New Release: Grand Epiphanies by Kim Ware & the Good Graces (Fort Lowell Records)

The new EP from Kim Ware & the Good Graces is a refreshing reminder of Ware’s talent and the waves of great music coming from the Southeast. Their sound is described as indie-folk with a dash of Americana. Ware’s personable singing and songwriting pull you into her excellent storytelling. Her music can seemingly transition between stripped-down acoustic and full band rocking, but her singing is consistently pure.

Since the debut release Sunset Over Saxapahaw back in 2008, Ware and the Graces have consistently churned out original gems. After recently relocating from Atlanta to rural North Carolina, the music has continued to enrich the lives of old fans and welcome new ones.

“Sign Said Caution” kicks off the record with a caffeinated jolt, drums belting, guitars twanging. Ware expresses herself so eloquently, “Our ship is sinking, but I’m laughing, it’s a trap and / I’m stuck without a life raft or a beer / Still overthinking but I’m grinning like I’m winning / A middle finger to all the fear.” She’s never been one to shy away from putting it all out there. Those twangy guitars perfectly complement Ware’s twangy voice. Imagine Dolly Parton meets Lucinda Williams, with a pinch of Liz Phair tossed in for good measure.

The band adds countryfied sounds to “Wish I Would’ve Missed You.” Ware regrets, “I hate that I wasted your time.” A woeful guitar heightens the heartbreak. The next track revisits the Jeff Fortgang song recorded by The Persuaders, Robert Palmer, and Rod Stewart, “Some Guys Have All the Luck.” The Good Graces recorded a slimmed-down cover for 2023’s Homely. This new version, with piano, is more upbeat but still carries that torch.

On the standout track “Old/New,” Kim Ware sings, “Had a dream you called me by my mama’s name / Said you meant it as a joke / Left me all alone to walk home in the rain / ‘Cause you thought I was too woke.” It’s a line that captures what Ware does best—blending dry humor with emotional insight, all wrapped in warm, rootsy melodies. The band behind her delivers a contagious, efficient sound that keeps toes tapping while Ware’s lyrics land quietly profound punches.

The five-song EP culminates with “Missed the Mark,” where the singer turns directly to the listener: “Thanks for your attention, even though it was so brief / And sometimes a little awkward, for you to witness so much grief.” The grief here isn’t heavy—it’s shot through with joy, resilience, and wry self-awareness.

Ware spoke with No Earplugs on Grand Epiphanies:

No Earplugs: Checking Bandcamp, I noticed your mates aren’t listed in the liner notes. Can you fill us in? Did you play drums on Epiphanies?

Kim Ware: Since moving from Atlanta my “band” has been various folks, depending on who’s available when. For this release, I actually wanted to make it closer to my new home in NC, so the players were me, Steven Fiore, and Justin Faircloth. Steven and Justin own the studio where I recorded it (Union Recording Co. in Gastonia, NC). I didn’t play drums on it, Steven did. He asked me if I wanted to and I thought about it but I actually don’t like playing drums on my own stuff. I guess I sort of separate it—I like to have as little to focus on as possible so I don’t get overwhelmed! So on this one I just sang, and played acoustic guitar on one tune (“Sign Said Caution”).

NE: I know you have another life, but do you plan on playing any live shows in or around Atlanta?

KW: I’m playing at the Emory Ideas Festival (with a full band!) on Oct. 18! And a solo show at Red Light Cafe the next night. I generally play in ATL about every six months or so (and I hope to bring the punk band back there in the spring, too. Y’all’re is a punk/riot grrl/retro 4-piece based here in Cleveland County, NC, that I play drums in).

NE: “Some Guys Have All the Luck” has been updated here from your Homely version. What’s your attraction to it?

KW: I could talk for hours (for real) about “Some Guys Have All the Luck.” It was always my intention to do a full band version. I’m kind of obsessed with the song! I didn’t realize it was written back in the ’70s and had never heard The Persuaders‘s version until a few years ago. Some fun facts: Rod Stewart sings “Someone who’s shy, someone who’d cry …” but in the original it’s, “who’s LIABLE to cry…” I love that; I can see how Rod Stewart wouldn’t use the word “liable” in that way but I would! So, I went with the original there. The last verse, about the car overheating, is NOT on the original. I’m so intrigued by that addition! It’s so specific, it makes me wonder if it really happened to Sir Stewart. I could go on and on.

Kim Ware and her Good Graces are in their element on this release. It’s a set that proves once again why fans return: for the storytelling, the sincerity, and the sense that Ware is not just hitting her stride—she’s fully in the ballpark. For more information, visit the band’s website and Bandcamp page.

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