A.J. Fullerton sets an evocative roots atmosphere from the opening moments of “St. June,” the lead single from his forthcoming EP, BARETONE. Carried by the resonant growl of baritone guitar and an earthy rhythm, the track unfolds with a cinematic sense of place before Fullerton’s commanding vocal arrives at the forefront.
Recorded at Mark Anderson’s Cowboy Cowabunga Ranch in Evergreen, Colorado, BARETONE captures the first time Fullerton and drummer Tim Carman of Parlor Greens sat down to play together. With little planning or preparation, the pair embraced spontaneity, tracking the core session live in the room.
Fullerton handles baritone guitar, slide guitar, and bass on the recording, joined by Carman on drums and Lauren Frihauf on backing vocals.
‘Saint June’ was the standout single from the first time Tim Carman and I ever sat down to play together. This song and the EP as a whole represents a departure in my earlier sound, while keeping true to the dark gritty aesthetic I’ve always pursued. It was played on a baritone guitar made by Denver luthier Matt McGibney from a smattering of modern components and parts dating from the 1960s.
A.J. Fullerton
The song was written at dusk in the Colorado wilderness as the sun was sinking low over the pines. It’s a song about love and about passion, and the mysterious line that connects the two.
The custom-built instrument sits at the heart of the project, lending both its name and sonic identity to BARETONE. The EP arrives after a productive stretch for Fullerton, whose 2025 release Magnetic Light blended traditional roots influences with contemporary songwriting, and whose recent collaboration with harmonica player Jake Friel, Fullerton & Friel, Vol. II, revisited acoustic blues classics.
Over the past decade, Fullerton has earned recognition as a guitarist, songwriter, and producer, sharing stages with Robert Cray, Jimmie Vaughan, Samantha Fish, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Charlie Musselwhite, and Otis Taylor.
