and anyone drawn to the space between beauty and decay. Greazy Alice understands that tension. The project, led by Pennsylvania native and New Orleans musician Alex Pianovich alongside vocalist Jo Morris, has gradually moved away from the “sleazy hard-riffing rock’n’roll” sound of its early years into something far more intimate. As Time Goes By, the band’s debut full-length album, is a tender country-folk record filled with honky-tonk warmth, worn-in melodies, and reflections on love, loss, friendship, and the places that quietly shape who we become.
The album feels like a road trip through memory, with Pianovich using cities, landscapes, and personal histories as landmarks along the way. Songs like “Circles,” “Green,” and “Turn” move through places as varied as West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and the Appalachian mountains, but these locations are never just scenery. They become reminders of people left behind, friendships changed by time, and the strange feeling of returning home after becoming someone slightly different. Pianovich’s writing has the quality of a journal discovered in an old glove compartment — specific enough to feel personal, but open enough for listeners to find their own stories inside.
At the center of Greazy Alice’s sound is the contrast between Pianovich’s weathered, conversational vocals and Jo Morris’ striking harmonies. Their voices give the record its emotional balance, creating the feeling of two people having a conversation rather than simply performing songs together. “Just Another One” is the album’s emotional centerpiece, a darker, more experimental track built around spoken-word reflections on insecurity, distance, and the fear of letting someone get too close. It feels like a late-night conversation after the bar closes, when the bravado fades and the truth finally comes out. On the other side of that spectrum, “Stop Asking Why” and “Turn” bring a lighter touch, showcasing the effortless chemistry between the two singers.
With the help of close friend and fellow songwriter Morgan Orion, Pianovich recorded the material on a Tascam MS16 tape machine, embracing imperfections rather than hiding them. The album moves between traditional country structures, folk storytelling, and unexpected sonic touches, creating something that feels both familiar and completely its own. There are echoes of classic country duets, roots music, and the New Orleans spirit that has surrounded Pianovich’s musical life for years, but Greazy Alice never sounds like a tribute act. They are creating music that feels like it belongs in a favorite neighborhood bar — a little worn around the edges, full of character, and better because of the history.
With As Time Goes By, Greazy Alice has created a debut full-length album that feels remarkably lived-in. It is a record about accepting change, appreciating the people who pass through our lives, and finding beauty in the places where things have weathered a little. Like the best songs that come out of New Orleans, it understands that joy and sadness are rarely separate things. They are usually sitting together at the same table, sharing a drink, and telling stories until the night is over. – Jason Felton