Brantford, Ontario-based artist KC Armstrong has had a long, illustrious career thanks to fine songwriting and fun, infectious arrangements that pack a wallop. And although the title might lead you to think otherwise, “I Don’t Care” is a great, Americana-laced barroom keeper off his Finally Crafted effort that proves Armstrong cares about offering finely-crafted nuggets that hit you in all the right places.
“I Don’t Care” is a beer-raising, brassy, and bouncy slice of Americana from its saxophone courtesy of Sean O’Connor and the ivory ticklings of keyboardist Steve O’Connor. From there, KC Armstrong’s vocals are accompanied by backing vocalist MaryEllen Allen, giving “I Don’t Care” a gritty but groovy vibe from start to finish. Guitarists Scott Utting and Barry Haggarty adds some great work throughout, while Armstrong and Jake Adams round out the rhythm section, playing bass and drums, respectively.
It’s a song you could see a craftsman like Randy Newman, Nick Lowe or the late Ronnie Hawkins performing, someone near and dear to Armstrong as his band subbed as the Hawks for the legendary barroom artist back in 2003. Armstrong’s then band Cadillac Ranch were slated to back Hawkins at the legendary SARS-Stock concert at Toronto’s Downsview Park featuring the Rolling Stones and AC/DC. Sadly, Hawkins’ health resulted in the appearance never being realized.
Armstrong, originally from Lakefield, Ontario, sings of being done wrong by his partner and simply not being too worried about it by the end of the evening. In fact, he knows that two can play this cheating game, so what goes around might just come around to his partner, ending up on the losing side when it’s all said and done.
Congratulations you’re the talk of the town
Conversations ’bout you running ’round
My old friends trying not to stare
But if you done me wrong — I don’t care
“I Don’t Care” is from Armstrong’s 2024 effort Finally Crafted, a record which took over two decades to complete as Armstrong worked slowly but steadily towards honing his production skills and talents so what he heard the songs to be in his head would end up being what came out during the recording and production processes. And while building the songs, he also ended up building something else. “Another reason for the long delay in completing the album was that I also had to learn how to construct my actual recording studio myself,” he says. “I had to learn to frame, insulate, and drywall properly (and to code).”
The musician, who also shared the stage with the late great guitar icon Jeff Healey, wrote nine songs for Finally Crafted, including “I Don’t Care.” In terms of his songwriting, Armstrong’s works often begin as poems, which results in “more interesting melodies” and with few “restrictions of having to fit the lyrics to the melody.”
A video for “I Don’t Care” was also created and Armstrong also launched short music tutorials on TikTok he calls The DIY Musician which he reveals some tricks of the trade he’s learned through trial and error while in the recording studio. And with “I Don’t Care” being such a strong single epitomizing great Americana barroom brilliance, you would be a fool not to care about this tantalizing track.