Hippie Hair (for the First Time)
When it all shuts down, sometimes you just need to let it grow.
The new single—now on Bandcamp, Apple Music, Spotify, and more.
“A tonsorial tune that’s pure pandemic pop.”
—Russ Tarby
The latest release from John Lennon Songwriting Contest winner Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers tells a different kind of pandemic story—about how the shutdown inspired him to grow locks that recall his original music heroes.
“Hippie Hair (for the First Time)” describes being a child of the 1960s who was, as the song says, “far too young for dropping out” yet remains deeply connected to the music of that era.
As founding editor of Acoustic Guitar magazine, Rodgers interviewed such legends as Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and many more, and he created a best-selling video series teaching Grateful Dead songs for acoustic guitar. And as “Hippie Hair” recounts, Rodgers even had the opportunity to play Garcia’s iconic Wolf guitar, onstage and off.
“I am not letting hair envy get in the way of loving Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers’ ‘Hippie Hair (for the First Time).’ Jeffrey is not just a brilliant songwriter with long, luxuriant locks but also the founding editor of Acoustic Guitar magazine. When he talks about Jerry’s guitar, he is speaking from experience.”
—Gordon Nash, Gord’s Gold
Playing Jerry Garcia’s Wolf guitar at Club Passim, in short-hair days. Photo by Rich Gastwirt.
Musically and lyrically, the infectious folk-rock track tips its hat to songs from the Dead; the Band; Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young; the Doobie Brothers; Peter Frampton; and more (the specific references can be found in this detailed post about writing the song, and in a companion playlist).
“Hippie Hair” was recorded remotely by Rodgers’ band, Sammy Award winner for Best Americana in their home base of Syracuse, New York. Rodgers plays acoustic guitar and a solo that aims, he says, to answer the question, “What would Jerry do?” Featured on the track are Josh Dekaney on percussion kit, Jason Fridley on bass, Wendy Ramsay on accordion, and layers of ’70s-style “ooh” background vocals.
The song’s video documents the actual growth of Rodgers’ hair, thanks to YouTube guitar lessons he has created every month since March 2020.
“A lot of songs have come along to document the struggles of the pandemic,” Rodgers says. “In the midst of so much loss, ‘Hippie Hair’ takes a moment to celebrate something gained during this strange time. We take what we can get.”
Read more about the inspirations behind the song.
Credits
Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers vocals, acoustic guitar
Wendy Ramsay backing vocals, accordion
Josh Dekaney percussion kit
Jason Fridley backing vocals, bass
Recorded by JPR and Josh Dekaney (drums)
Mixed and mastered by Jeremy Johnston
Help on the way
A note from JPR
Thank you for lending your ears to “Hippie Hair,” wherever you are listening and however you found your way here.
Funny thing about releasing records in this era… While many sources of income for recordings have shriveled or disappeared, it still costs actual money to produce, distribute, and promote music (unfortunately, exposure is not accepted as a means of payment). That’s especially true when the music comes out as a single, as “Hippie Hair” iss, with no physical sales and no crowdfunding campaign to help cover expenses.
If you’d like to support the release of this and more new music, here are a few things you can do.
Share. On social media, in a playlist, with your local deejay, around the kitchen table…
Download the music on Bandcamp.
Donate. Any amount helps and grants you admission to the Hippie Hair Club! Tip jars are open at PayPal and Venmo (@jpeppero).
Become a patron. Especially if you play guitar or write songs, you’ll find a wealth of lessons and songs on Patreon that are not available anywhere else.