Sha-La Music has announced the worldwide release of the new Mystic Highway Road Trip EP by US roots rocker DownTown Mystic, set to drop on streaming services July 10 via The Orchard/Sony Music. The EP, arriving just in time for summer road trips, will also hit US college radio on July 21, with radio promotion handled by Brandon Day/Tinderbox Music.
The six-song collection features modern rockers brimming with positive vibes and energy, a hallmark of DownTown Mystic's sound. Tracks like 'Live,' featuring harpmaster Jerry Fierro, and 'Losing My Mind,' with guitar virtuoso Lance Doss, deliver messages of hope amid turbulent times. The EP reunites the rhythm section from last year's Mystic Highway EP—drummer Steve Holley (Paul McCartney, Elton John) and bassist Paul Page (Ian Hunter, Dion). Also included is the previously unreleased unedited version of 'Somebody's Always Doin' Something 2 Somebody (Uncut Mix),' featuring keyboard wiz Jeff Levine on piano and B-3 organ.
DownTown Mystic, the project of writer/producer Robert Allen, conceived the Road Trip release after noticing recurring themes in reviews of the Mystic Highway EP. "There are so many talented reviewers out there who write with such cool insights that it blows my mind. I kept seeing reviews saying that Mystic Highway was a great soundtrack for a road trip, which I never thought about. It got me thinking, why not a summer road trip release?" Allen explained.
Recorded at the legendary Shorefire Studios in West Long Branch, NJ, the EP was engineered by Joe DeMaio, who also contributed guitar solos on 'Superstar' and 'Shadow Walk.' Mastering was handled by the legendary Leon Zervos (Crowded House, Maroon 5, Pink) at Studios 301 in Australia, adding a sonic boost to the tracks.
DownTown Mystic follows the success of the On E Street Remix EP, released in April and featuring Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Max Weinberg and Garry Tallent from the E Street Band. That EP remixed songs recorded in the 1980s alongside Bruce Springsteen's Born In The USA sessions. Allen noted, "Even though the remixes were of older material, the reviewers pointed out that I'm making rock music for today. Thanks to them, it seemed like the perfect time to segue from the past to the present and release some new rock'n'roll."
With music featured in over 250 TV shows and films, DownTown Mystic continues his prolific output. The new EP is available for streaming at tinyurl.com/525mrh6d. Fans can also check out the Mystic Highway EP at tinyurl.com/ye7sh7ve and view videos for 'Superstar' and 'Shadow Walk' on YouTube.
Critics have praised DownTown Mystic's ability to keep rock relevant. The Big Takeover noted, "It's the sound of rock-and-roll tradition moving with the times. It's a showcase of everything that made the genre so popular, proving that it still counts." JamSphere Magazine called the music "infectious unmistakable vibe, wrapped up with ace musicianship, topped with great songwriting, and delivered with powerful, heartfelt vocals." Rattler Magazine observed, "It's not just about recapturing a sound; it's about reaffirming what makes it endure: strong songwriting, human rhythm, and a refusal to overproduce the soul out of the music."
For more information, visit downtownmystic.net.
